NFL Week 4 Odds and Predictions: Best Picks Against the Spread
While several college football games in the USA have been postponed/cancelled due to the coronavirus, the NFL season has been a roaring success to this point with every team reaching the quarter-pole of its schedule this week.
Denver Broncos at New York Jets, Thursday
It’s arguably the worst prime-time matchup of the season between winless teams with coaches on hot seats, especially New York’s Adam Gase. The Broncos have been devastated by injuries (they won’t have starting QB Drew Lock again), and the Jets are simply a mess. If Gang Green manages to lose this game at home to a short-handed lousy opponent, here’s betting Gase will not be around Week 5.
Pick ATS: New York
Indianapolis Colts at Chicago Bears
The Bears have made a change at quarterback. With Mitchell Trubisky struggling Sunday in Atlanta, Coach Matt Nagy pulled him for trade acquisition Nick Foles, and Foles threw three TD passes in the unlikely 30-26 comeback victory. Foles will be the guy going forward. Chicago is 3-0 but could easily be 0-3. Indy won its second in a row Sunday, 36-7 over the Jets. Philip Rivers became a member of the 400-TD, 60,000-yard passing club.
Pick ATS: Chicago
Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals
Jacksonville is on extra rest after losing 31-13 at home last Thursday to Miami. In his first NFL game, Jags kicker Brandon Wright missed a PAT and then got hurt. Jacksonville signed kicker Stephen Hauschka on Monday. Cincinnati tied the Eagles on Sunday 23-23. No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow threw for 312 yards but continues to search for his first NFL win.
Pick ATS: Cincinnati (alternate line of -2.5)
Cleveland Browns at Dallas Cowboys
Cleveland won its second in a row Sunday, 34-20 over Washington to get above. 500 for the first time since 2014. The Browns had gone 90 consecutive weeks without a winning record. Nick Chubb rushed for 108 yards and two scores. Dallas lost 38-31 in Seattle on Sunday in a fabulous game. Dak Prescott set a career high with 472 yards passing but was picked off twice. That Cowboys defence is a problem, though.
Pick ATS: Dallas
New Orleans Saints at Detroit Lions
The Saints are a surprising 1-2 following a 37-30 home loss to the Packers on Sunday. They have been without All-Pro receiver Michael Thomas in both losses, and he could return from injury this week. Detroit was an upset winner in Arizona, 26-23, to snap an 11-game losing streak. Matt Prater hit a 39-yard field goal as time expired.
Pick ATS: Detroit
Pittsburgh Steelers at Tennessee Titans
This is the lone matchup of unbeaten teams in Week 4. Pittsburgh beat Houston 28-21 on Sunday behind 109 yards rushing from James Conner. He scored the winning TD with a little over six minutes to go. Ben Roethlisberger threw for 237 yards and two touchdowns in his franchise-record 221st appearance, breaking the record set by Hall of Fame center Mike Webster. The Titans could easily be 0-3 but won another close one Sunday, 31-30 in Minnesota. Stephen Gostkowski had six field goals, including the winner from 55 yards with 1:48 left.
Pick ATS: Pittsburgh
Seattle Seahawks at Miami Dolphins
This is the longest road trip in the NFL this season. The Fins were easy winners last Thursday in Jacksonville, 31-13, as veteran QB Ryan Fitzpatrick had one of the best games in his career. It was Miami’s first double-digit victory in 39 games, ending the longest drought in the league. Unbeaten Seattle beat Dallas 38-31 as Russell Wilson had five more TD passes – the first QB ever with at least four in each of his team’s first three games of a season. He’s your MVP right now.
Pick ATS: Miami (alternate line of +7.5)
Los Angeles Chargers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Call this the Tom Brady Bowl. Brady reportedly had the Bolts and Bucs as his two finalists this offseason in free agency and of course picked Tampa Bay. L.A. dropped its second in a row Sunday, 21-16 vs. Carolina. Starting QB Tyrod Taylor missed his second straight game after a medical mishap and is questionable for this one. The Bucs were 28-10 winners in Denver behind three TD passes from Brady. Pro Bowl wideout Chris Godwin injured his hamstring and isn’t looking good for this week at a minimum.
