The 2016 NFL season continues. We will have NFL betting tips all year long, here's our 2016 NFL Week 5 Preview & Betting Tips which includes our best picks for the weekend.
NFL Week 5 Betting Tips
Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers (Friday 7th October 11:25am)
We have a very interesting Thursday night football matchup to kick off week 5. The San Francisco 49ers will host the Arizona Cardinals from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. Each team has recorded just one win for the season, which means it’s do-or-die for these NFC West rivals.
Before the season started the Arizona Cardinals were one of the Super Bowl favourites. They now find themselves with their backs against the wall. Last week’s loss to the L.A Rams will be very difficult to overcome, especially with the injury cloud over Carson Palmer. Head coach Bruce Arians eluded to reporters that there is a chance Palmer could start against San Fran. However, this seems more like a tactical coaching play. The concussion debate is a hot subject at the moment and personally I don’t think the doctors or the NFL will risk playing the veteran quarterback.
Stepping in for Carson Palmer would be Drew Stanton. A mediocre quarterback at the best of times.
The 49ers will host their second home game in a row. Last week they got off to a great start against Dallas and even had a chance to win it late. Blaine Gabbert played better than previous weeks completing 16/23 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown. He didn’t throw an interception until the fourth quarter, when they were trying to play catch up.
A big positive for the 49ers is their ground game. Running back Carlos Hyde is averaging 4.1 yards per carry and has 5 touchdowns to his name. The 49ers defense is the biggest concern; they are allowing 140.5 yards of rushing per game (ranked 32nd) and to make matters worse they have lost their best linebacker NaVorro Bowman with a torn Achilles. The only other player trained to play at the MIKE position is special teams player Nick Bellore (very inexperienced).
This divisional game will be hard fought with lots of mistakes. Controlling the run game and the clock should be a high priority for both teams.
Prediction: Arizona 23 San Francisco 20
Tip: Total Points Under 43.5 - $1.90 at Sportsbet
Atlanta Falcons at Denver Broncos (Monday 10th October 7:05am)
The undefeated Denver Broncos will host the high flying Atlanta Falcons in an exciting Sunday night matchup. On paper the Atlanta Offense is ranked 1st in total yards per game (478.8), passing yards per game (354.2) and points per game (38.0). Last week the Falcons beat Carolina at home 48-33 and everybody seems to be on the Falcon train. Over the next two weeks the Falcons will face Denver and Seattle (on the road). Personally I wouldn’t be jumping on the train (just yet).
Atlanta has faced two terrible defensive teams on the road (Raiders and Saints) which has inflated their Offensive numbers. Last week’s victory over Carolina was impressive but Atlanta has always been a great team under the Georgia Dome. Somehow the Carolina Panthers allowed Matt Ryan to throw for over 500 yards and four touchdowns. 300 of those yards were to wide receiver Julio Jones. It would be shocking to see these sort of numbers against this Denver defense.
The Denver Broncos will attempt to go 5-0 for the season and are showing no signs of a Super Bowl hangover. The Broncos defense will have the opportunity to show how good they are against a potent offense. They are allowing just 169.5 passing yards per game (ranked 2nd). Atlanta’s new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan would be game to air-it-out against this talented secondary.
The Broncos are 11-0 at home after consecutive road games. Good Luck Atlanta.
Prediction: Atlanta 20 Denver 31
Tip: Denver Broncos at the line (-5.5) - $1.92 at Sportsbet
Tip: Total Points Over 47.5 - $1.90 at Sportsbet
Cincinnati Bengals at Dallas Cowboys (Monday 10th October 7:25am)
The Dallas Cowboys will host the Cincinnati Bengals for the first time since 2008. Both teams will be full of confidence entering this game, after very solid week 4 performances. The Bengals beat up on an undermanned Miami team (final score 22-7) and the Dallas Cowboys won a gritty road game against San Francisco (24-17). The Bengals will get a few extra rest days, which should really benefit the defense.
These teams actually match up really well and this should be a very close game. Rookie quarterback Dak Prescott continues to impress. He has a QBR of 98.5 and has thrown for 1012 yards with 3 touchdowns (and still no interceptions). The only knock on Prescott is he refuses to “go long” instead he plays it very safe, checking it down to receivers for short gains. This style could back fire against a switched on Cincinnati defense.
Dallas has an even more impressive rookie at running back. Ezekiel Elliot didn’t look anything like a rookie last week against the 49ers. On 23 carries Elliot had 138 yards and a touchdown. The 21-year-old from Ohio State is averaging over 100 yards per game and he will be a key matchup against Cincinnati. The Bengals are slightly vulnerable against the run (allowing 97.5 yards per game) and they will have their work cut out for them against this Dallas Offensive line.
Prediction: Cincinnati 20 Dallas 21
Tip: Dallas Cowboys at the line (+1.0) - $1.90 at Sportsbet
Tip: Total Points Under 45.0 - $1.95 at Sportsbet
New York Giants at Green Bay Packers (Monday 10th October 11:30am)
The Green Bay Packers host the New York Giants at Lambeau Field for Sunday night football. The Packers should be rejuvenated from their bye week. While the Giants will attempt to avoid three straight losses.
Earlier in the season Aaron Rodgers was well below par. In week 3 he redeemed himself throwing for 205 yards and four touchdowns. He connected with Jordy Nelson six times for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Eddie Lacy chipped in with 103 rushing yards and Green Bay enjoyed a 34-27 win over the Detroit Lions. Offense will never be the issue for Aaron Rodgers and the Packers while playing at Lambeau. The issue is the Packers secondary who are allowing over 300 passing yards per game. Damarious Randell and Quinten Rollins will have to play much better, especially against the New York Giants wide receiving group, that includes Odell Beckham Jr and Victor Cruz.
The Giants (rookie) head coach Ben McAdoo spent most of his time in Green Bay with head coach Mike McCarthy. McAdoo has tried to emulate McCarthy’s offensive system with little success. I can’t see McAdoo going into Green Bay and surprising coach McCarthy.
October Fest
Dating back to 2012. Aaron Rodgers and co. have gone 13-1 (straight up) or 11-3 (against the spread) in their last 14 October games.
Prediction: New York 27 Green Bay 31
Tip: Green Bay Packers / Over 47.5 - $2.10 at Sportsbet
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers (Tuesday 11th October 11:30am)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will head into Charlotte with high hopes of knocking off the Carolina Panthers. We are only four games into the season but its already do-or-die for both of these teams.
The Buccaneers have an excuse to be 1-3 as they are in a rebuilding phase with a first year coach. However, the Panthers are the defending NFC champions and were one of the favorites to make the super bowl. They will need to find a way to win with second string quarterback Derek Anderson. As Cam Newton was officially ruled out on Saturday with a concussion. Anderson stepped in for Newton last Sunday and was quite productive completing 17 of 23 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns.
Tampa Bay are one of the worst teams when it comes to looking after the football. They allow more points than any other team in the league (32.0 points per game) and they also own a terrible record against Carolina. In fact, Carolina has won six straight meetings with Tampa Bay. As much as I like their quarterback Jameis Winston it’s hard to find any other positive things about the Bucs.
This is a great opportunity for Carolina to rally together and prove they’re still a great team. Even without Cam Newton I believe the Panthers will blow out the Buccaneers.
Prediction: Tampa Bay 14 Carolina 34
Tip: Carolina Panthers at the line (-5.5) - $1.87 at Sportsbet
Take note: Any of the tips in this article are simply the author’s opinion, so bet at your own risk and always gamble responsibly. Also be sure to check out the Before You Bet Twitter Page for all our thoughts in the lead up to bets! Happy punting!
