NFL Week 4 Odds and Predictions: Best Picks Against the Spread
Here’s a quick look at all Week 4 games, played Sunday unless noted.
Miami Dolphins at Cincinnati Bengals, Thursday
This will be the first NFL meeting between former SEC rival quarterbacks Tua Tagaovailoa of the Dolphins and Joe Burrow of the Bengals if Tua plays. He injured his back and ankle in Sunday’s upset of Buffalo. Burrow was the No. 1 pick in the 2020 draft and Tua No. 5. Cincinnati got its first win Sunday, 27-12 over the New York Jets. Burrow was finally protected fairly well (sacked twice) and had three TD passes.
Pick ATS: Cincinnati (alternate line of -3)
Minnesota Vikings “at” New Orleans Saints
New Orleans is the home team for this game from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London with a 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff. This might be the last chance for Saints QB Jameis Winston to keep his job as he has five interceptions in the past two games, both Saints losses in which they totalled just 24 points. Two of Winston’s top receivers, Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry, left Sunday’s loss to Carolina injured. Minnesota rallied for a 28-24 home win over Detroit. Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook suffered a dislocated shoulder and is day-to-day.
Pick ATS: Minnesota
Cleveland Browns at Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were very interested in trading for Deshaun Watson this offseason but were beaten out by the Browns, although Watson remains out for several weeks due to suspension. Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, one of the NFL’s top pass-rushers, suffered “non-life-threatening injuries” in a car accident Monday and it’s not clear if he can play yet. Atlanta got its first win Sunday, 27-23 in Seattle as converted receiver Cordarrelle Patterson had 141 yards rushing. He’s second in the NFL in rushing yards.
Pick ATS: Cleveland
Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys
Short week for Dallas off winning at the Giants on Monday to close Week 3. Owner/GM Jerry Jones always has targeted this game as the return of QB Dak Prescott from thumb surgery but that seems very optimistic and it’s fully expected to be Cooper Rush again. He’s now 3-0 in his career as a starter. Washington was dominated 24-8 at home by Philadelphia on Sunday as QB Carson Wentz struggled. Dallas swept the series last season.
Pick ATS: Dallas (alternate line of -2.5)
Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions
Detroit lost 28-24 at Minnesota on Sunday and lost top running back D’Andre Swift to a shoulder sprain. He’s being called week-to-week. Good player but just can’t stay on the field. He leads the team with 231 rushing yards on 27 attempts, averaging a career-best 8.6 yards per carry. Seattle was a 27-23 home loser to Atlanta. The Seahawks were without three of their top cornerbacks as Artie Burns, Sidney Jones and Justin Coleman were all inactive.
Pick ATS: Detroit
Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts
Tennessee got its first win Sunday, 24-22 over the Raiders. Ryan Tannehill threw for 264 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score. Top pass rusher Bud Dupree missed it with an injury. Indy also got its first win Sunday, a 20-17 upset of the Chiefs as Matt Ryan threw for two scores and wasn’t picked off after four combined interceptions in the first two games. The Titans swept last season.
Pick ATS: Indianapolis (alternate line of -2.5)
Chicago Bears at New York Giants
Chicago was inept passing the ball yet again on Sunday but still beat Houston 23-20. Khalil Herbert ran for a career-high 157 yards and two touchdowns in place of top running back David Montgomery, who exited in the early going with knee and ankle injuries. Not clear if he can play this week. The Giants lost 23-16 at home to Dallas on Monday and lost receiver Sterling Shepard likely for a while to a knee injury.
Pick ATS: New York (alternate line of -3)
Jacksonville Jaguars at Philadelphia Eagles
The Jaguars look like a completely different team this year from last after a 38-10 win at the Chargers on Sunday to snap an 18-game road losing streak. The 28-point win was Jacksonville’s largest on the road since a 33-3 rout of Minnesota in 2001, when current starting QB Trevor Lawrence was 2 years old. Philadelphia won 24-8 at Washington and looks like arguably the NFC’s best team so far. Jalen Hurts threw for 340 yards and three scores and is a legit MVP contender.