Pick ATS: Los Angeles
Baltimore Ravens at Washington Football Team
This is the shortest road trip in the NFL this season as Baltimore is only about 35 miles from FedExField in Landover, Maryland. Big break for the Ravens in a way as they are on a short week after hosting the Chiefs in a mega-showdown Monday. Washington lost 34-20 in Cleveland on Sunday and lost Defensive Rookie of the Year favourite Chase Young to a groin injury.
Pick ATS: Washington
Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers
Arizona was upset at home by Detroit on Sunday on a field goal at the gun. Kyler Murray threw for two scores and rushed for one but was intercepted three times. Carolina’s 21-16 win at the Chargers was an even bigger upset, the first NFL victory for Coach Matt Rhule. Star running back Christian McCaffrey was out injured and will not play this week, either.
Pick ATS: Carolina
Minnesota Vikings at Houston Texans
Two head coaches here on the hot seat too with both clubs a surprising 0-3 – although Houston at least has played arguably the toughest schedule of any team so far. It was beaten 28-21 in Pittsburgh on Sunday. The Texans had just 51 yards and two first downs over the final 30 minutes. The Vikings outplayed the visiting Titans for most of Sunday’s game but still managed to blow it at the end, 31-30. Kirk Cousins had two more picks. He simply doesn’t look right.
Pick ATS: Minnesota
New York Giants at Los Angeles Rams
The Giants were outclassed Sunday at home by a 49ers team missing several injured starters, 36-9. Rather amazingly, New York didn’t run a single play in the red zone. The Rams were on the wrong end of a very questionable pass interference call late in Sunday’s 35-32 loss in Buffalo. L.A. wins the game if that’s not called. The Rams had rallied from down 28-3.
Pick ATS: New York
New England Patriots at Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City on a short week after playing a huge game in Baltimore on Monday. This is nearly as big. Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady had a few memorable duels but now it’s Cam Newton, a former league MVP like Mahomes and Brady, leading the Pats. In Sunday’s victory over the Raiders, Pats coach Bill Belichick joined George Halas (318) and Don Shula (328) as the only coaches in NFL history to reach 275 regular-season victories.
Pick ATS: New England (+7.5 alternate line)
Buffalo Bills at Las Vegas Raiders
Buffalo blew a 28-3 third-quarter lead Sunday vs. the Rams but won 35-32 on a 3-yard TD pass from Josh Allen with 15 seconds left. Allen is playing like an MVP candidate and had four TD passes and a scoring run. The Raiders suffered their first loss, 36-20 at New England. Las Vegas was gashed for 250 yards rushing and turned it over three times.
Pick ATS: Las Vegas (alternate line of +2.5)
Philadelphia Eagles at San Francisco 49ers
The Sunday night game. Will the Niners have starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo? He missed Sunday’s easy win at the Giants with a high-ankle sprain. Those usually mean at least a few weeks on the sideline. The Niners were without a handful of other starters too. The Eagle remained winless with a 23-23 home tie vs. Cincinnati. Carson Wentz’s struggles continued with two more picks, but Coach Doug Pederson said he’s not considering a QB change. Yet.
Pick ATS: San Francisco
Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers, Monday
Another matchup of former NFL MVPs in the Falcons’ Matt Ryan and Packers’ Aaron Rodgers. Both are off to terrific starts. The Falcons find unique ways to lose every week, blowing a 26-10 fourth-quarter home lead vs. Chicago on Sunday. It’s a miracle Coach Dan Quinn is still employed. Green Bay is 3-0 following a 37-30 win in New Orleans. Rodgers had three more TD passes. His top wideout, Davante Adams, was out with a hamstring injury.
Pick ATS: Atlanta