NFL Week 4 Picks: Best Bets Vs. The Spread

Hi! Do you enjoy football? How about winning money? If you answered yes to either or both of those questions, the following is in your wheelhouse. Here are the Smarter picks for Week 4 of the NFL season. These are against the spread, and the spreads and percentages are courtesy of Pregame.com. 

Season Record: 4-5

Oakland Raiders (+3.0) over BALTIMORE RAVENS

The Raiders paid off last week, so why not ride them again? The offense is still A+, and although the Ravens are 3-0, and a notoriously good home team, they’re a very soft 3-0. Oakland still has the top offense in the NFL, and the Ravens, while solid, are in the bottom third of the league against No. 1 receivers. Keep your eyes out for a big game from Amari Cooper, and a Raiders victory outright.

NEW YORK JETS (+2.5) over Seattle Seahawks

This is a classic spot. The Jets looked as bad as an offense could possibly look last week, turning the ball over eight times and humiliating themselves repeatedly in the red zone. Conversely, the Seahawks laid a vicious beating on the 49ers after looking comatose offensively in the prior two tilts.

It means dick. The matchup that matters here is clear: the Jets defensive line will savage Seattle’s porous offensive line and terrorize QB Russell Wilson, who is injured. The Jets can manage the game by moving Brandon Marshall away from Richard Sherman, and utilizing Matt Forte and Bilal Powell in the passing game. Like Oakland, I like the underdog in this game outright. 

WASHINGTON REDSKINS (-7.0) over Cleveland Browns

The Browns have been hanging tough lately, but this team is horrible and it will eventually fall apart. The Redskins are not incredible, but they’re certainly better than the Browns, and they’re riding high off a road win against the Giants. Washington’s running game is about to get right against Cleveland’s poor front, and Kirk Cousins should have a field day in terms of yardage.

You’re also catching a break by betting it now. The line opened at 10, but it seems bettors are buying the Browns’ competence. You should not. Now that it’s seven points, and 68 percent of the action is on the Browns on the road, you can clean up.

**PAY ATTENTION

Carolina Panthers (-3.0) at ATLANTA FALCONS

I don’t know how to treat this, because it seems fishy. The Panthers may be 1-2, but they still should be favored by more than three points after a 15-win season last year and a Super Bowl appearance. Then again, the Falcons are 2-1, fresh off two awesome offensive performances, and succeeding behind the hottest QB in football in Matt Ryan.

Bettors are leaning into the Panthers at only -3.0, likely thinking they’re getting a steal and that the Falcons are a fluke. I don’t know how good Atlanta actually is, but the Panthers are definitely not as good as they were in 2015.

I’m thinking the Falcons are the play if you’re inclined to live dangerously.