The NFL Blog: 2012 Week 5 Betting Lines

Last Week: Vs. Spread: (11-4); Straight Up: (10-5)

Season: Vs. Spread: (37-24-2); Straight Up: (35-28)

Week 4 Review: It was a successful week for me in the pros. Too bad I can’t get both CFB and NFL rolling together. One of the strange things about my record to this point is that I’ve been slightly better ATS than I have been picking winners straight up. 

Week 5 Preview: There are just 14 games this week, as 4 teams take their bye. Despite the smaller schedule, we’ve got an interesting slate of games ahead of us. The week opens with 1 of the 3 remaining undefeated teams playing on Thursday night and ends with another undefeated team playing on Monday. On Sunday night winless New Orleans is actually favored at home against the 3-1 Chargers. 

The most interesting matchup of the early games this Sunday is the Battle of Pennsylvania with Philly visiting Pittsburgh. In the later portion of the Sunday schedule we get the annual Manning vs. Brady game, only this time it’ll be New England vs. Denver. 

As for me, I know I say this all the time, but I have a feeling that this week could end in disaster. I’m not taking a single underdog to win straight up; that seems unlikely to happen. I’m also taking 11 of 14 favorites ATS, including 6 on the road. Overall, I’m taking 9 of the 14 road teams to cover. 

Thursday Night’s Game

Arizona (-1) @ St. Louis

Pick: Cards cover

Sunday’s Early Games 

Atlanta (-3) @ Washington

Pick: Falcons cover

Philadelphia (+3.5) @ Pittsburgh

Pick: Steelers win but Eagles beat the spread

Green Bay (-7) @ Indianapolis

Pick: Packers cover

Cleveland (+9.5) @ New York Giants

Pick: Giants cover

Miami (+4) @ Cincinnati

Pick: Bengals cover

Baltimore (-5) @ Kansas City

Pick: Ravens cover

Sunday’s Late Games

Seattle (+3) @ Carolina

Pick: Panthers win but Seahawks beat the spread

Chicago (-5.5) @ Jacksonville

Pick: Bears cover

Denver (+6.5) @ New England

Pick: Patriots cover

Buffalo (+10) @ San Francisco

Pick: Niners cover

Tennessee (+6) @ Minnesota

Pick: Vikings cover

Sunday Night’s Game

San Diego (+3.5) @ New Orleans

Pick: Saints win but Chargers beat the spread

Monday Night’s Game

Houston (-9) @ New York Jets

Pick: Texans cover