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NFL Betting: Week 5 Top Matchups
Week 4 of the NFL’s regular season saw some parity added to the standings as four teams earned their first losses on the year. That means only one unbeaten team remains: the Arizona Cardinals. They faced their stiffest competition to date on Sunday when they beat the Los Angeles Rams 37-20 as 4-point underdogs. That improves the Cardinals’ NFL betting record to 3-1 ATS on the season. Only the Dallas Cowboys have a better record against the spread this year at a perfect 4-0.
With so many teams fighting for positioning within their respective divisions, there are some intriguing opportunities for upsets on the NFL Week 5 odds board. To get you ready, we’ll break down the top matchups and provide the latest gamelines at Bodog Sportsbook.
Los Angeles Rams (-2.5) @ Seattle Seahawks
Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington
Thursday, October 7, 8:20 PM ET
The Seahawks (2-2 SU and ATS) came up with a big victory on the road versus the San Francisco 49ers in Week 4. Seattle’s offense struggled mightily in this game, however, as they managed just 234 total yards on the day. As for LA (3-1 SU, 2-2 ATS), they fell to the Arizona Cardinals in a game that looked out of reach from the second quarter on. LA gave up 216 yards on the ground against Kyler Murray and the Cards, and now rank in the bottom half of the league in that category (123.5 yards per game). Given Seattle’s preference for the passing game, the Rams’ have been pegged a 2.5-point road favourites.
Green Bay Packers (-3) @ Cincinnati Bengals
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
Sunday, October 10, 1 PM ET
Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers (3-1 SU and ATS) have rebounded in a big way after a shocking loss in Week 1. They’ve won three straight games and now sit atop a very weak NFC North. But with victories against the Lions, 49ers and Steelers, it’ll be interesting to see how they perform against a 3-1 SU Cincinnati Bengals (3-1 SU, 2-2 ATS) team that is 2-0 at home. Bengals’ RB Joe Mixon, who ranks third in the NFL in rushing yards, suffered an ankle sprain in Week 4 versus the Jaguars. He’s listed as day-to-day, and given his uncertain status, the Packers are laying three points.
Philadelphia Eagles @ Carolina Panthers (-3.5)
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, Carolina
Sunday, October 10, 1 PM ET
The Carolina Panthers (3-1 SU and ATS) were another team that suffered their first loss of the season in Week 4 in a 36-28 drubbing by the Dallas Cowboys. However, QB Sam Darnold looks like a player reborn and leads the NFL with five rushing TDs on the year. The Eagles (1-3 SU and ATS) give up the third-most rushing yards in the NFL (150.3/game), but with Carolina’s Christian McCaffery out until at least Week 6, the Eagles may have dodged a bullet. That said, Philly is going to need someone to step up in the run game; they’ve managed just 169 rushing yards from anyone not named Jalen Hurts.
New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys (-7)
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Sunday, October 10, 4:20 PM ET
This NFC East matchup isn’t what it used to be. The Giants (1-3 SU, 2-2 ATS) are still in the thick of a rebuild and will likely be the worst team in the division this season. However, the Dallas Cowboys (3-1 SU, 4-0 ATS) have won three straight and have watched their odds for Super Bowl betting shoot up to +1600 in the process. Dak and co. are firing on all cylinders, and the Cowboys’ defense looks legitimate for the first time in years, ranking second in takeaways (10). Dallas should easily cover the 7-point spread to maintain their perfect betting record, but they’ll need New York’s offense to show up for the 52-point total to pay Over (-115) bettors.
San Francisco 49ers @ Arizona Cardinals (-5.5)
State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Sunday, October 10, 4:25 PM ET
Cardinals’ QB Kyler Murray is finally looking like the player Arizona (4-0 SU, 3-1 ATS) thought they were drafting back in 2019 with the first overall pick. The addition of DeAndre Hopkins to a wideout corps that already features AJ Green and Christian Kirk has brought Murray’s passing game to another level. While San Fran’s (2-2 SU, 1-3 ATS) passing D ranks in the top half of the NFL, it’s hard to imagine any team being able to stop Murray in the air or on the ground.
Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City Chiefs (-3)
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Sunday, October 10, 8:20 PM ET
If the Buffalo Bills (3-1 SU and ATS) were looking for a measuring stick game for the 2021 season, they got it in their Week 5 matchup versus Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs (2-2 SU, 1-3 ATS), the +550 favourites on the Super Bowl odds board. While the Chiefs have struggled in the early going, surrendering an average of 31.3 points per game, they still have the most talented team, led by a world-class quarterback.
This will be a game of strength versus strength. Buffalo’s defense has allowed just 11 points per game this season and leads the NFL in takeaways (11). But with the total set at 56.5 and the Chiefs favoured by three points on the NFL odds board, we’re expecting the Chiefs to win the battle.
Indianapolis Colts @ Baltimore Ravens (-7)
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
Monday, October 11, 8:15 PM ET
Both the Ravens (3-1 SU, 2-2 ATS) and Colts (1-3 SU, 2-2 ATS) are coming off of victories in Week 4. The win over Miami broke the Colts’ goose egg on the season, and despite those three losses, Indi has just a -14 point differential. They’ll be hard-pressed to replicate that effort on Monday Night Football in Maryland, however.