NFL Week 4 Odds: 5 best bets against the spread
By Brad Rowland
Houston Texans (+6.5) over Atlanta Falcons
Nearly 80% of the action (via Vegas Insider) is on the Falcons at home, and with good reason. Atlanta has looked far superior to Houston through three weeks, and even when the Texans broke through with a win over Tampa Bay last week, it came in a hideous football game.
Give me the points.
Houston’s defense still appears legitimate to me, and the Falcons are overvalued after a 3-0 start. Make no mistake, Atlanta is the better team in this spot, but catching nearly a touchdown (and rising) is good value, and this line would have been much closer to three points about two weeks ago. Fade the public.
Chicago Bears (+3) over Oakland Raiders
No one wants to bet on Jimmy Clausen.
I had the Bears in Seattle last week, and while that didn’t go particularly well, we’re back again. This time, however, Chicago is playing at home and getting points against the Oakland Raiders. Yes, the Raiders are laying points on the road, and I don’t care who is playing quarterback, that is a mistake.
Throw in the fact that 89% of the action (as of this post) is coming on Oakland, and it’s the perfect storm of contrarianism. Give me Clausen and company with the points and go to the window in a good mood at the end.
Next: 49ers-Packers and Rams-Cardinals