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NFL odds: Week 5 opening line report
There are three undefeated teams left standing after four weeks of football. The Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans improved to 4-0 this past Sunday, but books are treating them all very differently heading into Week 5 of the NFL schedule.
The Falcons (3-1 ATS) are 3-point road favorites in D.C. Sunday, taking on the Washington Redskins. The Sports Club, a Nevada-based odds service, originally sent out Atlanta -2. But sportsbooks tabbed on an additional point, making the spread a clean field goal and forcing bettors to take a long look at the underdog.
“We're definitely low here and we like the higher number we see out there,” Peter Korner, founder of The Sports Club, says. “After a lot of hype, the Skins have settled down to the team we had medium expectations for. The Falcons are every bit as good as they appear.”
The Cardinals nearly lost their first game of the season against the Miami Dolphins last Sunday, needing overtime to stay perfect. Arizona (3-1 ATS), a profitable underdog through the first three weeks, is again the betting favorite, sitting as slight 1-point chalk in St. Louis Thursday night. The Sports Club suggested an opening number of Cardinals -2. Online books opened with Arizona as high as -2.5 which has since been bet down as low as pick'em.
"We're right there with this line. In fact, we're a little higher and that's where we prefer to be," says Korner. "Entering undefeated, the Cardinals are the better team and we recommend to keep the parlay cards above the current line as well."
As for the Texans (4-0 ATS), some books are dealing Houston -9 heading to the Meadowlands to face the New York Jets on Monday Night Football. The Sports Club originally suggested Texans -7 and many books followed suit, opening the spread around a touchdown.
However, with the Jets’ dismal offensive effort against the San Francisco 49ers – another stout defensive team like Houston – early money is fading the home side and has driven the spread as high as -9 at some online markets.
Korner has suggested his clients stay high on this game and expects the sharp money to lay the big favorite for this prime time matchup. The Jets have a loyal public following and the murmurs surrounding a QB switch from Mark Sanchez to Tim Tebow will only fuel the fire.
Here are the opening odds for some of the biggest NFL games on the Week 5 schedule:
Denver Broncos at New England Patriots (-7, 51.5)
This game will get a ton of media coverage thanks to the Manning vs. Brady angle. The early money has moved this spread from as low as 6.5 to as high as 7.5. The Sports Club sent out a suggested spread of -8 on Sunday and expects to see a lot of parlay cards tied into this game.
“This is a no-brainer with the -7.5. Being a late game with few options for bettors at this point, (books should) stay clear of Patriot money as much as (they) can,” says Korner. “Denver has shown they are Jekyll-and-Hyde at home versus the road.”
Philadelphia Eagles at Pittsburgh Steelers (-3.5, 44)
The Battle for Pennsylvania is leaning slightly in favor of the Steelers, who welcome their state rivals to Heinz Field Sunday. The Sports Club’s oddsmakers sent out Pittsburgh -4, however, some online books are already down to a field goal with money on Philadelphia.
Korner says the numbers are pretty solid for this AFC North-NFC East showdown. The Steelers are coming off the bye while the Eagles escaped with a home win against the New York Giants in Week 4 to lead the division at 3-1 (0-3-1 ATS).
Philadelphia is 5-2 SU and 4-3 ATS in its last seven meeting with Pittsburgh, going back to 1988.
There are three undefeated teams left standing after four weeks of football. The Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans improved to 4-0 this past Sunday, but books are treating them all very differently heading into Week 5 of the NFL schedule.
The Falcons (3-1 ATS) are 3-point road favorites in D.C. Sunday, taking on the Washington Redskins. The Sports Club, a Nevada-based odds service, originally sent out Atlanta -2. But sportsbooks tabbed on an additional point, making the spread a clean field goal and forcing bettors to take a long look at the underdog.
“We're definitely low here and we like the higher number we see out there,” Peter Korner, founder of The Sports Club, says. “After a lot of hype, the Skins have settled down to the team we had medium expectations for. The Falcons are every bit as good as they appear.”
The Cardinals nearly lost their first game of the season against the Miami Dolphins last Sunday, needing overtime to stay perfect. Arizona (3-1 ATS), a profitable underdog through the first three weeks, is again the betting favorite, sitting as slight 1-point chalk in St. Louis Thursday night. The Sports Club suggested an opening number of Cardinals -2. Online books opened with Arizona as high as -2.5 which has since been bet down as low as pick'em.
"We're right there with this line. In fact, we're a little higher and that's where we prefer to be," says Korner. "Entering undefeated, the Cardinals are the better team and we recommend to keep the parlay cards above the current line as well."
As for the Texans (4-0 ATS), some books are dealing Houston -9 heading to the Meadowlands to face the New York Jets on Monday Night Football. The Sports Club originally suggested Texans -7 and many books followed suit, opening the spread around a touchdown.
However, with the Jets’ dismal offensive effort against the San Francisco 49ers – another stout defensive team like Houston – early money is fading the home side and has driven the spread as high as -9 at some online markets.
Korner has suggested his clients stay high on this game and expects the sharp money to lay the big favorite for this prime time matchup. The Jets have a loyal public following and the murmurs surrounding a QB switch from Mark Sanchez to Tim Tebow will only fuel the fire.
Here are the opening odds for some of the biggest NFL games on the Week 5 schedule:
Denver Broncos at New England Patriots (-7, 51.5)
This game will get a ton of media coverage thanks to the Manning vs. Brady angle. The early money has moved this spread from as low as 6.5 to as high as 7.5. The Sports Club sent out a suggested spread of -8 on Sunday and expects to see a lot of parlay cards tied into this game.
“This is a no-brainer with the -7.5. Being a late game with few options for bettors at this point, (books should) stay clear of Patriot money as much as (they) can,” says Korner. “Denver has shown they are Jekyll-and-Hyde at home versus the road.”
Philadelphia Eagles at Pittsburgh Steelers (-3.5, 44)
The Battle for Pennsylvania is leaning slightly in favor of the Steelers, who welcome their state rivals to Heinz Field Sunday. The Sports Club’s oddsmakers sent out Pittsburgh -4, however, some online books are already down to a field goal with money on Philadelphia.
Korner says the numbers are pretty solid for this AFC North-NFC East showdown. The Steelers are coming off the bye while the Eagles escaped with a home win against the New York Giants in Week 4 to lead the division at 3-1 (0-3-1 ATS).
Philadelphia is 5-2 SU and 4-3 ATS in its last seven meeting with Pittsburgh, going back to 1988.
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