Week 4 NFL panel picks: Can Brady, Bucs crush Belichick, Patriots?

Throughout the 2021 season, a panel of Sportsnet’s NFL contributors will preview each week’s slate of games from a gambling perspective. Staff writer/host Donnovan Bennett, staff writers Emily Sadler and Mike Johnston, plus fantasy writers Andy McNamara and Matt Marchese will pick one FAVOURITE, one UNDERDOG, one OVER, one UNDER, including their personal LOCK, as they attempt to beat the odds

Week 4 kicks off with the burgeoning Bengals hosting the winless Jaguars in a game that sees No. 1 picks Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence go head-to-head for the first time since their national title game matchup a couple years ago when Burrow represented LSU and Lawrence Clemson.

Sandwiched between Thursday’s game and a Monday Night Football showdown between the AFC West’s Raiders and Chargers is a pair of intriguing NFC West games (Cardinals at Rams; Seahawks at 49ers) plus Tom Brady’s and Rob Gronkowski’s anticipated return to Foxboro as the Bucs visit Bill Belichick the Patriots.

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For the most part the Sportsnet.ca panel has stumbled out of the gates this season and just like the Kansas City Chiefs they’re looking for better results this week. Emily has been the Cooper Kupp of the panel, enjoying a hot start and coming off a 4-0 Week 3 performance. This week Donnovan and Andy disagree on a couple games, while Matt and Mike both eye the Cardinals-Rams contest for their locks of the week.

Here are the Week 4 picks.

Donnovan Bennett, staff writer/host
2021 record: 5-7-0
Last week: 2-2-0
Locks: 1-2-0

🏈 Giants at Saints OVER 43.5
🏈 Buccaneers at Patriots UNDER 49
🏈 Texans (+16.5) at Bills
🔒 Cowboys (-5) vs. Panthers

The Cowboys defence under Dan Quinn is thriving. Next they get a Carolina offence without their best player in Christian McCaffrey. Dallas leads the NFL with eight takeaways, including six interceptions all while playing man coverage 62 per cent of the time. That’s third most in the NFL. Expect more of the same in a comfortable Dallas win.

Emily Sadler, staff writer
2021 record: 9-3-0
Last week: 4-0-0
Locks: 2-1-0

🏈 Raiders at Chargers OVER 52.5
🏈 Washington at Falcons UNDER 48
🏈 Ravens (+1) at Broncos
🔒 Buccaneers (-6.5) at Patriots

When it comes to Tampa Tom visiting his old team, I simply cannot see a scenario where the reigning Super Bowl champ doesn’t win this one – and I don’t think it’s close. I’m locking it up with confidence and will enjoy the show. As great as that GOAT-homecoming storyline is, I’m looking west (the AFC West to be exact) for the best drama this week. Derek Carr and Justin Herbert are playing some of their best and boldest football with Carr leading the league in passing yards (1,203) for the undefeated Raiders and Herbert coming off a wild win over the Chiefs. I’m too afraid to pick a winner in this one – I don’t trust the Chargers to win anything by more than three points, and I don’t trust the Raiders, period – but I feel confident predicting a high-scoring affair.

Mike Johnston, staff writer
2021 record: 5-7-0
Last week: 2-2-0
Locks: 1-2-0

🏈 Chiefs (-7.5) at Eagles
🏈 Falcons (+1.5) vs. Washington
🏈 Panthers at Cowboys OVER 50.5
🔒 Cardinals at Rams UNDER 54.5

I’m donning my contrarian cap this week, folks. Arizona is averaging more than 34 points per game and the Rams almost 32 points. Everything about Cardinals-Rams screams epic shootout and that’s exactly why I’m betting against fun and banking on L.A.’s defence being an early-season shock to Arizona’s system.

The Chiefs are 0-3 against the spread but they’ll demolish the Eagles on the road; all three Panthers games have gone under and they’re without McCaffrey but they’ll still go over with the help of the Cowboys; betting on the Falcons at home is rarely fruitful yet they’ll win this game outright as a home dog.

Andy McNamara, analyst/fantasy sports writer
2021 record: 6-6-0
Last week: 3-1-0
Locks: 1-2-0

🏈 Bills (-16.5) vs. Texans
🏈 Carolina (+5) at Cowboys
🏈 Jaguars at Bengals OVER 46
🔒 Titans at Jets UNDER 46

Give me the under all day in Titans vs. Jets. Let’s look at the numbers. New York is dead last in the NFL for average points per game at an embarrassing 6.7 points over three games. Tennessee’s offence is coming back to life somewhat, however, they still averaged a pedestrian 23.7 points so far. I’m not great at math, but those numbers don’t come anywhere close to the 46-point total. SMASH the under!

Matt Marchese, radio host/producer/fantasy football writer
2021 record: 2-6-0
Last week: 1-3-0
Locks: 0-3-0

🏈 Buccaneers at Patriots UNDER 49
🏈 Browns at Vikings OVER 53
🏈 Browns (+2) at Vikings
🔒 Rams (-4.5) vs. Cardinals

The Rams are coming off their big win over the Bucs last week, proving they are a legitimate Super Bowl contender. They square off against their divisional rival Cardinals who they are 8-0 against the spread against in their last eight games, plus they are at home.

Bonus stat: Cleveland and Minnesota have hit the over in their last three games head-to-head.