Pick ATS: Philadelphia
New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Jets are expecting starting quarterback Zach Wilson to make his season debut. He injured his knee in the preseason opener. Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin still has no plans to change quarterbacks even though his team hast lost back-to-back games and scored just 31 combined points in them behind Mitchell Trubisky. His rating of 77.7 is one of the NFL’s worst.
Pick ATS: Pittsburgh (alternate line of -3)
Buffalo Bills at Baltimore Ravens
Dual-threat QBs and MVP candidates Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson duelling one another? Sign me up. Jackson has had back-to-back 100-yard rushing games and is among the league leaders with 243 yards on the ground as well as leading the NFL with 10 TD passes. Buffalo lost its first game Sunday, 21-19 in Miami despite dominating statistically. Allen threw for 400 yards and two scores. The Bills were down multiple injured defensive starters.
Pick ATS: Baltimore
Los Angeles Chargers at Houston Texans
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert played through fractured rib cartilage Sunday but didn’t look good in a 38-10 home loss to Jacksonville. All-Pro left tackle Rashawn Slater suffered a likely season-ending injury in the loss and Pro Bowl pass-rusher Joey Bosa is expected to miss some times with a groin injury. Houston lost 23-20 in Chicago and has yet to top 20 points this season. Jalen Pitre became the second rookie in Texans history to record two interceptions in a game in Sunday’s loss.
Pick ATS: Houston
Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers
Arizona was a 20-12 home loser to the Rams on Sunday and lost receiver AJ Green to injury that is expected to cost him at least a week. Fellow former Pro Bowl wideout DeAndre Hopkins remains out suspended. Another receiver, Rondale Moore, has yet to play in 2022 due to a hamstring injury. Carolina beat New Orleans 22-14 on Sunday to snap a nine-game losing streak. Christian McCaffrey had his second straight 100-yard game on the ground.
Pick ATS: Carolina
New England Patriots at Green Bay Packers
New England lost 37-26 at home to Baltimore on Sunday and starting QB Mac Jones Mac Jones suffered a high-ankle sprain that is expected to cost him at least a few games. Veteran journeyman Brian Hoyer is his backup. Green Bay was a 14-12 winner at Tampa Bay behind 255 yards passing and two scores from Aaron Rodgers.
Pick ATS: New England
Denver Broncos at Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders are the only 0-3 team in the league, but the losses are by a combined 13 points and they had chances in each to win at the end. Las Vegas already has used seven different combinations on the offensive line due to injury. Russell Wilson still doesn’t look very comfortable in his new Denver offence, but the Broncos are 2-1 following Sunday’s 11-10 win over San Francisco. Wilson threw for only 184 yards.
Pick ATS: Las Vegas
Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sunday night game and it’s possible this gets moved if Hurricane Ian does a number on the Tampa area this week. The Bucs will practice in Miami as that area isn’t going to be hit by the storm. Tampa Bay lost 14-12 to Green Bay on Sunday as Tom Brady was without star receivers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Julio Jones. Evans for sure will return this week and Jones likely will. Not Godwin. Kansas City was upset 20-17 at Indianapolis on Sunday. Chiefs kicker Matt Ammendola missed an extra point in the first half and a 34-yard field goal, and he was released on Monday.
Pick ATS: Tampa Bay (alternate line of +3)
Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers, Monday
The Niners lost 11-10 in Denver on Sunday and also lost maybe the NFL’s best left tackle, Trent Williams, for an expected 4-6 weeks to a high right ankle sprain. Starting linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair is expected out eight weeks with a sprained MCL. The Rams won 20-12 at Arizona on Sunday. LA gave up 365 total yards but limited the Cardinals to no touchdowns and four field goals. The Niners were 2-0 vs. the Rams during the 2021 regular season but lost in Los Angeles in the NFC title game.
Pick ATS: Los Angeles (alternate line of +3)