NFL Week 4 Straight Up Betting Picks

Indianapolis Colts fans should be glad that Andrew Luck appears to be back to his original form as quarterback. He couldn’t quite lead his team to a comeback win in Philadelphia last week, but the Colts’ offense should make them a contender in the AFC South. In Oakland, team management might regret that $100 million contract they gave to Jon Gruden, only to see him trade the best defensive player in the NFL away for nothing the team can use this year and to see him get outcoached in the second half of all three losses. What can we expect to see in the NFL this coming week? We have put together three straight up sports betting recommendations for NFL Week 4 matchups. As always, home teams are in all caps.

NFL Week 4 Straight Up Betting Picks

NFL Power Rankings Week 4: @RamsNFL still on Top at 3-0. Where’s your team? https://t.co/WgdPM7PVG8 ~ USAToday

— Springbak, Inc. (@springbak) September 25, 2018

Thursday, September 27, 8:30pm ET

L.A. RAMS (-6.5) over Minnesota

The Buffalo Bills showed the rest of the National Football League that the formula the Philadelphia Eagles used against the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship game still works. If you bring a relentless pass rush and challenge the Vikings physically, you can break their will on offense. This approach worked against Kirk Cousins, as he fumbled the ball away twice, and the Vikings simply sat down for the Bills in an ugly 27-6 loss, the firs twin by a 17-point underdog in the NFL since 1995. Now the Vikings head west to take on one of the last unbeaten teams in the NFL, as the Rams come in at 3-0 and are looking for the team’s first 4-0 start in 17 years. Jared Goff is off to a terrific start this year, completing over 70 percent of his passes and posting a 6:2 TD:INT ratio. Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods have been his favorite targets, and Todd Gurley is averaging 85 yards per game on the ground with four touchdowns. Defense continues to be the Rams’ strength, as they are just allowing 12 points per game. Starting cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib are questionable for the Rams, but I see Los Angeles making a statement here at home. NFL Betting Prediction: Los Angeles 24, Minnesota 13

Sunday, September 30, 4:25pm ET

New Orleans (-3.5) over N.Y. GIANTS

New Orleans is all about the offense this year, as we saw in Week 1, when they put up 40 on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and then again this past week when they scored 43 in an overtime win in Atlanta. Unfortunately, the Saints lost their opener, as some of the defensive issues that plagued them before their terrific run last year have returned, particularly in the passing game. They only permit 84.3 yards per game on the ground, good for sixth-best in the league, but they give up all kinds of yards down the field. If you like the Saints, then you think their high-flying offense can overwhelm the Giants. The Giants come in with a 1-2 record after winning down in Houston by a 27-22 score. Eli Manning broke out of a slump to lead the team to victory against a Texans defense that came in with a fairly stout reputation. Manning had been sacked six times by Dallas the week before but showed more mobility and was able to get rid of the ball more quickly, and the Giants’ defense was able to force some third-and-long situations that frustrated the Texans. Even so, the New Orleans attack is a much taller order to stop. NFL Betting Prediction: New Orleans 34, New York 20

Monday, October 1, 8:15pm ET

Kansas City (-5) over DENVER

Kansas City heads to Denver looking for another AFC West victory in the early going and for their third 4-0 start since 2013. Patrick Mahomes has been terrific thus far, completing almost 67 percent of his passes, with an eye-popping 13:0 TD:INT ratio. He is averaging a touchdown pass every seven times he throws the ball, and Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce have been his favorite scoring targets, combining for five scores, but he has thrown touchdown balls to nine different receivers. Kareem Hunt is providing enough balance, as the running game averages 103.3 yards per game. The defense isn’t particularly stout, allowing almost 31 points per game, but the scoring is carrying them so far. They visit a Denver team that is 2-1, with both wins coming at home, still enjoying their upgrade at quarterback in Case Keenum, although he has five interceptions to go along with three touchdowns. Both of the Broncos’ wins have come in comeback fashion, as Keenum has relied heavily on Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders in the passing game. On defense, the ageless Von Miller already has four sacks, but the Broncos have also given up some crucial drives at the wrong time. I see the Chiefs moving to 4-0 and cementing their lead in the AFC West. NFL Betting Prediction: Kansas City 31, Denver 23