NFL Live Betting Guide Week 3: In-Game Betting Tips for Sunday's Top Matchups

You can find some sublime value during in-game betting, and my NFL live betting guide for Week 3, part of the NFL picks, offers insight and recommendations for various scenarios while highlighting some betting trends to be on the lookout for. 

I've honed in on Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football, along with Sunday's marquee game featuring the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles. 

You can supplement this guide by diving into our NFL predictions for Week 3 to help make more informed betting decisions before kickoff.

NFL live betting strategy for Week 3

Here are the odds for Week 3's marquee games, and the angles I'll be targeting for live betting as the games unfold on Sunday and Monday.

📺 NFL live betting guide: Rams vs. Eagles, Sunday at 1 p.m. ET

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 21
• Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET
• Location: Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
• How to watch: FOX

While Jalen Hurts is 16-0 in his last 16 starts, the Eagles are just 5-5 ATS in their previous 10 home regular-season games. The Rams, meanwhile, are 7-0 in their last seven regular-season away games. That's one of various reasons why I backed the Rams in my NFL picks against the spread. 

Keep that in mind, along with the following tips, when employing your in-game betting strategy:

• The Rams trailed at halftime in their first two games, but prevailed. If they're down entering the third and the game is close, you'll find a ton of value on the spread and moneyline
• Matthew Stafford is among the most clutch QBs through two weeks, but hasn't yet orchestrated a fourth-quarter comeback or a game-winning drive this season. He had five game-winning drives and three fourth-quarter comebacks last season. He also has the fourth-best fourth-quarter rating through two games, and all three of his TD passes came after halftime, so the same applies as above: If the Rams enter the fourth within reach, consider backing them or getting in on Stafford's passing props
• The Under hit in three of the four Rams and Eagles games. Even if both teams score early, consider backing the Under. You'll get excellent value in doing so
• Hurts still doesn't have a passing TD this season. If he doesn't toss one early, consider getting in on his TD passing market. It's another prop you'll get outstanding value on, especially as the Rams have only allowed one passing TD against

📺 NFL live betting guide: Chiefs vs. Giants, SNF, Sunday at 8:20 p.m. ET

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 21
• Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. ET
• Location: MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, N.J.)
• How to watch: NBC

I'm backing the Chiefs to not only pick up their first win of the season, but to also cover the 5.5-point spread as a road underdog. Here are a few things to look out for during the game at MetLife Stadium on Sunday Night Football:

• The Chiefs' running game has been pretty much non-existent, with the exception of Patrick Mahomes. He has averaged 61.5 rushing yards over the first two games. His total is set at between 27.5 and 29.5 yards, so keep a close eye on how the New York Giants try to contain him, and make the call. There could be exceptional value in the Over if Mahomes starts slow. However, make sure he isn't being smothered in the pocket before pulling the trigger
• Mahomes has two rushing TDs, one in each game. He scored both with the Chiefs trailing by seven points or fewer. If the game is close, or if they're trailing, look for the player to score next market and decide if there's enough value
• Historically, Giants QB Russell Wilson hasn't performed as well against man coverage, which Chiefs' defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo loves to deploy. Keep an eye on Wilson's passing yards total and, if things pan out as I envision, look for the Under play that offers the most value. But make the decision before the value diminishes

📺 NFL live betting guide: Lions vs. Ravens, MNF, Monday at 8:15 p.m. ET

• Date: Monday, Sept. 22
• Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET
• Location: M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore)
• How to watch: ABC/ESPN

Lamar Jackson has an outstanding record against NFC teams, with a 24-2 straight-up mark and 14-0 when tagged as a 6-point favorite or more. However, the MVP odds contender is just 13-12-1 ATS and 9-12-1 ATS as a betting favorite in that 26-game sample size. 

• The large sample size provides enough evidence to back the Lions to cover as the underdog if the game script goes as follows: If the Lions get through the first quarter relatively unscathed, trailing by no more than 7 or 10 points, consider backing them at higher-value odds
• Ten of the previous 13 games featuring either team hit the Over. So, if you have a good feeling about the Over pre-game, and there aren't many points scored in the first few drives, think about locking it in at longer odds
• Five of Jared Goff's six TD passes came when the Lions were in the lead, five of which were against the Chicago Bears' defense. Get a feel for how Goff is playing against the Ravens' defense before getting in on his TD passing props. If he looks good to start, consider backing Goff to throw at least two, possibly three TD passes. He has thrown at least three in five of the previous seven regular-season games
• Lamar Jackson hasn't thrown fewer than two TD passes at home in the last six in the regular season. In that stretch, he's averaged three per game. Seize the opportunity for added value in this market if he doesn't get off the mark quickly

💡 NFL live betting strategy tips

Live betting is all about getting a feel for the game as you watch. Trust your gut and the on-field play, and make the call before the value seeps away. Alternative totals are an excellent way to optimize profits. If you see something develop, trust yourself and commit.

Don't overcommit, though. Sometimes, patience is the name of the game.

Check back each week for our live betting strategy, which will be jam-packed with real-life live betting examples from previous weeks, helping to inform subsequent live betting opportunities. 

❓ NFL live betting FAQs

How do you live bet the NFL?

Head to one of the best live betting sites, click on the NFL, and find the game you're interested in. It will have live betting options once you click on that game. Sportsbooks will also have a live betting section. 

What can you bet on live in the NFL?

You can live bet on a variety of markets, including moneyline, spread betting, next team to score, Over/Under, player props such as next touchdown, and countless others. 

Is it profitable to live bet the NFL?

Live betting can be profitable if you take advantage of odds when the value is high. You can make calculated decisions during TV timeouts and between plays. Watching a game and getting a feel for it is a beneficial way to stay informed, which can lead to sound decisions. It also helps to negate the sportsbooks' inherent advantage when setting odds and betting lines.

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