It’s a weird week for us to start our NFL picks as there are eight inter-conference games. Moreover the divisional match-ups are unfavorable to bettors since they are in volatile divisions where you don’t know what you’ll get from week to week from the teams. Bet with caution except for his week as the plays don’t leap off the page at you like they did weeks 1-4.
GREEN LIGHT!
Ravens +1 at CHIEFS
Ravens-CHIEFS UNDER 52
The Ravens have been an ATM machine for bettors the last two years except for two weird hiccups, one against the lowly Seahawks. The Chiefs used to be unbeatable at Arrowhead even in lean years, but they are terrible there as well now. This is a clear AWITP bet: a cast iron playoff team getting points against a perma-slump cellar dweller…even on the road. The Ravens defense isn’t what it once was, but it’s not dead either. They should keep this one well under.
AMBER ALERT!
Packers -1 at COLTS
Cardinals-RAMS over 32.5
What was that I just said about find the strong playoff team getting points against the basement tenant? Same idea here: All the Packers have to do is win the game and you do no worse than push. Cardinals-RAMS is one of those traps I always warn you about – weak division with inconsistent teams. This should go over with two good offenses.
Something to watch carefully: The Cardinals and 49ers are on the rise – there may soon come a paradigm shift towards this division in favor of bettors if this trend continues. Remember – no team in the NFL was better against the spread last year than the 49ers. By the way – QUICK! what division is the best on football so far? (Most wins cumulative, and fewest losses…) The NFC West!
RED LIGHT!
This one is for degenerates only, we don’t recommend these picks! As they say, for ENTERTAINMENT purposes only…
Cardinals +4.5 at RAMS
STEELERS-Eagles UNDER 52
The Cardinals getting 4.5 against a formerly putrid, but now up-and-coming Rams team is a play that leaps off the page (what with the Cards having a 4-0 record, they are the new darlings of the NFL), but I’m still leery because of all the divisions in the NFL, to date only the NFC South is as unpredictable as the NFC South. Remember the year Seattle got in the playoffs at 7-9?. The Steelers are supposedly getting both Harrison and Polamalu back, but I’ll feel better when they take the field. Roethlisberger has a few more weapons than last year, but Rashard Mendenhall returns too, so watch for him to fumble. It’s what he’s best at.
