Week two of the NFL season is in the books, and it gave us plenty of action. Upsets, injuries, and many heartbreaks made the story of week two, and it makes me look forward to the coming week. As it becomes harder and harder to predict games, I continue to try. Here are my predictions for week five of the NFL.
Game of the Week: Ravens (2-0) @ Chiefs (2-0) [Chiefs -6.5]
A 1:00 game will end up being the most exciting this coming week. Two early MVP candidates face off to show who’s more serious about coming for that throne. Not only that, this game will finally show us if the Ravens are for real. Their first two games were against the Dolphins and Cardinals, neither of which are talented teams. I fully expect the Ravens to rise to the challenge but there is one issue: Patrick Mahomes.
The reigning MVP looks absolutely set to make his case for a repeat season. Leading the league in both yards and touchdowns through two weeks he won’t take it easy on this Ravens defense. I predict that Mahomes will torch this Ravens team, bringing them back to earth after their two additional pre season games; yes I said that.
Score Prediction: 33-21 Chiefs
Upset Watch: Saints (1-1) @ Seahawks (2-0) [Seahawks -4.5]
Betting sites refuse to be kind to this Saints team. Teddy Bridgewater is no scrub at quarterback, despite what some will tell you. He is the highest paid backup in the entire league and will put up the numbers he needs to. The Saints would be set to win this game comfortably with Brees and I don’t see reason that they don’t put up a fight against these Seahawks. Not to say they will win this game, but i’m feeling daring today. Despite the Seahawks good start at 2-0, they played the Bengals and escaped with their lives and the Steelers who they were tied with before the loss of Ben. I’ll pick the Saints to win this game.
Score Prediction: 22-18 Saints
Thursday Night Football: Titans (1-1) @ Jaguars (0-2) [Jaguars +1.5]
Last time these two teams played each other on a Thursday night, Derrick Henry took off for 99 yards and tied the all time nfl rushing record for a single carry. He loves this matchup, trust me. The Titans are absolutely licking their chops for this Thursday night. Nick Foles is still out with his broken clavicle, and Minshew will start. This is a slam dunk for me, the Titans are favored and should be favored by more in my opinion. If i’m wrong, i’ll eat crow but this is my easiest pick of the week.
Score Prediction: 31-18 Titans
Saturday Night Football: Rams (2-0) @ Browns (1-1) [Browns +3]
The defending NFC Champions look good. They look very good. I picked them to lose last week and I regret it heavily, they dismantled that Saints team. When Drew Brees was in they took absolutely every option away from him. They won’t allow Baker any leniency that same way. This Browns team… I don’t know what to make of them. They got blown out week one by the Titans, but made fine work of the Jets with Odell Beckham Jr.’s first amazing game with Cleveland.
There are more questions than answers with this Browns team, and the Rams seem to be a sure thing week in and week out. For that reason I will pick these Rams, but excuse my lack of enthusiasm.
Score Prediction: 27-20 Rams
Monday Night Football: Bears (1-1) @ Redskins (0-2) [Redskins +4]
This might be the most boring prime time game of the year. A Bears team that hasn’t exactly incited excitement in me or many NFL fans. Mitchell Trubisky looks absolutely awful. Bad. Terrible. The Redskins on the other hand? They played two of the better teams in the NFC and didn’t do too poorly against them. A four point loss to the Eagles in which they forced a comeback, and they went up on the Cowboys early before being forced to scratch and pull for everything they got. I say all that to say this; this is a must win for the Bears. They absolutely cannot lose this game to a Skins team that is just not great this year. I think they know this, and I think they play their hardest and scrape a victory against the Skins.
Score Prediction: 16-14 Bears
Denver Broncos (0-2) @ Green Bay Packers (2-0) [Packers -8]
Score Prediction: 17-24 Packers
Detroit Lions (1-0-1) @ Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) [Eagles -6.5]
Score Prediction: 23-28 Eagles
Cincinnati Bengals (0-2) @ Buffalo Bills (2-0) [Bills -6]
Score Prediction: 13-28 Bills
Atlanta Falcons (1-1) @ Indianapolis Colts (1-1) [Colts -2]
Score Prediction: 27-17 Falcons
Oakland Raiders (1-1) @ Minnesota Vikings (1-1) [Vikings -8.5]
Score Prediction: 20-24 Vikings
New York Jets (0-2) @ New England Patriots (2-0) [Patriots -22.5]
Score Prediction: 9-33 Patriots
Miami Dolphins (0-2) @ Dallas Cowboys (2-0) [Cowboys -21.5]
Score Prediction: 3-28 Cowboys
Carolina Panthers (0-2) @ Arizona Cardinals (0-1-1) [Cardinals +2.5]
Score Prediction: 13-21 Cardinals
New York Giants (0-2) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1) [Buccaneers -6.5]
Score Prediction: 10-24 Buccaneers
Houston Texans (1-1) @ Los Angeles Chargers (1-1) [Chargers -3.5]
Score Prediction: 22-18 Texans
Pittsburgh Steelers (0-2) @ San Francisco 49ers (2-0) [49ers -6.5]
Score Prediction: 12-27 49ers
A very good week against the spread, mediocre week straight up. If anyone would be crazy enough to bet with me, we made money. Going 11-5 both against the spread and on a pick by pick basis, we go up by a very good amount, now winning 60% of picks.
Pick For Pick Record: 22-9-1
Cover the Spread Record: 19-13
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