Week 5 is in the books, but several lingering factors are impacting NFL Week 6 betting odds. That includes the typical injury information, most notably a finger issue that has shelved Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson for multiple weeks. There’s also a gaggle of key injuries dotting the New York Giants’ roster.
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 6 Injuries
Seattle Seahawks: Wilson wrenched his right middle finger in a Week 5 Thursday night loss to the Rams, and he’s expected to miss more than a month. Prior to Wilson’s injury, The SuperBook’s look-ahead line back had the Seahawks as 2.5-point road favorites in the Week 6 Sunday nighter at Pittsburgh. On Sunday, Seattle opened as a 4-point road underdog, and the line reached +5 by Monday afternoon. On Friday, Seahawks running back Chris Carson (neck) also was ruled out after being placed on injured reserve, but the line stuck at +5.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Wideout Juju Smith-Schuster is done for the year after season-ending surgery on his shoulder that he injured in a Week 5 win over Denver. The SuperBook still opened the Steelers -4 at home against the Seahawks and quickly went to -5, where it remained as of Saturday morning. That line is largely due to the aforementioned absence of Seattle QB Wilson.
Cleveland Browns: On Friday, running back Nick Chubb (calf) was ruled out of Sunday’s nonconference clash against visiting Arizona. And several more starters on both sides of the ball are questionable. The SuperBook on Friday afternoon moved from Browns -3.5 to -3, in a game that opened -2.5 Sunday night. However, by Saturday morning, Cleveland was back to -3.5. Also as of Saturday morning, the total had tumbled to 48.5 from a 54 opener and 54.5 high point, but weather is a factor in that drop-off (see below).
Arizona Cardinals: Running back Chase Edwards (shoulder) is questionable at Cleveland. The Cards opened +2.5 at The SuperBook and spent most of the week at +3. By Saturday morning, though, the spread jumped to +3.5, perhaps due to the fact that Arizona won’t have its coach on the sideline. Kliff Kingsbury tested positive for COVID on Friday and won’t be at the game.
New York Giants: Running back Saquon Barkley (ankle) and wideout Kenny Golladay are out this week against the visiting Rams. Also, wideout Kadarius Toney (ankle) is questionable but expected to play, while fellow receiver Darius Slayton (hamstring) is a game-time decision. Add to that a cluster of injuries on the offensive line, and you’ve got problems. On the plus side, QB Daniel Jones, who suffered a concussion last week, will play Sunday. The Giants went from +10 to +11 by Tuesday at The SuperBook, but by Friday night, this line plummeted to +8.
Kansas City Chiefs: Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, averaging more than 15 touches per game the first four weeks, suffered a knee injury against Buffalo. He was put on injured reserve, meaning he’s out at least three games. Further, speedy wideout Tyreek Hill (quad) is questionable for Sunday’s game at Washington but expected to play. Kansas City opened -7 at The SuperBook and fell to -6.5, where the number sat Saturday morning.
Washington Football Team: Running back Antonio Gibson (shin) and wideout Terry McLaurin (hamstring) are questionable but both are expected to play, while wideout Curtis Samuel (groin) is out Sunday against Kansas City. Washington is +6.5 at The SuperBook after opening +7.
Miami Dolphins: QB Tua Tagovailoa, who hasn’t played since breaking his ribs in Week 2, appears set to start against Jacksonville in London. Miami — which will again be without top wideout DeVante Parker (shoulder/hamstring) — opened -3 at The SuperBook, went to -3.5 Monday, then fell back to -3 Thursday and remained there. The total moved from 45 to 47 by Tuesday afternoon and remained there as of Saturday morning.
Cincinnati Bengals: Early in the week, there was concern about the status of QB Joe Burrow, who after an overtime loss to Green Bay went to the hospital with a throat contusion. But he’s not on the injury report and should be good Sunday at Detroit. Running back Joe Mixon (ankle) remained questionable Friday. The Bengals were -3.5 Friday night at The SuperBook, the same as the opening number after stints at -3 and very briefly -4.
Los Angeles Chargers: Wideout Mike Williams (knee) is questionable Sunday at Baltimore but expected to play. The Chargers were 3-point underdogs Saturday at The SuperBook, after opening +3, stretching to +3.5 and shortening to +2.5.
Baltimore Ravens: Wideout Sammy Watkins (thigh) is out this week against the Chargers. The Ravens were as high as -3.5 early in the week at The SuperBook, dipped to -2.5 by Friday and went to -3 (even) Saturday.
