Week 4 was a good one for bettors who pounced on early NFL lines.
As described in our early NFL picks piece for Week 4, smart money quickly hit the Buccaneers against the Eagles and the Broncos against the Jets, with both underdogs not only covering, but winning outright.
The wiseguys are right back it, getting down on their favorite NFL Week 5 picks, including the Carolina Panthers vs. Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals.
Sharpest Early NFL Week 5 Picks
*Odds as of Tuesday afternoon
Panthers vs. Bears Pick
Sunday, Oct. 6 | 1 p.m. ET | FOX
With Andy Dalton under center, the Panthers actually look like a competitive football team.
And despite early struggles from rookie Caleb Williams, the Bears have managed to start the season with a 2-2 record.
But when it comes to the Panthers vs. Bears NFL Week 5 matchup, there’s no denying where the smart money is flowing.
Chicago currently sits between -3.5 and -4 depending on the sportsbook as of the time of writing.
However, sharp action has already had a significant impact on this spread.
On Sunday night, Carolina was available at +4.5, though pro bettors didn’t wait long to grab the points.
Sharps have steamed the Panthers four times since then, explaining why the line has dipped one-half to a full point.
Steam refers to sudden, uniform line movement across the market that’s often the result of bettors with the resources and respect to move odds getting down on the same side of the same game at multiple sportsbooks, all at once.
PRO Pick: Panthers +4 (-110) — BetMGM
Ravens vs. Bengals Pick
Sunday, Oct. 6 | 1 p.m. ET | CBS
Simply put: Pro bettors are expecting defense to be optional in this game.
As recently as Monday morning, this total sat at 48 at DraftKings before rocketing to the latest consensus line of 50.5.
Action PRO’s NFL betting percentage data is reporting that the Ravens vs. Bengals over has attracted a stunning 87% of the money wagered on the total thus far, which, when combined with the drastic line movement, tells us that oddsmakers are already very heavy with over action in this matchup.
PRO Pick: Over 50.5 (-110) — FanDuel
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