NFL Picks: Week 5 Against the Spread

Just five weeks into the season and there are only two undefeated teams so far. And these columns aside, if you bet they'd be the Arizona Cardinals and Cincinnati Bengals, you've likely made a chunk of change so far.

Meanwhile, both teams have tough games on the road, so that number may decrease even more. 

And, although it's still early, the week features matchups which could very well switch or swing momentum in season-altering ways. Let's look at how the lines are swinging in some of those bigger contests, courtesy of CoopersPick.com:

Atlanta Falcons (2-2) vs. New York Giants (2-2)

Odds: Giants -4.5

Notoriously slow starters, the Giants have now won a couple straight, making it a little more difficult for coach Tom Coughlin to look miserable on the sidelines. In Atlanta’s losses, quarterback Matt Ryan has thrown costly interceptions. And this Sunday in the Big Apple he faces a Giants pass defense that has the most picks in the NFL.

The Falcons are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 road games.

Pick Against the Spread: There'll be no Coughlin face, no Manning face—just another victory and cover for the G-Men.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-3) vs. New Orleans Saints (1-3)

Odds: Saints -10.5 

The Bucs and the Saints are two teams with vast talent differences yet the same poor record. The Saints defense has been terrible this season, and while Drew Brees is putting up good numbers, he has not thrown over two touchdowns in any game. The Bucs may have gotten their first win of the season last week, but their defense is actually worse than the Saints. That makes the over 48 a good bet as well.

The Saints are 4-1 ATS in their last five games against the Bucs.

Pick Against the Spread: Brees will torch the Tampa secondary, and New Orleans will win and cover.

Baltimore Ravens (3-1) vs. Indianapolis Colts (2-2)

Odds:  Colts -3.5 

Both teams came out of the gate slowly. Both are tearing it up as of late. The Ravens have won three straight, and they were impressive on both sides of the ball in their victory over the Carolina Panthers. Andrew Luck leads the league’s top-ranked passing offense in Indy, winners of two in a row. And that has to be a concern for the Ravens, who only rank 24th in the league in pass defense.

All the betting trends point to the Colts: 7-2 ATS in their last nine, 8-1 ATS in their last nine against the Ravens, and the favorite is 5-1 ATS in the last six between them.

Pick Against the Spread: The Ravens are hot, but the Colts are at home and have Luck on their side, which means a victory with the points.

Arizona Cardinals (3-0) vs. Denver Broncos (2-1)

Odds: Broncos -7.5 

Even at 3-0—two of them wins against playoff teams last year—and atop arguably the most talented division in the NFL, the NFC West-leading Cardinals remain under the radar. The Broncos lost to the Seattle Seahawks in overtime in their Super Bowl rematch, and while they are a legit 2-1, they are 0-3 ATS so far on the season.

Pick Against the Spread: The Cardinals’ strength on D is their run defense...which just means Peyton Manning will have a big game in the air. Denver will win and cover.

Kansas City Chiefs (2-2) vs. San Francisco 49ers (2-2)

Odds: 49ers -6 O/U 44.5

Fresh off a squeaker against the Eagles in their last game, there remains some alleged discord on the 49ers, depending on whom you believe. The Chiefs are coming off a more-than-impressive blowout win over the Patriots on Monday night, and they have won two straight because that's just what Andy Reid does: reel you back in right before you were about to count him out.  

The Chiefs are 5-1 ATS in their last six road games.

Pick Against the Spread: Take the Chiefs and their newfound momentum to at least cover.

Cincinnati Bengals (3-0) vs. New England Patriots (2-2)

Odds:  Pick 'em 

Quite simply, the Pats were flat-out embarrassed last week, prompting Pats haters around the country to begin celebrating the end of a dominant era in New England, as they now face a Bengals team that is not only undefeated, but also coming off a bye week.

However, reports of New England's demise may be premature. The Bengals may be solid across the board but are statistically average. And that may catch up with them. 

The Patriots are also 7-2 ATS in their last nine home games.

Pick Against the Spread: It's hard to believe a team coached by Bill Belichick and quarterbacked by Tom Brady could stink it up two weeks in a row. Therefore, count on the Patriots coming out on top.