Week 4 is in the books, but several betting factors linger that are impacting NFL Week 5 odds. That includes the typical injury information, most notably on San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, heading into a key road game against the Arizona Cardinals.
This week and every week, Props.com’s Countdown to Kickoff serves as a one-stop-shop for details on injuries, weather conditions, and Pros vs Joes action. Check back regularly for injury updates, significant weather impacts, and notable contrasts between NFL sharp bets and public money.
NFL Week 5 Injuries
San Francisco 49ers: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s calf injury isn’t as bad as feared, but he didn’t practice Friday and has been ruled out of Sunday’s NFC West battle at undefeated Arizona. That means rookie Trey Lance will get his first NFL start, but he could be without talented tight end George Kittle (calf), who is doubtful. On Friday, The SuperBook moved the 49ers from +5 to +4.5, then went back to +5. San Fran opened +4 and peaked at +5.5 earlier in the week. The total dropped from 53.5 to 50 by Monday morning and tumbled to 48 by Friday after news of Garoppolo’s status became public.
Arizona Cardinals: Running back Chase Edmonds (shoulder) and tight end Maxx Williams (shoulder) are questionable against San Francisco. Arizona opened -3.5 at The SuperBook, stretched to -5.5, dropped to -4.5 and was -5 Friday night. The total is down to 48 from a 53.5 opener, with the 49ers’ injury situation a larger contributing factor (see above).
Chicago Bears: Running back David Montgomery (knee) will be out well beyond Sunday’s road game against the Raiders, as he’s expected to miss three to five weeks. The Bears opened +4 and reached +5.5 Tuesday morning at The SuperBook, while the total dipped from 45.5 to 44.5 early in the week and was at 45 Friday night.
Carolina Panthers: Christian McCaffrey (hamstring), who missed the Week 4 loss at Dallas, returned to practice this week. But on Saturday, he was listed as doubtful. Carolina is -3 at The SuperBook, down from the -4 opener for Sunday’s home tilt against Philadelphia.
Miami Dolphins: Wideout DeVante Parker is questionable Sunday at Tampa Bay with shoulder and hamstring issues. Miami opened +10 and was briefly at +10.5 early in the week before going back to +10 at The SuperBook.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tight end Rob Gronkowski (ribs) missed last week’s loss at New England and is out this week against Miami. Still, the Bucs are 10-point favorites, same as the opening number after briefly touching -10.5 Monday.
Denver Broncos: Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (concussion protocol) is questionable for Sunday’s game at Pittsburgh. Also, wideout Courtland Sutton (ankle) is questionable. After opening the game a pick ’em, The SuperBook moved to Broncos +1.5 by Tuesday morning, then went to Broncos +1. The total is down a point to 39.5, among the lowest totals so far this season.
Cincinnati Bengals: Running back Joe Mixon (ankle) is questionable for Sunday’s home game against Green Bay. However, this line actually moved toward Cincinnati at The SuperBook, which went from +3.5 to +3 Tuesday morning, then to +2.5 Thursday evening. The total initially moved from 49 to 51.5, then backed up to 50.5 Thursday.
Tennessee Titans: Julio Jones is out for a second straight week with a hamstring issue, but fellow wideout A.J. Brown (hamstring) will play at Jacksonville after missing last week’s overtime loss to the Jets. The Titans are dinged up at multiple spots on the offensive line, yet Tennessee is up to -4.5 from a -3.5 opener at The SuperBook.
Detroit Lions: Tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee) is questionable for Sunday’s game at Minnesota, as are running back D’Andre Swift (groin) and his backup, Jamaal Williams (hip). The Lions initially went from +8.5 to +7.5 at The SuperBook, but they jumped to +10 by Thursday night.
Minnesota Vikings: Dalvin Cook (ankle), who played but was limited in last week’s loss to Cleveland, is again questionable. Despite Cook’s iffy status, the Vikings by Thursday night were out to -10 against Detroit. That’s up from Sunday’s -8.5 opener and Monday’s -7.5 low point at The SuperBook.
