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NFL Parlay Bets Today For Week 3

Last Updated: 18 hours ago

Each week during the campaign, I’ll dish out my best NFL parlay, a longshot parlay, and a same-game parlay.

Last week, I failed to connect on each play, missing the longshot and same-game parlays by a single leg.

Let’s see if we can run better this week and turn the tide with my top NFL parlay bets for Week 3.

NFL Parlay Picks Today

All NFL betting odds used for these Week 3 parlays are current as of Wednesday, Sept. 18, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

Best Parlay: HOU ML + SF -5.5 + CIN ML (+261)

Longshot Parlay: PHI ML + TEN ML + CAR +7.5 + DET ML (+916)

Same Game Parlay: CLE -2.5 + NYG-CLE Under 42.5 + 1st FG Made: CLE (+254)

Sportsbook Play of the Day

Best NFL Parlay Bets Today For Week 3

Week 3 Best Parlay (+261)

  • Texans ML (-142) @ Vikings
  • 49ers -5.5 (-153) @ Rams
  • Bengals ML (-355) vs Commanders

My best NFL parlay for Week 3 kicks off with the Houston Texans to take care of business against the Minnesota Vikings in a matchup of 2-0 teams.

While I’ve been impressed with Sam Darnold and Co. thus far, the Vikings are coming off an emotional win and playing one of the NFL’s top teams for a second straight week. This is a good time to sell high on the hosts, so I’m taking the Texans to eke out a win on the road.

Pairing the Texans with the 49ers to cover an alternate spread of -5.5 makes sense, as San Francisco will want to respond to last week’s upset loss in Minnesota. Kyle Shanahan’s squad will have a great chance to do so in LA, as the Rams are in the midst of an early-season injury crisis.

The Niners have won nine of their last 11 games against their NFC West rivals, with six of those victories coming by seven points or more. They should cover this alternate spread with ease.

Lastly, I’m backing the Bengals to get their first win of the season on Monday Night Football against the Commanders. Cincy needs to win this game to keep its season from spiraling, and Washington’s defense presents a perfect opportunity for a get-right game for Joe Burrow.

Back these three favorites as one of your NFL best bets today.

Best Football Longshot Parlay Bets For Week 3

Week 3 NFL Longshot Parlay (+916)

  • Eagles ML (+120) @ Saints
  • Titans ML (-135) vs Packers
  • Panthers +7.5 (-171) @ Raiders
  • Lions ML (-148) @ Cardinals

My Week 3 NFL longshot parlay begins with the Philadelphia Eagles taking down the Saints in New Orleans.

This is another great buy-low, sell-high spot, as the Eagles are coming off a disastrous home loss to the Falcons in which they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Meanwhile, the Saints looked like world-beaters for the second straight week, dusting the Cowboys 44-19 in Dallas.

It’s possible that New Orleans is better than everyone expected and will be one of the NFC’s top teams at the end of the season, but until it proves it over a larger sample size, I’m going to have my doubts. Give me Philly to pull off the upset.

I’ll pair the Eagles with the Titans, who have played better than their record would indicate thus far this season. Unfortunately for the Titans, costly turnovers and special teams mistakes cost them dearly against the Bears and Jets.

Look for Tennessee head coach Brian Callahan to get those issues sorted out ahead of Sunday’s game against Green Bay, who is expected to start former Titans QB Malik Willis for the second straight week.

Next, I’m backing the Andy Dalton-led Carolina Panthers to cover an alternate spread in Las Vegas. The Panthers have been torched in their first two games, but the veteran QB should give the offense a higher floor than it had with Bryce Young.

The Raiders are flying high after their upset win in Baltimore, but I don’t see this team winning by margin against a Carolina team that should show more life with a new face under center.

To cap off this longshot parlay, I’m taking the Detroit Lions to defeat the Arizona Cardinals. Again, I’m buying low on a Lions team that is coming off a surprise loss last week against the Buccaneers and selling high on a Cardinals squad that routed the injury-hit Rams. Detroit is the better team in this matchup and should get back in the win column on Sunday.

Parlay these four outcomes for a shot at a hefty payday.

NFL Week 3 Same Game Parlays

Giants vs Browns Week 3 SGP (+254)

  • Browns -2.5 (-241)
  • Under 42.5 Points (-179)
  • 1st FG Made: Browns (-110)

For my NFL Week 3 same-game parlay, I’m giving some love to Sunday’s matchup between the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns. This game should be ugly, so let’s find a reason to tune in.

Cleveland is favored to win this game by about a touchdown, but I’m taking the alternate spread under a field goal because I don’t feel confident in the Browns’ ability to win by margin. Deshaun Watson and the offense haven’t looked great through two weeks, so this should be a defense-minded contest.

  • Want more scoring? Find the end zone with our NFL TD props.

