NFL Week 5 trend plays: Bear Down in London
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Each week, we'll highlight the best betting trends and angles. Last week, the "under" raged on to continue a remarkable trend in another Dolphins blowout loss.
Here are some of the more notable trends to watch for games in Week 5.
(Trends are from Sports Database unless noted otherwise.)
Chicago Bears vs. Oakland Raiders
Line: Bears -5.5
Ah, there's nothing better than the NFL International Series. Since the league started exporting games to London, England, in 2007, the overseas favorite has gone 17-9 (65.4%) against the spread (ATS). Teams favored by at least 4.5 points in London have gone 8-2 (80%) ATS and 10-0 straight up.
Trend play: Bears -5.5
Minnesota Vikings at New York Giants
Total: 44.5
When New York coach Pat Shurmur faces his old team this week, expect a defensive battle. The Giants are 11-3-1 to the under as home 'dogs since Shurmur took over, including 6-1 to the under when giving more than a field goal on the spread. Meanwhile, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer is 24-14-4 to the under in road games, and he's on a 5-0 run dating back to last season.
Trend play: Under 44.5
Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys
Line: Cowboys -3.5
NFL execs are likely hoping for a tight contest in one of the two afternoon games on Sunday, but the trends indicate otherwise. The Cowboys are 5-0-1 ATS in their last six games as 3.5-point favorites or more, while Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is 18-23 (43.9%) ATS as a road 'dog with eight losses in his last 11 such situations.
Trend play: Cowboys -3.5
Cleveland Browns at San Francisco 49ers
Line: 49ers -3.5
The 49ers have been afforded more than two weeks to prepare for Monday night's game, but that extra time could backfire in this spot. Home favorites coming off a bye are 24-30-3 (44.4%) ATS since 2013 and are on a 3-9-2 run over their last 15. Those teams are also 17-26 (39.5%) ATS when giving more than a field goal. Meanwhile, San Francisco is a brutal 1-14-2 (6.7%) ATS in its last 17 as home chalk.
Trend play: Browns +3.5
C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.