NFL Week 5 Betting Card: Three Games, Two Underdogs, One Smash Play on Total

This week’s NFL slate of games lacks some sizzle, but we’re still here to help you build out your betting card.

Let’s have some fun and make some cake on Sunday. It’s worth noting that the Falcons, Bears, Packers, and Steelers all have bye weeks.

NFL Week 5 Best Bets

Vikings (-3.5, 36.5) vs. Browns

Set that alarm if you’re planning on raging Saturday night, as kickoff comes Sunday in London at 9:30 a.m. ET on NFL Network. Actually, this isn’t exactly appointment viewing, so feel free to enjoy a “lie-in” as the Brits say.

Rookie QB Dillon Gabriel will make his NFL debut, replacing 40-year-old Joe Flacco for the Browns. Cleveland has the unenviable distinction of being the second-lowest scoring team in the NFL at 14 points per game. Only the Tennessee Titans (12.8) have been more impotent offensively.

Having said all that, Minnesota will be without three starters on the offensive line. That’s bad news when you’re facing a Cleveland defense that will have stud defensive end Myles Garrett (ankle) in the lineup. “I’m a never-say-die kind of guy,” Garrett said. “So you’d have to kill me to keep me from being on the field.”

The total opened at 41.5, but it has dropped to 36.5 due to injuries and a rookie starting his first game at QB. The majority of bettors (72%) at BetMGM sided with the favored Vikings, but we’ll take three-and-a-hook in a game that could still go UNDER that modest total.

Pick: Browns +3.5

Broncos vs. Eagles (-3.5, 43.5)

Philadelphia (4-0 SU, 3-1 ATS) remains unbeaten, but the Eagles need to get WR AJ Brown going at some point. Brown had just two catches for seven yards in last week’s win over Tampa Bay, serving as an absolute anchor for one fantasy football manager.

Denver could also be unbeaten if it weren’t for two last-second field goals to the Colts and Chargers, respectively. Bo Nix threw for 326 yards and two TDs in last week’s 28-3 rout over Cincinnati. That could be a stepping stone for bigger things on Sunday.

Saquon Barkley, who averages 19.25 carries per game, should be even more of a factor on Sunday. We’re expecting Philly to run its way to a close win, with this game coming down to a late FG.

Picks: Broncos +3.5, Saquon Barkley OVER 19.5 carries (-105)

Buccaneers (+3.5, 44.5) vs. Seahawks

Depending on your worldview, this can be considered the game of the week. Seriously, there are no actual marquee matchups on offer this weekend. Former Carolina teammates Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold face off in a quarterback matchup worth watching.

Seattle has been lackluster against the number as a host, going 2-7 ATS in its last nine home games. The Seahawks are awaiting a breakout game from new WR Cooper Kupp, who’s been limited to 31 or fewer receiving yards in three of four games so far. He’s yet to find the end zone this season.

Seattle ranks near the top of the league with 27.8 points per game, and Tampa Bay (24.3 ppg) can be explosive even without injured WR Mike Evans (hamstring). Even if he fails to return to the lineup on Sunday, this is our favorite smash OVER play of the weekend.

Pick: OVER 44.5