NFL Week 5 Tips
Week 5 of the NFL season brings a slightly reduced number of games as four teams are given a break from the demanding schedule in the first bye weeks of the season.
But there is no let-up in quality as the playoff picture begins to take shape. It kicks off on Thursday night with a heavyweight NFC West clash between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers, who are both 3-1 after four games.
Sunday’s slate features a first London showdown of the year between the Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as well as a chance for the Baltimore Ravens to bounce back from a tough start against the struggling Houston Texans and a high-stakes AFC clash between the Kansas Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday night.
Here are four of the best bets for Week 5, including a juicy total in Baltimore and a confident pick in LA.
TIP 1 – LOS ANGELES RAMS -6.5 @ 19/20
Los Angeles Rams vs San Francisco 49ers (Friday, 1:15am BST)
The Rams have dominated this series recently, winning three straight against the 49ers and covering the spread in each of the last four matchups with their division rivals.
They are back at SoFi Stadium, where they beat the previously undefeated Indianapolis Colts 27-20 last week.
With quarterback Matthew Stafford seemingly back to his best after torching the Colts’ defence for 375 yards and three touchdowns last week, they can beat San Francisco by a touchdown too.
The 49ers are banged up and coming off a tough loss to Jacksonville in which quarterback Brock Purdy may have aggravated a toe injury.
The 49ers' offensive line has been unable to prise open gaps wide enough for former NFL Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey, who was held to just 49 rushing yards last week, to exploit.
The Rams’ defence, tied for second-most sacks in the league, have plenty of game-wreckers capable of playing their part and with home-field advantage, the LA side look primed to cover.
Remember: BetMGM is paying out early when your team takes a 17-point lead, regardless of the final result. More information can be found here.
TIP 2 – MINNESOTA VIKINGS TO WIN (MONEYLINE) @ 8/15
Minnesota Vikings vs Cleveland Browns (Sunday, 2:30pm BST – at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London)
The Vikings fell to 2-2 with a 24-21 defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Croke Park in the first NFL regular-season game played in Ireland last week, although they will take heart from how their injury-ravaged roster rallied to set up a nail-biting finale.
Kevin O’Connell’s team now make the short hop from Dublin to London to face an incohesive Cleveland Browns next.
Cleveland have opted to make a change at quarterback, benching veteran Joe Flacco in favour of rookie Dillon Gabriel, although doing so on an international trip is far from ideal. The Browns have averaged just 14 points per game and face a Vikings defence that’s improving.
With less travel fatigue and a more stable offense, Minnesota should take care of business in London, having previously beaten the Browns at Twickenham in 2017.
TIP 3 – OVER 40.0 POINTS in TEXANS VS RAVENS @ 22/25
Houston Texans vs Baltimore Ravens (Sunday, 6pm BST)
Both these teams are 1-3 and desperate for a win, which could lead to a shootout in Maryland.
Only the Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions, two of the teams that were on Baltimore's brutal early-season schedule, have outscored the Ravens through four weeks.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson could play despite being bothered by a hamstring issue and that would spell trouble for the Texans' defence, albeit they have been tough against score on this season.
Houston have really struggled on offence but quarterback CJ Stroud showed glimpses of getting back to his best in their 26-0 demolition of the Tennessee Titans last week.
Stroud, who completed 22 of 28 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns, could continue his resurgence against a thin Baltimore secondary.
With both teams capable of scoring and the Ravens remaining vulnerable in defence, the over looks appealing.
TIP 4 – JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS +3.5 & OVER 46.0 points @ 23/10
Kansas City Chiefs vs Jacksonville Jaguars (Tuesday, 1:15am BST)
Monday Night Football features perennial AFC title contenders, the Kansas City Chiefs, on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have been one of the surprise packages of the season so far.
Kansas City got back to 2-2 with a Patrick Mahomes-powered 37-20 win over the Ravens last week while the Jags upset the 49ers 26-21 in Santa Clara.
Jacksonville’s success this year has been built around their improved offensive line play with the Jaguars usually winning the battles in the trenches.
Their front five have given QB Trevor Lawrence time to operate while opening lanes for a rushing attack that ranks among the league’s best.
They will have to be as good, if not better, to overcome the Chiefs. But they are a worthwhile bet to cover the spread, which they have done in their last three home games.
The over has landed in two of their last three games and the 46-point mark could be breached if Mahomes continues to find his groove.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
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