With that in mind, I’m pairing Cleveland -2.5 with an alternate Under, taking it over the key numbers of 41 and 42. I’m also adding the Browns to be the first team to kick a field goal, as New York’s defense forced seven field-goal attempts last week in Washington.

The Giants have also had kicking woes, with starter Graham Gano going on injured reserve this week. Greg Joseph, who started his career with the Browns, will replace him, but I like Cleveland’s new kicker, Dustin Hopkins, to get on the scoreboard first.


How NFL Parlay Betting Works

NFL parlay betting is when you choose multiple games, totals, or props and combine them to create a higher payout for the wager. You would need to get each wager correct in order to win.

For example, I could parlay the Cowboys +3.5 with the Giants +7.5. If both bets hit, I would win my parlay. You can also choose the side and total in the same game. For instance, I could parlay the Chiefs -9.5 with Over 51 points.

The more bets that you include in your parlay, the higher your payout. For example, if I include two bets at -110 odds in my parlay, I would receive a +264 payout. That means if I bet $100, I would win $264.

On the other hand, if I included six bets at -110 odds in my parlay, I would receive a +4700 payout, meaning that I would win $4,700 off of a $100 bet. Obviously, it’s more difficult to win this type of parlay because you need to get six bets correct, so the odds reflect this challenge.

Parlay payouts are also calculated based on the odds of each specific game. For instance, if you parlay two games where teams are +200 underdogs, your payout would be +800. That means that if you bet $100 on this parlay, you would receive $800 if you won.

You might also choose to bet two heavy favorites in a parlay in order to minimize your potential loss. For example, if you parlay two games where teams are -200 favorites, your payout would be +125. That means that if you bet $100 on this parlay, you would receive $125 if you won.

Parlays are so appealing because you can maximize your earnings if you’re able to hit, especially if it’s on a larger parlay. With that said, it’s important to understand the difficulty with such a bet.

This means that you need to be comfortable with losing a fair share of parlays because this is the likely outcome. In order to balance this, you might opt for a couple of parlays with heavy favorites to offset your losses from your long-shot parlays.

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Best NFL Parlay Betting Sites

DraftKings Sportsbook

DraftKings Sportsbook has an accessible interface that creates a user-friendly experience. This is a reputable operator that is one of the most trusted platforms in this space

There is an assortment of choices at DraftKings, including alternate lines on player props, which work great for parlays because they give you a chance at securing a high payout.

Be sure to include DraftKings in your selection of online sportsbooks, especially if you enjoy parlay wagering.

Caesars Sportsbook

Caesars Sportsbook purchased the popular British online sportsbook William Hill in August 2021 and has taken the online sports gambling space by storm with an aggressive marketing push.

The site is an official partner of the NFL and offers betting on every NFL game from the preseason through the Super Bowl, with elite odds and no shortage of parlaying options.

Plus, every wager with Caesars, win or lose, comes with Caesars Rewards, the company’s loyalty program that gives hotel and restaurant credits, free bets and much more.

FanDuel Sportsbook

FanDuel Sportsbook is another great option because not only is it among the most popular sites in the industry, but it’s also easy to navigate, so you’ll never have trouble finding your preferred wager.

If you’re into parlays, you’ll be able to combine several bet types, including futures wagers, which is an option not always offered on other platforms.

In addition to this, you’ll find a number of useful promotions at FanDuel.

bet365 Sportsbook

bet365 Sportsbook stands out with its parlay betting because there are so many options to choose from, including a robust selection of player props.

They also have one of the most expansive live betting platforms, where you can even create parlays on live wagers.

Features such as this help bet365 stand out from the competition.

BetMGM Sportsbook

BetMGM Sportsbook carries the reputable MGM brand that helps you feel at ease in using this platform. There are several banking methods to make the payment process efficient for you, which is a major positive here.

You’ll also find a number of promotions to enhance the value on your bets, including parlay insurance.

BetMGM has become one of the top online sportsbooks in the country because of how easy it is to use, so be sure to take advantage.

We break it down even further if you are interested in more parlay betting sites.

How To Pick the Best NFL Parlay Betting Sites

  • Welcome Bonus: It’s great when a sportsbook matches your deposit. You can then use these funds on a parlay and try to hit big on a parlay.
  • Parlay Insurance: Parlay Insurance is a great promotion that gives you some money back if you get most of your parlay correct.
  • Props Parlays: Player Props are great for parlays because they are a bit easier to project than single-game results. This means that you can really maximize your earnings with a parlay of prop bets. It’s best if your sportsbook allows you to choose alternate lines for higher payouts.
  • Cash-out: Allows you to cash out when you win one or more games to secure some winnings. This is best if you hit multiple games on your parlay.

NFL Parlay Betting Promotions

Parlay Bonus: You can get a bonus between five and 70 percent of your winnings, depending on how many selections. If you hit on a two-game parlay, you’ll receive a five percent bonus, but if you hit on a 14+ game parlay, you receive a 70% bonus.

