Welcome to Week 5 of the 2024 NFL season. It’s been a little up and down this season, with favorites failing more often than not.
Week 4 was no different, and 9 of the 12 games had spreads of 3.5 or fewer points, making it that much more difficult from a handicapping perspective. In Week 5, we have just 4 games with a spread of 4 or more points.
In Week 5, we also have the 1st of 3 straight weekends with a morning kickoff from the United Kingdom at 9:30 a.m. ET. Bye weeks are kicking in, too. Because of the byes, there are fewer games in the 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. windows Sunday, so we must choose more wisely.
Last week, we played the Over (44.5) in the Jacksonville Jaguars-Houston Texans game but missed by just a half-point. It got worse. The Cleveland Browns lost to a Las Vegas Raiders team missing its best offensive player, and its best defensive player. And, we expected defense to rule the Monday Night Football game between the Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions, but it turned into a track meet at Ford Field instead. We’ll do better in Week 5.
After looking at BetMGM Sportsbook’s NFL Week 5 odds, here is our “Winner winner chicken dinner” NFL parlay bet to cash in on among SportbookWire’s NFL expert picks and predictions.
For this week’s parlay, we’re going with 3 sides from the Sunday slate, starting with the early kickoff from London.
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Winner winner chicken dinner NFL parlay
WEEK 5
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NFL odds. Lines last updated at 2:21 a.m. ET. All games Sunday and ET unless noted.
Leg 1: VIKINGS -2.5 (-115) vs. Jets in London – 9:30 a.m. (NFL Network)
The Minnesota Vikings (4-0) have been stunning this season, firing out to an undefeated start. Nobody saw that coming, and it is former New York Jets 1st-round draft pick QB Sam Darnold leading the way.
The Vikings are also 4-0 against the spread (ATS) with wins and covers against 3 playoff teams from last season the past 3 weekends. It’s been an impressive and uncanny run.
The Vikings are so-so on offense, but they’re very balanced, going for 217.0 passing yards per game (ranking 10th) and 123.8 rushing YPG game (14th). They also have solid red-zone efficiency, scoring at 66.7% (8th), per Teamrankings.com.
While Minnesota’s defense ranks last against the pass (274.3 YPG), it ranks 2nd against the run (75.0 YPG) and 4th in points allowed (14.8 PPG).
The Vikings will have their hands full against old friend QB Aaron Rodgers, but they’ll use their balanced offense to get the job done across the pond.
BACK VIKINGS -2.5 (-115) to kick off this Week 5 parlay in a big way.
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Leg 2: COMMANDERS -3 (-110) vs. Browns – 1 p.m. (FOX)
The CoMMAnders (3-1) have had a ton of success on offense lately, picking up 3 consecutive wins and covers since dropping a 37-20 loss at Tampa Bay in Week 1.
Washington appears to have hit the jackpot with rookie QB Jayden Daniels, as the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner has picked up right where he left off at LSU last season.
Daniels has led the CoMMAnders to 40.0 PPG in the past 2 Games, and he has completed 82.1% of his pass attempts through the 1st 4 Games. Not only is that the best mark for any rookie through his 1st 4 starts, it’s the best mark of any player in NFL History in the span.
As far as the Browns (1-3) are concerned, they’ve managed 18 or fewer points in all 4 of their games. The offensive line has been banged up and it isn’t getting much better. The good news for QB Deshaun Watson is that he might have TE David Njoku back for the 1st time since Week 1. Njoku carries a questionable tag, so it’s uncertain if he’ll be back or not.
The Browns began the clock for RB Nick Chubb to return from injured reserve as he practiced with the team this week. However, he has been ruled out as he tries to return from a knee injury suffered last season in Week 2.
The Commanders are at home for just the 2nd time this season. Expect them to put on a show for the hometown fans at Northwest Stadium.
BACK COMMANDERS -3 (-110) for the 2nd leg of this parlay.
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Leg 3: JAGUARS -3 (-115) – 1 p.m. (CBS)
The winless Jacksonville Jaguars (0-4) have won 4 of the past 5 meetings in this series between AFC South Division rivals. That includes a sweep last season, including a 37-20 victory at EverBank Stadium in mid-October.
In addition, Jacksonville has covered 8 of the past 9 meetings in this series dating back to Dec. 29, 2019.
There has been little reason to believe in the Jaguars this season. They’re winless in 4 tries, although they easily could have won their opener at Miami — a 20-17 defeat in which they led with 5 minutes to go. They blew it in Week 2 at home against Cleveland, an 18-13 loss in which they led 13-3 at the half and led 16-13 midway in the 4th quarter. In fact, 3 of the Jaguars’ 4 losses have been in one-score games — by a combined 12 points.
The Jags aren’t that far away from success, and they’ll be facing a team with either 39-year-old QB Joe Flacco making his 1st start of the season or the erratic QB Anthony Richardson (oblique) under center. Richardson is listed as doubtful on the injury report.
Whomever gets the starting nod for Indy will not have RB Jonathan Taylor to hand off to as he is out with a high-ankle sprain. The Jags are primed and positioned for their 1st win of the season.
Go with JAGUARS -3 (-115) for the 3rd and final leg of this winning parlay.
PARLAY CARD
- VIKINGS -2.5 (-115) vs. Jets — in London
- COMMANDERS -3 (-110) vs. Browns
- JAGUARS -3 (-115) vs. Colts
Parlay payout: Bet $10 to profit $56.73 (payout = $66.73).
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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