Posted on 10/5/2007 9:30:47 PM

In The Huddle – Week 5 Odds and Predictions

By Anthony Oxley

Week 5 NFL betting odds complete with Week 4 results in this edition of In the Huddle with Anthony Oxley. With football picks and analysis on the battle in New York, the Chargers vs. Broncos, the Bears at Green Bay and the Cowboys in Buffalo, we’ve got the best NFL wagering match-ups covered. Now, onto Ox’s picks:

Week 4 Results

Rams 7 at Cowboys 35 (-13): Rams, one of the NFL’s greatest disappointments.

Broncos 20 at Colts 38 (-10.5): What was I thinking pickin’ the Broncos?

Eagles 3 at Giants 16 (+3.5): Eagles shatter Winston Justice’s confidence to play.

Patriots (-7.5) 34 at Bengals 13: Brady to Moss connection deadly to all they face.

Ox’s Record: 7-5

New York Jets + 4 at New York Giants -4 1pm EST Sunday

NFL bettors, do the Jets really have a chance in this one? After the defensive display that the Giants put up against the Philadelphia Eagles? No, they do not. The Jets will likely be without SS Erik Coleman for this game because he has been diagnosed with a concussion and that is a big problem because Giant WR Plaxico Burress has been picking up his game as of late.

Jets QB Chad Pennington is completing just under 77% of his passes, while his counterpart Eli Manning is completing just under 60%... quite a difference. But Pennington does not have the defensive line to support his offense that Manning has. The only reason the Giants don’t cover… the only reason… is if Manning has another one of those incredibly brutal games.

NFL Free Pick: Giants

San Diego Chargers +1 at Denver Broncos -1 4:15pm EST Sunday

The Broncos do not really need any distractions leading up to this big divisional contest, but now there appears to be reports coming out of Denver that starting running back Travis Henry has tested positive for weed. He injured himself last week against the Colts and had an MRI on his knee and ankle, but because he has tested positive before, it appears he will be out for a long time regardless of how bad he’s hurt. His backup Selvin Young has looked good with a 9.2 yards/rush average, but he will be starting his first game against a defensive powerhouse that is looking for a much-needed victory after three straight losses.

Denver is talented, but the world knows that San Diego has more talent on paper. Will the Chargers finally play to their potential? Yeah.

NFL Free Pick: Chargers

Chicago Bears +3.5 at Green Bay Packers -3.5 8:15pm EST Sunday Night

The Bears are once again in serious trouble because they are expecting to have a few members of their defense out for this one. CBs Nathan Vasher and Charles Tillman and LB Lance Briggs all missed last week’s fiasco against Detroit and are all likely to miss this sucker. The Bears do get one player back who missed last week, S Adam Archuleta, and they need him. He has been playing near a Pro-Bowl level and will need to play against Brett Favre, who is off to one of his best starts in all of his 17 seasons.

There is an interesting note that is worthy… Bears head coach Lovie Smith is 3-0 in Lambeau Field, including a 26-0 wipeout of the Packers on September 10th last season. Favre didn’t play well in that one, throwing two picks and having no touchdown passes. Do not… I repeat… do not expect the same performance from Favre this time. This may be the last time that he faces the Chicago Bears on his field; he’ll want to make it a lasting memory.

NFL Free Pick: Packers

Dallas Cowboys -11.5 at Buffalo Bills +11.5 8:30pm EST Monday Night

Not exactly the best of Monday Night Football matchups, this game would have been much better if Troy Aikman, Jim Kelly, Emmit Smith, Thurman Thomas, Micheal Irvin and Andre Reed were still playing. But alas, we must settle for Tony Romo, Terrell Owens, Roscoe Parrish and… Trent Edwards? Edwards, the rookie QB who has replaced the injured J.P. Losman, looked quite impressive in his very first start last week, completing nearly 80% of his passes and showing the poise of a seasoned veteran in defeating the New York Jets 17-14. And straight off his first win, his next game is under the scrutiny of Monday Night… talk about getting thrown into the fire in a hurry after winning your first start against the mediocre Jets.

 

Dallas will be stung by the loss of CB Anthony Henry to an ankle problem. Henry leads the NFL in interceptions with four, but the Cowboys probably will be just fine without him. The spread is high, but it is because Dallas is much better. They should cover, and I should be sleeping after the third.

NFL Free Pick: Cowboys

The 2007 NFL betting season is here in full force! If you like to bet on the NFL, you are in the best possible place for online betting. The BetUS sportsbook has NFL odds up on a ton of futures, and you will also find NFL lines up for early games as well. Join BetUS today and we'll help guide you right through to Super Bowl XLII and beyond!

Anthony Oxley is a freelance writer for BetUS.com and can be reached at aoxley@hotmail.com.