There have been plenty of surprises throughout the first five weeks of the NFL season. After all, nobody would have predicted before the start of the year that the Cincinnati Bengals and Chicago Bears would lead their respective divisions outright, while the Pittsburgh Steelers and Atlanta Falcons would sit in their division basements through five weeks. Now the focus shifts to Week 6 as handicappers attempt to get a better handle on what to expect this Sunday. Here is a look at the top 5 betting trends for NFL Week 6 that could help you predict some key outcomes for this Sunday’s slate.
Minnesota Has Won Its Last Eight Home Games Versus Arizona
Travelling to play the Minnesota Vikings has been a nightmare for the Arizona Cardinals in recent years. Arizona is 0-8 straight up versus the Vikings on the road, with a 2-6 record against the spread over that span. The 1-4 Cardinals have done nothing this season to make fans think they will end that losing streak on the road against a talented Minnesota side looking to climb above .500 this week. The Vikings will approach this game with a sense of urgency and the result should be another lopsided win over Arizona at home.
Related: NFL Betting Guide
Philadelphia Is 8-2 Straight Up In Its Last 10 Games Versus The New York Giants
What is wrong with the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles? The return of quarterback Carson Wentz was expected to take this team to another level over the past couple of weeks. Instead, the Eagles have dropped back-to-back losses to the Tennessee Titans and Minnesota Vikings. Fortunately for football fans in Philadelphia, the Eagles have dominated NFC East rivals in recent years with an 8-2 record against the New York Giants since 2013. Winning in this spot got a little tougher, though, as physical running back Jay Ajayi has been lost for the season.
Tennessee Has Covered The Spread In Each Of Its Last Five Home Games
The Tennessee Titans will be a two-point underdog at home against the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday. Tennessee has thrived as a home underdog in recent years, posting a 4-0 record against the spread since November of 2016. The Titans have covered the spread in each of their last five games dating back to last season regardless of their status as a favorite or an underdog. Now they get the opportunity to extend that trend against a Baltimore side that is just 7-13 in its last 20 road games.
Buffalo Has Won As An Underdog Of 8 Or More Points Five Times Since The Start Of The 2017 Season
The Buffalo Bills have won as an underdog of eight or more points five times since the start of last season. There are two things about that trend in particular that stand out. First of all, the perception of how bad the Bills are has for the most part been worse than they actually are. Second, Buffalo has made a habit of not just covering as a substantial underdog but winning those games straight up. We saw that against the Minnesota Vikings a few weeks ago and we even saw it last week when the closed as a 6.5-point home dog but still won outright.
This week, the Bills are listed as 8.5-point favorites against a Houston side that hasn’t won in regulation this season. It won’t be a surprise if Buffalo covers again on the road.
Pittsburgh Has Won Each Of Its Last Five Road Games Versus Cincinnati. They Are 23-5 SU In Last 28 In Cincinnati And 20-7-1 ATS In Those Games
Sunday’s contest between the Steelers and Bengals will mark the first time since 2015 that Cincinnati is favored in a game versus Pittsburgh. The Bengals are listed as three-point favorites at home. However, the Steelers have dominated Cincinnati at Paul Brown Stadium in recent years, winning each of their last five matchups at that stadium. The Bengals are an NFL-best 4-1 against the spread to open the season. However, they could have a tough time covering the three points at home against a Pittsburgh side that will approach this game as though it is a must-win in Week 6.
