The Complete Bettors Guide to NFL Week 5

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Vegas is always trying to figure out more ways to entice you to spread a few ducats on football, so let's indulge the bookmakers and check out all the best options.

There are over/unders, player props and, of course, picks against the spread.

However, the point spreads won't be discussed at length here since that's already been done.

Click through to find the most intriguing bets of Week 5.

 

All odds provided by www.bovada.lv and www.sportsbook.ag

Let's Try This Again: Safest Bets for Elimination Pools

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You can't take anything for granted in today's NFL. The last time I gave you three teams for your pool, things didn't go so well. However, the Minnesota Vikings taking out the San Francisco 49ers was a shock to anybody outside of Minnesota.

 

Chicago Bears Over the Jacksonville Jaguars

It's true, the Bears can be erratic on offense. However, their defense always comes to play. So long as the defense plays with 11 guys on the field, I trust Matt Forte and Michael Bush to keep Jay Cutler from screwing things up too much.

 

Minnesota Vikings Over the Tennessee Titans

The Titans have one win against the equally poor Detroit Lions. The Vikings have knocked off every opponent they've faced at home. Adrian Peterson should have loads of fun against the Titans defense. I can't see any problems in the Metrodome this week.

 

Houston Texans Over the New York Jets

At this point, the Jets might as well hold public tryouts. It's the only way New York will find an offensive playmaker. The Texans have one of the best defenses in the league and plenty of weapons on offense. These are two teams headed in opposite directions.

Prop Bet No. 1: Mark Sanchez Will Not Be Benched This Week

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Last I checked, the New York Jets don't have anyone on offense. How could Rex Ryan justify benching Mark Sanchez for something that is beyond his control?

The loss of Santonio Holmes means that Sanchez is going to get a free pass for weeks. No matter what happens, he has to be given the benefit of the doubt.

In addition, Tim Tebow is now a known quantity at quarterback. As in a zero.

Sanchez isn't getting benched. 

Prop Bet No. 2: New York Jets Will Have Under 320.5 Yards

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The Houston Texans are giving up a league-best 273 yards a game.

The New York Jets are averaging 284 yards of offense a game. And that was with Santonio Holmes.

For whatever reason, the over/under for total offensive yards for the Jets is sitting at 320.5.

If you're having trouble doing the math, relax. It isn't algebra.

It's as simple as it looks.

Prop Bet No. 3: Joe Flacco for Most Passing Yards at +1200

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A couple weeks ago, I gave you Ben Roethlisberger at the very same odds. Then he went out and threw for two more yards than any other quarterback that week.

So I'm going back to the +1200 well. The pick provides great value, and the Ravens have turned into a passing team.

Take a tidy chunk of that Roethlisberger money and drop it on Flacco.

Prop Bet No. 4: Either the Falcons or Redskins Will Score in First Six Minutes

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The Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins love to put up points. Atlanta and Washington are third and fourth in the league in scoring, respectively.

Additionally, the Skins can't stop anybody from scoring.

The Skins defense is the 27th-worst when it comes to giving up points.

The first six minutes will surely see some fireworks.

Atlanta Falcons vs. Washington Redskins: Over 51 Points

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As George Costanza once demonstrated, don't be scared to double-dip.

Well, that's exactly what I want to do.

The Falcons and Redskins are averaging almost 62 points per game between them. Plus, Washington can't stop anybody, especially now that it's lost both of its defensive ends.

Lastly, we know that Robert Griffin III will do whatever it takes to put up points. We also know that defenses have yet to figure out how to stop him.

I just don't see how 51 points isn't attainable.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs: Over 43 Points

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The Baltimore Ravens have shifted from a defensive team to an offensive one.

The Kansas City Chiefs defense is just straight-up offensive. However, there are a few weapons on the offensive side with Jamaal Charles, Dexter McCluster and Dwayne Bowe.

In order to hit the over, we only need six touchdowns and a field goal. These two teams could reach that by halftime if they catch a few breaks.

Tennessee Titans vs. Minnesota Vikings: Under 44 Points

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Look, Chris Johnson rushed for 141 yards, and the Tennessee Titans still couldn't score more than two touchdowns. Assuming he can't repeat that effort, the Titans won't be within sniffing distance of 20 points.

The Minnesota Vikings aren't the type of team that will score a ridiculous amount of points. They win games the old-fashioned, grind-it-out way.

Points will be at a premium between these two. If it's not going to be entertaining, you might as well make some money.

Stay-Away Game of the Week: Seattle Seahawks vs. Carolina Panthers (-3)

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These two teams are a mirror image of each other. Not in the way they play, but in the way they are completely unpredictable.

One week, the Seattle Seahawks are dismantling the Dallas Cowboys. A couple of weeks later, they're falling on the road against the St. Louis Rams.

The Carolina Panthers spent the last two weeks throwing up bipolar performances. They were trounced by the Giants and then almost took out the Falcons.

Good luck figuring either team out, much less how they match up against the other.

Lock of the Week: Atlanta Falcons (-3) vs. Washington Redskins

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You had to see it coming. I wrote about this game every chance I got.

Robert Griffin III is good, but he's a rookie. The Atlanta Falcons had fun at Peyton Manning's expense; surely they can find a way to bait the young fella into a few turnovers.

On the other side of the ball, the Falcons will continue their offensive onslaught. They have scored at last 27 points in each game with a high of 40.

The Redskins defense has given up the second-most yards in the league through the air. There is just no way they're stopping a well-oiled machine that has Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Roddy White as the pistons.