The Vikings are poised to continue winning, while the Ravens and Patriots face unready back-up quarterbacks...
{ODDS:115092177:10/11} – Minnesota Vikings (-3) @ Philadelphia Eagles
The Vikings have been a favourite of this column all season, and as long as they keep winning, that will continue.
Minnesota are unbeaten in their first five games of the year and, perhaps more importantly, they have won five out of five against the spread.
They have the top-ranked defence in the NFL, and have won their two away games this season by a combined total of 21 points.
The Eagles, meanwhile, have struggled in the past two weeks after a strong start to their campaign, losing to the Detroit Lions and the Washington Redskins.
They conceded over 24 points in each of those games, and simply must improve defensively to have a chance against a team like Minnesota.
Philadelphia’s rookie quarterback Carson Wentz has been impressive so far.
This is comfortably the biggest test of his career, though, against a side that has conceded fewer than 17 points in nine straight games.{ODDS:115093
{ODDS:115093377:20/21} – Baltimore Ravens (+2) @ New York Jets
In a meeting of two teams that have not won against the spread in the past four weeks, it’s wise to go with the better quarterback.
That means avoiding Geno Smith and the Jets.
Smith replaces the struggling Ryan Fitzpatrick as New York’s starter this week, but his career record of 11 wins and 18 defeats does little to inspire confidence.
That’s especially true, considering the Jets have scored the least points per game of any team this season.
They also have the league’s sixth-worst defence, while the Ravens have been a top-10 defensive side so far.
Baltimore beat bad teams in their first three fixtures this season, and should do the same here.
{ODDS:115093047:20/21} – Oakland Raiders (+1) @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Oakland were beaten comfortably by a well-rested Chiefs side coming off a bye week last Sunday, but they should rebound against the Jaguars.
Jacksonville are a below-average team both offensively and defensively, and quarterback Blake Bortles has a career record of just 10 wins and 24 defeats.
The Raiders, meanwhile, rank 10th in points scored this season, and have beaten the spread in three of the four games in which they have been underdogs.
Admittedly, they have struggled on the other side of the ball so far.
That is perhaps to be expected, though, considering they have faced the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons and San Diego Chargers – the top three offensive teams in the NFL.
{ODDS:115094429:10/11} – New England Patriots (-7) @ Pittsburgh Steelers
History is on the New England’s side against the Steelers, who are without injured quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Patriots passer Tom Brady has only lost twice in nine meetings with Pittsburgh, and coach Bill Belichick has won 47 of 61 games against back-up quarterbacks during his 16 years in Foxboro.
That’s a bad omen for Landry Jones, who will stand in for the injured Ben Roethlisberger for the Steelers.
The 27-year-old has only started two games in his career, throwing just three touchdowns and four interceptions.
The Patriots have only lost once against the spread this season, when third-string quarterback Jacoby Brissett was the starter.
They have scored over 30 points in each of the two games since Brady returned from a four-week suspension, and that should be enough to cover a seven-point handicap here.
A £10 bet on this four-fold handicap accumulator returns £138.90*
*Odds and amounts correct at the time of publication, but subject to change. See site for latest.
