NFL Week 6 best bets: Bengals deserve more respect as road chalk
We hit our lone side bet of Week 5, but were foiled on a pair of low totals. Can we get back on track in Week 6? Here are our best bets:
Bengals (-3.5, 47) @ Lions, 1 p.m. ET
Haven't the Bengals earned more respect than this? Cincinnati ranks 12th in DVOA, ninth in net yards per play, and seventh in PFF grade - while the Lions rank in the bottom six in all three categories. So why are oddsmakers pricing these two teams so competitively?
Joe Burrow's careless mistakes cost his team in Cincinnati's Week 5 loss to the Packers, but don't expect him to make those same mistakes against a Lions defense that has only forced three interceptions all year. Detroit has also been miserable against the deep ball, allowing an NFL-high 9.3 yards per attempt and 13.7 yards per completion.
Burrow has shown the ability to attack teams downfield behind a much-improved O-line, especially when targeting standout rookie Ja'Marr Chase. Burrow and Chase should have a field day in a comfortable Bengals win.
Pick: Bengals -3.5
Rams (-8.5, 48.5) @ Giants, 1 p.m.
I've been on the Rams every week and came a late field goal away from hitting on four of their first five games. We are going back to the well against a struggling Giants team that is seemingly getting worse.
New York showed signs of life in a Week 4 overtime win over the Saints but was trampled last week by a Cowboys offense that dropped 44 points. Worse yet, New York lost its three most important players on offense to injury: Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley, and Kenny Golladay.
Jones has been cleared to play this week, but Barkley and Golloday have been ruled out. Facing this juggernaut Rams team at full strength was already going to be a challenge for the G-Men. At this rate, a blowout feels inevitable.
Pick: Rams -8.5
Raiders @ Broncos (-4, 43.5), 4:25 p.m.
I'm not sure how high this line would have to climb for me to feel comfortable betting the Raiders in their first game without former head coach Jon Gruden, who resigned earlier this week. Las Vegas is integrating a new play-caller on Sunday and is in a precarious spot after two straight losses.
This game opened at Broncos -3 before money came in on Denver's side, and for good reason. Denver was gashed on the ground in recent weeks but its defense is set up for success against pass-happy Las Vegas, which has one of the weakest rushing attacks in the NFL.
Denver's offense is at its best when mixing in a steady run game; that's a favorable approach against a Raiders defense that ranks near the bottom of the league in rushing yards allowed (134.4) and yards per attempt (4.6). All signs point to a rough start to the Rich Bisaccia era in Las Vegas.
Pick: Broncos -4
C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at [email protected].