Dallas Cowboys: Running back Ezekiel Elliott (ribs) is questionable for Sunday’s tilt at New England but is expected to play. Dallas opened -2.5 and quickly reached -4 at The SuperBook, but by Thursday night was down to -3. The Cowboys, who at 5-0 ATS are the only team in the league that has covered in every game this season, ticked up to -3.5 Saturday afternoon.
New England Patriots: Running back Damien Harris (ribs) is questionable Sunday against Dallas but expected to play. The Pats also have a cluster-injury situation on the offensive line. The SuperBook opened New England +2.5 and stretched to +4 in short order, then receded to +3 Thursday. On Saturday, the line moved to Pats +3.5.
Chicago Bears: Running back David Montgomery (knee) already is on IR, and now his replacement Damien Williams (foot/knee) is out for Sunday’s divisional battle against Green Bay. Wideout Allen Robinson (ankle) is questionable. The Bears opened +4 at The SuperBook and within a few hours moved to +4.5. By Friday morning, Chicago was a 6-point pup.
Denver Broncos: Running back Melvin Gordon (hip) is listed as questionable but expected to play in Sunday’s home game against the Raiders. The Broncos opened -3 and went to -4 in the wake of Monday night’s news that Jon Gruden resigned as Raiders coach. The line fell back to -3.5 Tuesday afternoon, then returned to -4 Friday morning.
Carolina Panthers: Earlier in the week, running back Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) was given a coin-flip chance of returning to play against Minnesota. But on Friday, he was ruled out, and The SuperBook moved the Panthers from +2 to +2.5 after opening at Panthers +1.5 and briefly flipping to Carolina -1.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rob Gronkowski (ribs) will miss a third straight game, but his absence isn’t affecting the line for Thursday night’s game at Philadelphia. The Bucs opened -7 at The SuperBook, briefly dipped to -6.5, then returned to -7 (where the number remained as of Wednesday night).
NFL Week 6 Weather
Arizona Cardinals at Cleveland Browns: The theme of this week’s weather is wind, and Cleveland is projected to have the worst of it. With a forecast calling for breezes of 20-30 mph off the shores of Lake Erie, this contest could very well be the most affected by Mother Nature. The SuperBook opened this total at 54 and plunged to 49 by Tuesday night, then to 48.5 Friday night.
Kansas City Chiefs at Washington Football Team: Sunday’s game should have mild fall temperatures in the mid-60s, but the forecast also called for winds of 10-20 mph. On Monday, the total moved from 54.5 to 55.5 at The SuperBook, but by lunch hour Friday, it was down to 54.
Los Angeles Rams at New York Giants: The projection calls for winds of 10-20 mph Sunday at MetLife Stadium. But the total on this game went from 47.5 to 49 at The SuperBook, before ticking to 48.5 Friday.
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears: No surprise that the Windy City might be a little breezy Sunday, with the forecast calling for 10-15 mph gusts. The SuperBook opened the total at 46 and was down to 44 by Wednesday afternoon, where it remained as of Saturday morning.
Los Angeles Chargers at Baltimore Ravens: You guessed it, more breezes, with a midweek prediction of potentially impactful wind (10-20 mph). But the total in this matchup between two explosive offenses has been on the rise, opening at 48.5 and reaching 52 by Wednesday afternoon at The SuperBook. The total peeled back to 51 by Friday and remained there Saturday morning.
NFL Week 6 Pros Vs Joes
Dallas Cowboys at New England Patriots: “The biggest Pros vs. Joes game this week,” WynnBet junior trader Patrick Wall said Saturday night. The public is piling on Dallas, which is taking more than 90% of tickets and money on the spread. But the professionals are interested in a 3-point home underdog that last week barely escaped Houston with a win. “We never touched [Patriots] +4, but did take some sharp money at +3.5 and +165 on the moneyline,” Wall said.
Arizona Cardinals at Cleveland Browns: By Thursday afternoon, TwinSpires Sportsbook was seeing 70% of tickets on the road underdog Cardinals and 58% of money on the home favorite Browns. “The public is all over the Cards as 3-point ‘dogs. We saw sharp money on Cleveland -3 (-110), and we’re juiced to -3 (-117) now,” TwinSpires trading analyst Zachary Lucas said.
