“Pick ‘Em or Kick ‘Em”™: FGT VS. Urban Sports Scene 2023 Week 3 NFL Picks

September 21, 2023

By the Football Garbage Time Staff

If you followed last year, you won over 60% of your picks, and we aim to do even better this year.

And if you’ve been following us, you know that we here at Football Garbage Time have gone head-to-head against Wally, Will and Ray at Urban Sports Scene on our NFL Picks for the last 6 seasons. Why? Because they’re awesome competitors, they KNOW their sports, and, heck, they’re just good guys! This year we’ll have their picks up right HERE, so keep it tuned in, to both us and them, because we’ll be picking all season all long.

Without further to do, here we go:

Week 3 Games

Ha Kung Wong’s Picks

Ha Kung’s Thoughts:

After a 64.7% record two seasons ago, I ended last season 63.3% (178-103). So that’s eight years in a row with over a 60% pick rate. I also ended up 16-4 for Locks of Week (80%) and 8-12 for Upsets of the Week (40%) which is also eight years in a row of Locks being over 70%. I was 10-6 in Week 2 picking up for a rough start and am now 16-16 (50%) overall for the season, but I did nail my Lock of the Week (Bills) and Upset of the Week (Falcons) meaning I’m 100% for both Locks and Upsets so far. And there are plenty of weeks to go!

Let’s get to that Lock (for Survivor Leagues) and Upset for Week 3…

Lock of the Week ➡ Jacksonville Jaguars (-10.0) over Houston Texans

The Texans are better than I thought they’d be with rookie CJ Stroud under center, but they’ve got a long way to go until we can consider them actually good. The Texans are allowing the 6th most points per week to opposing offenses (28) while scoring the 4th least points per week (14.5). The Jaguars on the other hand don’t quite live up to the preseason hype, but they’re doing just fine, only narrowly losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2. The Jags should have no problem moving the ball on the Texans, so lock it in.

Upset of the Week ➡ Tennessee Titans (+3.0) over Cleveland Browns

The Browns had some horrible luck losing their all-pro starting running back, Nick Chubb, for the season. I know they like Jerome Ford and they’ve re-signed Kareem Hunt, but it’s tough to overestimate the impact of losing Chubb. Deshaun Watson has been play far under what’s being paid, and it’s starting to look like the Deshaun Watson of the Houston Texans days may be gone for good. The Titans aren’t world beaters, but they did play a solid game beating the Chargers in Week 2, and only fell one point shy of the Saints in Week 1. If Derrick Henry misses the game due to injury, I may have to pivot on this one, but so long as he plays, I like the potential for an upset here.

Joanne Kong’s Picks

Scott King’s Picks

Scott’s Thoughts:

Week 3 is already upon us and the league is starting to come into focus. There are a ton of injuries going on right now. Not only to skill fantasy players but in the trenches also. Teams depth is being tested. I’m just trying to hold my own early on and not get too far behind. Big matchup at the FXP household this weekend as Lions and Falcons face off. Loser has to wear the other teams jersey. Let’s go Lions.

Wole’s Picks

Wole’s Thoughts:

Check out Wole’s thoughts on his picks in the recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

Ray’s Picks

Ray’s Thoughts:

Check out Ray’s thoughts on his picks in the most recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

Will’s Picks

Will’s Thoughts:

Check out Will’s thoughts on his picks in the most recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

Ryan’s Picks

Coming Soon!

George’s Picks

George’s Thoughts:

Last week was awful, let’s bounce back and start with Tennessee turning their season around against the L.A. Chargers with a 4th quarter comeback. They’ve got momentum while Cleveland (as predicted by me) had a very typical Browns loss at Pittsburgh. Deshaun Watson is struggling, and the natives are already getting restless. Even Ryan Tannehill is out playing him right now. Take the Titans.

Speaking of the Chargers, what do you know they lost yet another game where they’ve led in the 4th quarter. And you can’t blame that defense forever. At some point there need to be conversations about the anti-clutchness of Justin Herbert. I’m taking the Vikings in part because Cam Akers can give that running game a much needed boost and because they are at home.

The other tough game to take a side in is New England at the N.Y. Jets. Well I am not a Mac Jones fan and the Dolphins should’ve blown them out last week. Jets defense will get several turnovers and will score. Go with the Jets.

Last tossup game is Pittsburgh at Las Vegas. If the Raiders can simply avoid turnovers then the Steelers offense is nowhere near good enough to keep up with them. Pound Josh Jacobs and take care of the football to get the win.

Three clear eliminator picks this week. The 49ers against the Saquon-less Giants. The Chiefs against the unraveling Bears and the Cowboys at hapless Arizona (which will sound like a Cowboys home game). If you’ve already used the Ravens then well done because they are a trap this week. Colts are sneaky dangerous if Gardner Minshew starts.