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
After a Week 4 that saw favourites and unders go 9-7, Week 5 features a handful of interesting lines and totals.
An NFC West showdown between the Rams and Seahawks starts things off on Thursday and the week concludes with Ravens vs. Colts on Monday as Indianapolis looks to build on their first win of the season.
The Cardinals put their undefeated record on the line when they face the 49ers in a divisional matchup, while the Bills visit the Chiefs in a rematch of last season’s AFC Championship.
The Sportsnet.ca panel is smelling upsets in those two high-profile games and they’re eyeing a suspiciously low total in Browns vs. Chargers.
Here are the Week 5 picks.
Donnovan Bennett, staff writer/host
2021 record: 8-8-0
Last week: 3-1-0
Locks: 2-2-0
🏈 Browns at Chargers OVER 47
🏈 Colts at Ravens UNDER 46
🏈 49ers (+5.5) at Cardinals
🔒 Titans (-4) at Jaguars
When you’ve lost your locker room it’s hard to win games. This will be Urban Meyer’s last game coaching in the NFL.
Emily Sadler, staff writer
2021 record: 10-6-0
Last week: 1-3-0
Locks: 2-2-0
🏈 Packers (-3) at Bengals
🏈 49ers (+5.5) at Cardinals
🏈 Bills at Chiefs OVER 56.5
🔒 Broncos at Steelers UNDER 40
My low-scoring lock has me confident, but already bored. So, let’s talk about underdogs! According to The Laws of the Football Gods, just as everyone’s getting comfortable aboard a new and exciting bandwagon following a statement win, that bandwagon shalt hit a bit of a bump… just to test who’s willing to stay the course. That’s what I’m banking on by picking San Francisco this week – that, and the fact we’re due for some rookie-QB magic this year. There’s still a lot we don’t know about the 49ers but their biggest element of surprise here is Trey Lance. I’m not saying his first career NFL start brings his first win, but I do think he’ll be put in a late-game position to show us that he can play with the best in the NFC West and keep things tight in this ultra-competitive division.
Mike Johnston, staff writer
2021 record: 7-9-0
Last week: 2-2-0
Locks: 1-3-0
🏈 Panthers (-3.5) vs. Eagles
🏈 Colts (+7) at Ravens
🏈 Lions at Vikings OVER 49
🔒 Patriots at Texans UNDER 39.5
OK, three incorrect locks in a row means we’re going pure logic this week. Unders are 13-2 this season in games involving rookie quarterbacks. We’ve got rookie vs. rookie in New England at Houston. The Texans got shut out last week and face a stout Pats defence that is 4-0 on the under this season. This being the lowest total of the week doesn’t scare me at all. If this one misses, though, I’ll go full Costanza next week and fade myself.
Andy McNamara, analyst/fantasy sports writer
2021 record: 7-9-0
Last week: 1-3-0
Locks: 1-3-0
🏈 Browns at Chargers OVER 47
🏈 Patriots at Texans UNDER 39.5
🏈 Bills (+2.5) at Chiefs
🔒 Titans (-4) at Jaguars
This has the feel of a Derrick Henry angry run smash fest in Jacksonville. The Titans were embarrassed last week, losing to the lowly Jets, and there’s no way head coach Mike Vrabel let’s his crew lose to another winless team. The Jaguars are in rough shape on and off the field (thanks to the Urban Meyer scandal), and on average are losing by 10.25 points. Tennessee makes this a statement game and are my lock of the week!
Matt Marchese, radio host/producer/fantasy football writer
2021 record: 5-11-0
Last week: 2-2-0
Locks: 0-4-0
🏈 Giants at Cowboys OVER 52
🏈 Titans at Jaguars UNDER 48.5
🏈 Bills (+2.5) at Chiefs
🔒 Buccaneers (-10) vs. Dolphins
Tom Brady’s return to Foxboro didn’t go quite as planned last week, even though the Bucs won, so he will be out for blood this week against the Dolphins who are 0-6 against the spread in their last six against the Bucs. Miami is really struggling with Jacoby Brissett at the helm and the running game has had a hard time getting going, which won’t get any easier against Tampa Bay’s stout run defence.
Bonus stats: The Jaguars and Titans have hit the under in nine of their last 11 meetings and Buffalo is 5-1 against the spread in their last six meetings with the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
[relatedlinks]
COMMENTS
When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.