Andrew Luck Colts

NFL Week 5 shows up on the schedule continuing to deliver what should be an epic prime time slate of games after a dud-filled opening few weeks of the 2018 NFL season. We begin with the Thursday night contest between the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots, a game that with a healthy Andrew Luck at quarterback, gains a whole new value and, after opening at Patriots -10.5, might require your immediate attention.

Sunday Night features the Battle of Texas as the Dallas Cowboys travel to the southeastern part of the state to face off against everybody’s favorite potential AFC sleeper, the Houston Texans. Maybe they aren’t so sleepy as this line opened back in May as Texans -3.

After a 2017 season of abhorrent Monday Night games, the NFL delivers its second straight solid school-night match up, pitting the Alex Smith-led Washington Redskins against the Drew Brees-led New Orleans Saints.

But the best game on the table looks to be the Sunday dinner contest between the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles, a rematch of last year’s NFC Championship. The Eagles have opened up as a -3.5 favorite.

NFL Week 5 Betting Odds

Thursday, Oct. 4

Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots

Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. EST

Broadcast: FOX, NFL Network, Amazon Prime

Opening Line: Patriots -10.5

nfl week 5
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

This line may change by the time I finish typing this sentence, let alone by kickoff on Oct. 4. Andrew Luck’s shoulder has been a specter hovering over the entire AFC, especially the AFC South, all offseason. That question was answered as training camp began in late July. Luck was a full participant and that means good things for Indianapolis and bad things for everybody else.

That’s not to say the Colts should be the favorite in the AFC by any means. It’s just that with a healthy Luck on the field, they have a chance to win every single game. And there’s no way anybody, not even New England, should be a 10.5-point favorite over them.

There are plenty of reasons to take the Colts early here with a two-score cushion. Their new head coach, Frank Reich, is just half-a-year removed from devising the perfect offensive gameplan to defeat the Patriots in the Super Bowl. And he did it with Nick Foles at QB. Now, this isn’t to say Foles isn’t a franchise QB. He is and everybody thought so until Jeff Fisher ruined him for a few seasons. But Foles isn’t Luck. In pure God-given talent and ability, no quarterback outside of Aaron Rodgers can even compare.

By the time this game kicks off, we might even know if Tom Brady has reached the QB cliff he’s been speeding toward, but managed to miss, for the last three seasons. While I wouldn’t, as of today, pick the Colts to win this game outright. I would absolutely take the Colts +10.5.

Sunday, Oct. 7

NFL Week 5 Betting Odds

Thursday Night Football Odds (Oct. 4)

Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots

Line: Patriots -10

Total: 53

Sunday (Oct. 7)

Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns

Line: Ravens -2.5

Total: 46

Jacksonville Jaguars at Kansas City Chiefs

Line: Chiefs -3.5

Total: 51.5

Tennessee Titans at Buffalo Bills

Line: Titans -3

Total: 39

New York Giants at Carolina Panthers

Line: Panthers -6.5

Total: 44.5

Denver Broncos at New York Jets

Line: Jets -1.5

Total: 43.5

Atlanta Falcons at Pittsburgh Steelers

Line: Steelers -3.5

Total: 56

Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions

Line: Packers -1

Total: 51

Miami Dolphins at Cincinnati Bengals

Line: Bengals -5.5

Total: 50

Oakland Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers

Line: Chargers -6.5

Total: 52

Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers

Line: 49ers -4.5

Total: 41

Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles

Line: Eagles -3

Total: 44.5

Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks

Line: -7

Total: 49

Dallas Cowboys at Houston Texans

Line: Texans -3.5

Total: 45

Monday Oct. 8

Washington Redskins at New Orleans Saints

Line: Saints -7

Total: 52