With five weeks of NFL picks under my belt, the overall record dipped into the red with last week’s 1-2 record. I fully expect to get back on track with this week’s top plays and after digging deep into all the matchups on this Sunday’s NFL slate, the following are my top three picks for Week 5 of the NFL season based on betting odds from BetOnline.
Sunday, Oct. 18
Arizona Cardinals at Pittsburgh Steelers (OVER 44)
The Oddsmakers are teasing us with such a low total line given that Arizona is ranked first in the NFL in scoring with 38 points a game. The Cardinals have almost reached this total on their own in three of its first five games including last Sunday’s 42-17 victory against Detroit. Pittsburgh’s potent offense is missing a big piece of the puzzle with Ben Roethlisberger out of the lineup, but with Michael Vick at the helm it was able to steal a 24-20 victory at San Diego this past Monday night.
The total has gone OVER in all five of Arizona’s games this season and it has gone OVER in four of its last six games on the road. Call me crazy for taking the bait, but I am going with the OVER in this game as well.
Carolina Panthers (+7) at Seattle Seahawks
The Panthers may not be getting the respect they deserve as one of six undefeated teams left in the NFL, but this is still a solid team on both sides of the ball. Carolina is ranked fourth in the league in rushing and its defense is ranked sixth in rushing yards allowed. Seattle is still trying to figure out how it blew a 17-point fourth quarter lead in a 27-24 loss to Cincinnati last Sunday and I think that the impact of that epic fail is going to spill over into this week’s game.
Carolina comes into the NFC tilt with a 3-1 record against the spread this season and it is 4-0-1 ATS in its last five games on the road. The Seahawks’ fabled home field advantage has not been good to bettors lately with a 1-3-1 record ATS in their last five home games. I am taking the seven points in this one as the Panthers earn some well-deserved respect this Sunday.
New England Patriots (-7.5) at Indianapolis Colts
The last time these two teams met was in the 2014 AFC Championship and all anyone can remember from that game was an issue with the air pressure in some of the footballs. I remember New England rolling to a 45-7 victory on its way to another Super Bowl title. The Patriots’ current form at 4-0 has it ranked as one of the top two teams in the league, while the 3-2 Colts are lucky to even be above .500. Andrew Luck should return to the lineup at quarterback, but Indy’s current problems run much deeper than that.
New England has won the last five meetings against the Colts SU and it is 4-1 ATS. You cannot help but get the feeling that the Patriots will be looking to make another statement on Sunday night after winning their first four games by a combined 73 points.
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