NFL rosters start to take shape

[Jedini]

Traditionally, Week 3 of the NFL preseason is when teams begin finalizing their starting line-ups, which gives NFL football betting fans a chance to see how rosters really stack up this season.

betED.com has NFL betting odds for all 16 games this week, which kick off Thursday with a televised tilt between the San Francisco 49ers and the Chicago Bears (8 pm ET, FOX).

The Bears are a 3½-point home favorite at betED.com and the over/under total is 37.

While both teams struggled last season, Chicago has the upper hand head-to-head, going 4-2 straight-up over the past six meetings. The teams have split the past six against the spread.

On Friday, the Battle of Texas takes place in Dallas, with the Cowboys a 5-point favorite over the Houston Texans (8 pm ET, CBS). The total is 40.

The teams have played each other evenly over the past two meetings, each going 1-1 SU and ATS. Both games have gone under the total. The last time they squared off was Oct. 15, 2006, when the Cowboys bombed the Texans 34-6 as a 13-point home favorite.

And on Saturday, the Pittsburgh Steelers visit the Minnesota Vikings (8 pm ET, CBS), with the Steelers a 3-point road favorite and the total at 37.

Pittsburgh has a slight edge in recent meetings, going 2-1 SU but 1-2 ATS. They last met on Dec. 18, 2005, when the Steelers won 18-3 as 4½-point road favorites.

Other games of note in Week 3 of the NFL Preseason include the New York Giants taking on the New York Jets on Saturday, with Brett Favre and the Jets a 3-point home favorite and the total at 38, and the San Diego Chargers a 3½-point home favorite against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football (8 pm ET, ESPN).