Week 4 in the 2021 NFL regular season begins with a rematch of quarterbacks from the 2020 college football national championship, as Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals meets Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Burrow’s team comes in 2-1, while Lawrence’s team comes in 0-3, with head coach Urban Meyer already having to deny interest in the open job at USC.
Let’s look at NFL betting picks for each game in the week ahead.
NFL News: Week 4 Odds, Overview & Prediction for Each Game
Thursday Night Football
Jacksonville Jaguars (+7) at Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals just beat Pittsburgh by 14, and now they get a team with even less of a defense than the Steelers. Both quarterbacks will make some elite throws, but the Bengals are at least a year ahead on the rebuild continuum. Bengals to win and cover.
Sunday Games
Washington Football Team (+1) at Atlanta Falcons
Washington got demolished by Buffalo a week ago, and their vaunted defense from a year ago has not played up to its 2020 level yet. Can the Atlanta offense get untracked? Falcons to win and cover.
Houston Texans (+16.5) at Buffalo Bills
Buffalo’s offense has exploded the last few weeks…and the Texans are going to roll with Davis Mills again this week. This is a huge line, so I’m personally staying away from this game, but if you want a side, take the Bills to win and cover.
Carolina Panthers (+4) at Dallas Cowboys
Carolina is 3-0, including a home rout of the New Orleans Saints. Dallas is 2-1, but that loss came in a barnburner in Tampa Bay on the first Thursday of the season. This should be a showdown between two young and rising defenses, which leaves the game to come down to whether Sam Darnold or Dak Prescott can make fewer mistakes. Cowboys to win and cover.
Detroit Lions (+3.5) at Chicago Bears
Andy Dalton (knee) could return to start for Chicago, and it’s clear that Justin Fields isn’t ready to start a game — or that the Bears’ coaching staff isn’t ready to game-plan for his strengths. Detroit left everything on the field against Baltimore and got gut-punched with that late field goal. Bears to win and cover.
Indianapolis Colts (+1.5) at Miami Dolphins
Miami’s defense should be able to do better against a hobbled Carson Wentz than it could against a rejuvenated Derek Carr. Dolphins to win and cover.
Cleveland Browns (-1) at Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota was quite solid in their beating of Seattle last week. However, Cleveland has been playing at a higher level. Take this line while it lasts. Browns to win and cover.
N.Y. Giants (+8) at New Orleans Saints
This line opened at 7 ½ points and almost immediately ticked up a half-point because of the weight of the action. The Giants lost ugly at home to Atlanta last week, and the Saints’ defense is much better than the Falcons’.
Kansas City Chiefs (-6) at Philadelphia Eagles
This line has also shifted from opening, going from 5 ½ points to 6. I don’t think it’s done moving, as the Chiefs should be ready to deal out some frustration. Chiefs to win and cover.
Arizona Cardinals (+6) at L.A. Rams
The Rams skid a bit on complacency after beating Tampa Bay. They might come back to win late, but I like Arizona to cover.
Seattle Seahawks (+3.5) at San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco and Seattle both took tough losses on Sunday, but the 49ers look more together — and Russell Wilson isn’t playing complete games yet. 49ers to win and cover.
Baltimore Ravens (+1.5) at Denver Broncos
Take the Ravens to cover just as soon as you can. Don’t even take the time to read a blurb about how the Ravens are a playoff contender, while the Broncos have built a 3-0 record against rebuilding teams. Ravens to cover.
Pittsburgh Steelers (NL) at Green Bay Packers
This line opened at Green Bay -7 but then came off the board because of heavy action. Why? Because Pittsburgh just lost to Cincinnati by 14.
Sunday Night Football
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-6) at New England Patriots
This line opened at Tampa Bay -5 ½ points and has already moved a bit. If Bill Belichick couldn’t come up with a defensive game plan to shut down Jameis Winston, it’s difficult to say he could make one for Tom Brady. Buccaneers to win at cover.
Monday Night Football
Las Vegas Raiders (+3) at L.A. Chargers
The top two teams in the AFC West square off in what should be a barnburner. The Chargers seem a little more complete, at least in terms of having a running game, but the Ravens have been better finishers. Las Vegas to cover.
NFL Betting Odds
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