Week 5 betting primer: News and notes for all 14 spreads

Odds and data via theScore Bet and ESPN Bet

Through four weeks of the NFL season, we have a big enough sample size where we don't need to rely on preseason assumptions to help determine which side of the spread we like.

Let's look at all 14 games for the Week 5 slate, including the news and notes that may help you decide who to bet.

Thursday Night Football

• It's a divisional game with a line that suggests the Bucs are slightly better than the Falcons.
• Atlanta remains the NFC South favorite at +160 compared to Tampa Bay at +185.
• The Bucs are 3-1 against the spread (ATS), while the Falcons are 1-3.

Sunday 9:30 a.m. ET (London game)

• Jets-Vikings is the first London game of the season.
• The undefeated Vikings are a perfect 4-0 ATS. The Jets are 2-2 ATS.
• This spread suggests the Vikings would be roughly 4.5-point favorites if the game was played in Minnesota.
• Sam Darnold is the fifth-leading favorite to win MVP, and Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell is the favorite to win COY.
• Darnold will face off against the team that drafted him third overall in 2018.

Sunday 1 p.m. ET slate

• The surprise NFC East-leading Commanders are 3-1 straight up and 3-1 ATS.
• The Browns are 1-3 both straight up and ATS.
• Washington has scored 80 points combined in its last two games. Cleveland has scored 66 all season.
• Jayden Daniels is the odds-on favorite (-150) to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

• The Jaguars are the NFL's only winless team.
• Anthony Richardson is expected to miss this game with a hip injury.
• Backup Joe Flacco came in for the Colts in Week 4, passing for 168 yards on 16 completions and two touchdowns.
• This game features two of the league's worst defenses. The Colts are allowing the most yards per game (422.5) but are managing to keep points off the board (T14 in points allowed), while the Jaguars allow the third-most yards per game (391.0).

• This could be a preview of the AFC Championship Game. The Bills are the third-highest favorite to win the conference, while the Texans are the fourth.
• Houston getting one point at home suggests Buffalo would be field-goal favorites at a neutral site.
• Despite their 3-1 record, the Texans are one of two teams yet to cover a spread this season.
• The Bills beat up on the Cardinals, Dolphins, and Jaguars to open their season before losing by 25 points to the Ravens, their first real test of the campaign.

• This AFC East matchup features the week's lowest total. These two offenses are the lowest-scoring in the league. Miami has posted 45 points in four games, while New England has only scored 52.
• The Dolphins are 0-4 ATS. The Patriots are 1-2-1.
• Miami will continue to use "Snoop" Huntley as its starting quarterback.

• This spread opened with the Bears as 5.5-point favorites.
• The Panthers have scored 60 points since turning the keys over to Andy Dalton.
• Chicago is 2-0 ATS at home, winning by an average margin of 6.5 points.
• Carolina's only cover came when the team was a 5.5-point underdog in Las Vegas.

• The Bengals picked up their first win of the season with a 10-point victory over the Panthers in Week 4.
• The Ravens beat the Bills by 25 at home in Week 4.
• Baltimore is 2-2 ATS but has covered in its last two contests. Cincy is also 2-2 ATS, but both covers were on the road.
• This spread feels like more of a reaction to the Bengals beating a bad Panthers team rather than the Ravens dismantling another AFC contender.

Sunday 4 p.m. ET slate

• Both the Cardinals and 49ers are 2-2 ATS this season.
• San Francisco returned to .500 with a 17-point victory at home over the Patriots. Despite several injuries to key offensive players, the 49ers are averaging the second-most yards per game and are eighth in the league in points per contest.
• Arizona gave up 42 points to the Commanders. The Cards could be facing their second straight blow-out loss if they don't tighten things up defensively.

• This spread opened with the Broncos as 1.5-point favorites.
• The game features the second-lowest total of the week.
• Denver's Bo Nix threw for only 60 yards in the team's Week 4 upset of the Jets.
• The Broncos are 3-1 ATS while pairing one of the league's best defenses with one of the worst offenses.
• Off-field storylines are already swirling for the Raiders. Star wideout Davante Adams sat out last week with a hamstring injury and has requested a trade.

• The Giants could be without rookie standout Malik Nabers as he works his way through concussion protocol.
• Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith leads the NFL in passing yards with 1,182 through four games.
• The Giants are 2-2 ATS, while the Seahawks are 1-2-1.
• Seattle is on a short week after playing Monday night, while the Giants have had extra rest following their loss to the Cowboys on Thursday night.

• Jordan Love returned for the Packers in Week 4, throwing for 389 yards and four touchdowns in a comeback effort against the Vikings.
• Green Bay went 2-0 in Love's absence, covering both games as underdogs.
• The Rams have the fourth-worst point differential in the league at -40, including their 31-point loss to the Cardinals.
• Matthew Stafford will be without his two favorite weapons - Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua - for a third straight game.

Sunday Night Football

• The Steelers may be the league's biggest surprise outside of the Vikings.
• Justin Fields and elite defensive play have given Pittsburgh a 3-1 record straight up and ATS.
• The Cowboys failed to cover in Week 4 versus the Giants after Brandon Aubrey missed a late field goal.
• Dallas hasn't covered since its Week 1 win over the Browns.
• This line suggests that the betting market views the Steelers as a slightly better team than the Cowboys.

Monday Night Football

• Injuries continue to plague the Chiefs' offense, with Rashee Rice possibly out for the entire season with a knee injury.
• Yet Kansas City is still 4-0 (3-1 ATS), relying heavily on a stout defense.
• The Saints have lost back-to-back weeks after scoring 91 points in their first two games.