The NFL Blog: 2009 Week 5 Betting Lines

Last Week: Vs. Spread (6-8); Straight Up (11-3)
Season: Vs. Spread (31-31); Straight Up (43-19)

Week 4 Review: After a losing week against the spread I’m back to .500 for the season.

Week 5 Preview: This is an interesting week. We may find out more about who is a contender and who is a pretender.

Sunday’s Early Games

Cincinnati (+9) @ Baltimore
Pick: Ravens win but Bengals beat the spread
Comment: I don’t think history is that relevant here because both of these teams seem to be different from their recent forms. The Ravens now depend on their offense as much as their defense. Cincinnati is running the ball, playing decent defense, and showing up each week. I think they’ll hang around against the Ravens.

Cleveland (+6) @ Buffalo
Pick: Bills cover
Comment: Buffalo was awful last week while the Browns nearly got off the schnide against Cinci. But this week I think the Bills will hammer the Browns.

Washington (+3.5) @ Carolina
Pick: Panthers win but Redskins beat the spread
Comment: The Panthers will be coming off of a bye and the Skins are struggling. But I don’t think Carolina will get it together enough to cover.

Pittsburgh (-10.5) @ Detroit
Pick: Steelers cover
Comment: Regardless of whether or not Stafford plays, the Steelers should win by at least 2 TD’s.

Dallas (-9) @ Kansas City
Pick: Cowboys win but Chiefs beat the spread
Comment: The Cowboys are lacking in heart again and the Chiefs are full of fight.

Oakland (+16) @ New York Giants
Pick: Giants cover
Comment: How bad will it get for the Raiders offensively this year? I think Eli will play and the Giants will roll.

Tampa Bay (+12) @ Philadelphia
Pick: Eagles cover
Comment: D Mac should be back and the Eagles should beat down the Bucs.

Minnesota (-10) @ St. Louis
Pick: Vikings cover
Comment: The Rams are flat out awful. They have lost 14 straight. They’ve lost all 4 games this year; they’ve been shutout twice already; and they are just 1-3 ATS, with 3 losses by at least 19 points. Minnesota is 4-0 and 3-1 ATS. The Vikes should blow the Lams out.

Sunday’s Late Games

Atlanta (+2.5) @ San Francisco
Pick: Niners cover
Comment: Even with Frank Gore out for the Niners and the Falcons coming off of a bye this is going to be a tough trip for Atlanta. I hope I’m wrong on this one.

Houston (+6) @ Arizona
Pick: Cardinals cover
Comment: I think Houston’s pattern of alternating good and bad performances will continue. The Cards are coming off of a bye and need a convincing win.

New England (-3) @ Denver
Pick: Patriots cover
Comment: I like Bela and his boys to deal Josh McDaniels his first career loss.

Jacksonville (-3) @ Seattle
Pick: Seahawks pull off the upset
Comment: Seattle has been crush by injuries but I think they’ll get healthy on the field this week.

Sunday Night’s Game

Indianapolis (-3.5) @ Tennessee
Pick: Colts cover
Comment: I’m starting to believe that the Titans are finished.

Monday Night’s Game

New York Jets (-1) @ Miami
Pick: Jets cover
Comment: There must be some mistake here. This spread looks like a gimmie to me (which usually means a trap).