The 2018 NFL season is officially in full swing, which means regular season betting is back. I’m back for another year of picks in the Westgate SuperContest. SB Nation’s partners over at Odds Shark are sponsoring my entry again. The contest requires selecting 5 games each week and picking them against the spread. I had a modest but still positive 3-2 week in Week 5. I’d always like better, but if you hit on 60 percent for the season, all is well. I now sit at 11-8-1 for the season. I did better overall, going 11-2-2 on my overall picks against the spread.
The San Francisco 49ers are a 3.5 or four point favorite at most sportsbooks, with the SuperContest setting the line at four. I was tempted, but I don’t like this particular divisional matchup for picks purposes. I think the 49ers likely win either way, but I could see this coming down to a game-winning field goal. I’d love to see the 49ers thump Arizona and make a bit of a statement, but I can’t shake this feeling it’s a little closer than that.
Here are my five SuperContest picks for Week 5.
Jaguars (+3) over CHIEFS
BILLS (+3.5) over Titans
LIONS (+1) over Packers
TEXANS (-3) over Cowboys
Washington (+6.5) over SAINTS
I’m leaning heavily on underdogs this week. Week 3 saw the dogs barking, while Week 4 settled back into more familiar favorites. I think we might see some reversion back to the dogs.
That Jaguars-Chiefs matchup could end up being the best game of the week. You get a dynamic Chiefs offense against a stout Jaguars defense. Blake Bortles gets a crack at an awful Chiefs offense, and I think that could keep this sufficiently close. This is Patrick Mahomes’ toughest challenge of the season, and I think the Jaguars defense contains him enough that we see Jacksonville win outright.
The week ends with a fun Monday Night Football contest featuring an old friend and an old foe. We remember Alex Smith vs. Drew Brees from the 2012 NFC divisional round playoffs, and I think we see Smith come out ahead once again in this matchup. It will be a close one, and while New Orleans could hold on for the W, the Washington defense should give Brees a bit of trouble.
I went 11-2-2 overall in Week 4. Here are all my picks for Week 5:
PATRIOTS vs. Colts (+10.5): Colts — LOSS
BROWNS vs. Ravens (-3): Ravens
CHIEFS vs. Jaguars (+3): Jaguars
BILLS vs. Titans (-3.5): Bills
PANTHERS vs. Giants (+7): Giants
JETS vs. Broncos (+1): Jets
STEELERS vs. Falcons (+3): Steelers
LIONS vs. Packers (-1): Lions
BENGALS vs. Dolphins (+6.5): Dolphins
CHARGERS vs. Raiders (+4.5): Chargers
49ERS vs. Cardinals (+4): 49ers
EAGLES vs. Vikings (+3): Vikings
SEAHAWKS vs. Rams (-7): Seahawks
TEXANS vs. Cowboys (+3): Texans
SAINTS vs. Washington (+6.5): Washington