NFL Predictions Week 5: Why Bears and Raiders Are 2 Road Underdogs to Cash In On

Taking the road underdog in the NFL usually provides you with more value than any other bet.

People tend to really overrate the home team any given week, and tending to use the screaming of 60,000 fans will directly result in a huge point swing.

Maybe that’s the case in college football, but not the NFL.

Here are two road dogs to take a strong look at in Week 5:

Chicago Bears +5 at Detroit Lions

 The whole world is sky high on the Lions after their incredible 4-0 start. The offense is averaging over 30 points a game and the defense has some of the best pass rushers in the league.

 Don’t buy all of the hype. Here is a brief history lesson courtesy of ESPN NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert:

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The Bears will need to capitalize on the Lions' vulnerability to the outside pass rush. And they'll also need to remember what it took to turn Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford into a checkdown machine in the teams' 2010 matchup at Soldier Field. In just under a half of play, Stafford completed 11 of 15 passes for just 83 yards before defensive end Julius Peppers knocked him out of the game with a blind-side sack.

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 I expect this to be a problem once again, as we have yet to see the Lions against a tough pass rush this season.

Sure, QB Jay Cutler is going to be running for his life behind a horrible O-Line, but dumping the ball off to RB Matt Forte, who is one of the early candidates for offensive player of the year.

Key Trends:

 Bears are 5-1 ATS in their last six Monday games.

 Underdog is 10-4 ATS in their last 14 meetings.

Road team is 5-2 ATS in their last seven meetings.

Oakland Raiders +6 at Houston Texans

 The Raiders are going to physically dominate the Texans upfront and run the ball all over the field.

 Without Andre Johnson to spread the field, the Houston pass offense is going to really struggle. That’s what happens when Jacoby Jones and Kevin Walters are now your top two playmakers.

The Raiders can lose their composure at times, but they seem to be getting less and less penalties ever week. 

The always steady Jason Campbell won't turn the ball over, and the defense makes the Texans one-dimensional by shutting down the pass.

Arian Foster will put up good fantasy numbers, but that won't be enough against a suddenly scary Oakland team. 

Key Trends:

 Raiders are 4-1 ATS in their last five games as a road underdog.

 Raiders are 4-1 ATS in their last five road games.

Raiders are 12-2 ATS in their last 14 games following an ATS loss.