NFL Week 5 Picks: Best Bets Vs. The Spread

Hi! Do you enjoy football? How about winning money? If you answered yes to either or both of those questions, the following is in your wheelhouse. Here are the Smarter picks for Week 5 of the NFL season. These are against the spread, and the spreads and percentages are courtesy of Pregame.com.

Season Record: 6-6

Houston Texans (+6.5) over MINNESOTA VIKINGS

This pick is all about the points. The Vikings are riding high at 4-0, and having just shut down Odell Beckham Jr. on primetime. They have a bye week coming up. It’s a classic letdown game situation.

Houston is no slouch either, and it’s tough to write off a 3-1 team with a spread of a touchdown. DeAndre Hopkins is going to come out on fire after being held to a single catch last week, and squeaky wheels get grease. The problem with laying 6.5 to Houston is that they have such explosive playmakers; in addition to Hopkins, Minnesota will have to stack the box to deal with RB Lamar Miller, and also figure out how to keep rookie WR Will Fuller from taking the top off their secondary. It won’t be easy, and while Minnesota may win, it’s going to be close.

Cincinnati Bengals (+1.5) over DALLAS COWBOYS

The Cowboys are riding high behind the rookie duo of Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott, but what they’ll have on their hands Sunday is a desperate Bengals team looking to keep pace in a high-powered AFC North. Surprisingly, A.J. Green isn’t the Bengal to watch, as the Cowboys have been stout vs. No. 1 receivers. It’s the Bengals defense.

Cincinnati is Top 10 against the run and the pass, and with Dez Bryant hobbled – or out – the Cowboys will not have the muscle to put up many points. This has the makings of a low-scoring brawl, and the Bengals simply need it more.

DETROIT LIONS (+3.0) over Philadelphia Eagles

Anybody else not buying Philly as an undefeated juggernaut? I like Carson Wentz as much as the next guy, but I don’t believe this offense is as potent as it’s shown, or the defense is as sturdy as they’ve been. The Lions have looked bad lately, but they have an uptempo offense, strong weapons at the skill positions, and a gunslinger in Matthew Stafford who can light up any defense.

The Eagles have put up their 3-0 record against the sixth-easiest schedule in the NFL, and while the Lions aren’t going to boost their DVOA as a 1-3 team, they are better than they’ve played. Plus…home underdogs are always fun to root for.