Parlay Insurance: Provides up to $25 if you hit all bets except for one. This is helpful because it gives you some money back for a close call.

Best NFL Parlay Bets

When choosing the best NFL parlay bets, I would make sure to focus on player props because these are the best types of wagers to make. Player props are a lot easier to project because we can heavily research the matchup. We can see how teams fare against certain positions.

For example, last season, the Texans were horrendous against the run. Opposing running backs routinely went off against them. In this case, I’d bet the over on the opposing team’s running back’s rushing yardage.

We can also project game script pretty easily, which helps with player props. For instance, if the Lions are +5.5 point underdogs in Kansas City, we can expect Jared Goff to air it out often to keep pace with the high-powered Chiefs offense.

This means that we should bet the over on props such as Jared Goff pass attempts. These are the benefits of player props. Be sure to take advantage of them and check out all of our NFL betting picks for more guidance.

NFL Same Game Parlays

What are NFL Same Game Parlays and how do they work?

Same Game Parlays are when you bet on the result, total, and props in the same game. For example, I can parlay the Titans -5.5 with the Over 47 points in the same game. I might also include the Over on Derrick Henry’s rushing yards.

This would be a highly correlated play because if the Titans win the game and play with a lead, there’s a good chance that Henry is getting his fair share of rushing yards due to the favorable game script.

Remember though, when you make a Same Game Parlay with a positive correlation, the payout will be lower. Sometimes it could be beneficial to incorporate negative correlation to try to have a higher return on investment.

An example of this could be betting the Under on rush attempts but Over on rushing yards for a running back. These two plays are contradictory, but they’re still possible to hit if the player has a highly efficient game.

How to Place an NFL Parlay Bet Online

  1. Select your potential bets, such as spread, totals, props, and more.
  2. Determine the amount of money that you will risk.
  3. Check the payout and see if it’s worth the parlay.
  4. Limit your parlays to six games to keep the difficulty at a reasonable level.

NFL Parlay Betting Strategy

The NFL season is a sprint with only 17-weeks for you to build your bankroll. This means that maximizing your earnings through parlays can be an optimal strategy.

It’s a good idea to diversify your portfolio with your parlay bets. In other words, you should combine longshot parlays with favorite parlays.

For instance, let’s say that I wanted to do a long-shot, five-team Fanatics parlay. This parlay includes Cowboys -3.5, Eagles +4.5, Chiefs -9.5, Broncos/Chargers OVER 47, and A.J. Brown OVER 80.5 Receiving Yards. This parlay would pay +2435, so I would put less money on it, let’s say $25, which would give me $608.75.

I could add a favorite parlay with something like Cowboys -200, Chiefs -1000, and Bills -450. This parlay would pay +100, so I would risk $100 on it to win $100. It’s a much more likely outcome, so there’s a good chance that I’d hit on this parlay. It would help offset any losses on my long-shot parlay. I’d have a good opportunity to be +$75 for the day in this scenario.

Benefits of NFL Parlay Betting Online

There are many different ways to bet on the NFL, but the main benefit of parlay betting is that it can lead to big payouts. The NFL has a short season of 17 weeks, so this makes it even more appealing to wager on a parlay to maximize your earnings.

This isn’t like the long grind of the 162-game season where you can slowly build your bankroll with straight bets. This is a sprint, not a marathon, which is why parlays align so well with the NFL.

NFL parlay betting is best used through online sportsbooks. This is because you can do it on your phone while on the run or within the comfort of your own home.

It’s quick and easy to deposit money and your payout is immediately put into your account following the result of your parlay. This is much more convenient than going to the casino, making your parlay, then returning to the sportsbook when you won and collecting your money.

Where Can I Legally NFL Parlay Bet Online?

  • Arizona
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Nevada
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • Tennessee
  • Virginia
  • Washington D.C.
  • West Virginia
  • Wyoming

Choose More Than One NFL Parlay Betting Site

When making parlays, it’s important to check different websites to make sure you’re getting the best odds on your wager. Some websites might offer different odds. For instance, bet365 might have the Chiefs at -7.5, but BetMGM might have them at -7.

That extra half point is huge in the NFL. If a team is winning by more than 7, there’s a good chance that they’re winning by 10 or more. This is also true for -3.5 and -10.5 point spreads. If a team is up by more than 3, there’s a chance that it isn’t 4. Be sure to monitor the differences among each sportsbook.

Author

John Arlia

Before joining The Game Day, John served as the National Writer for the United Soccer League, where he primarily covered the USL Championship out of the league’s headquarters in Tampa, FL. A devout soccer fan, John attended the men’s World Cups in Brazil and Russia and can’t wait for the 2026 edition to come to North America. Having also written for Sporting News Canada since getting his master’s from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at ASU, John has acquired a diverse sporting background, but considers football, golf, and soccer his three strong suits.

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