Cleveland Browns: Cleveland is dinged up along both lines: center JC Tretter (knee/back) and left tackle Jedrick Wills (ankle) are questionable, as are defensive ends Myles Garrett (knee/ankle) and Jadeveon Clowney (elbow). The Browns opened the week at pick ’em for a road trip against the Chargers and initially went to -1, but flipped to +2 midweek at The SuperBook.
New York Giants: Wideouts Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton are out with hamstring troubles, and the Giants also have a cluster injury situation on the offensive line. Left guard Ben Bredeson (hand) is out, and left tackle Andrew Thomas (foot) is questionable. All that said, the visiting Giants opened +7 against Dallas, got to +7.5, then spent most of the week back at +7.
Dallas Cowboys: Wideout Amari Cooper (hamstring) and running back Ezekiel Elliott (knee) were both listed as questionable Friday, but both are expected to play against the Giants. The Cowboys moved from -7 to -7.5 and back to the opener at The SuperBook. The total is up to 52 from a 49.5 opener.
Atlanta Falcons: Calvin Ridley (personal reasons) didn’t make the trip to London for Sunday’s game against the Jets, and fellow wideout Russell Gage (ankle) will miss his third straight game. Still, the Falcons have been at -3 most of the week at The SuperBook, after opening -3.5.
Washington Football Team: Running back Antonio Gibson (shin) and wideout Curtis Samuel (groin) are questionable against the Saints. The game opened at pick ’em but was at Washington +2.5 on Friday afternoon at The SuperBook.
New England Patriots: The SuperBook opened the Patriots as healthy 9.5-point favorites at Houston. The problem is New England isn’t healthy, particularly on the offensive line. Left tackle Isaiah Wynn and left guard Mike Onwenyu are on the COVID/reserve list, while right tackle Trent Brown (calf) and right guard Shaq Mason (adbomen) are out with injuries. New England was down to -8 Friday at the SuperBook, and the total moved from 39.5 to 40, then down to 39 by Friday evening.
NFL Week 5 Weather
New Orleans Saints at Washington Football Team: The latest forecast calls for winds of 10-15 mph, with a chance for rain as well. The SuperBook opened the total at 44 and initially rose to 44.5, but the number dipped to 43.5 on Wednesday.
Green Bay Packers at Cincinnati Bengals: It’ll be unseasonably warm — and possibly breezy — Sunday in Cincinnati, with a temperature of 87 degrees and winds of 10-15 mph. The total bounced from 49 to 51.5 to 50.5 this week at The SuperBook.
Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs: This week’s marquee matchup could include some weather issues. The forecast for Sunday night in Kansas City calls for an 80% chance of precipitation and winds of 10-15 mph. Despite that, the total has been fairly stable all week at 56.5, with a brief leap to 57. This much-anticipated AFC Championship Game rematch is easily the highest total on The SuperBook’s board, 4.5 points above Giants-Cowboys.
NFL Week Pros Vs Joes
Philadelphia Eagles at Carolina Panthers: By midweek, this game had a sharps vs. squares feel at TwinSpires Sportsbook. The Panthers are getting 78% of early tickets but just 55% of early dollars on the point spread.
“Joes are on Carolina and Pros on the Eagles. We opened Carolina -4.5 and are now at Carolina -4,” TwinSpires trading analyst Zachary Lucas said Wednesday. “Sharp money on Philly +4.5.”
New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys: “We’ve seen sharp action on the Giants +7.5, while the public has been hammering the Cowboys,” Lucas said Friday. The Cowboys are taking 78% of tickets but just 53% of cash.
Green Bay Packers at Cincinnati Bengals: WynnBet moved the Packers from -3.5 to -3, thanks to a sharps vs. squares dynamic. “There is no public love for Joe Burrow and the Bengals as a short home ‘dog. Yet this line has ticked down from 3.5 since opening. It looks like a classic Pros vs. Joes,” junior trader Pat Wall said. The public play far outweighs the sharps, with 88% of bets/77% of cash on Green Bay.