Some enticing games in Week 5 of the SuperContest

Some enticing games in Week 5 of the SuperContest article feature image

LAS VEGAS – The teams associated with Sports Action are coming off our best week as a company in the Westgate SuperContest. All four of our entries scored winning weeks, led by our first 5-0 performance put up by Team Bet The Process. Bet's 11 points through the first four weeks are good enough to tie Team Beatrix Kiddo for the best start by one of our teams. Team Gamenight is right behind those two with 10.5 points.

Sadly, none of our teams won the $15,000 prize for leading the contest after the first month of picks. That money was split between Teams Schmematic Advantage and PHD Sports, who are tied for first place with 17 points a piece.

Here's where our teams are currently stand in the SuperContest out of 2,741 entries:

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As you can see above, even though just a half point separates our top two teams from our third best team, the difference in the standings is in the hundreds. With so many teams this year, every pick matters, and every point you accumulate is extremely important.

Let's get to the picks for Week 5:

via GIPHY

Dolphins +3 vs. Titans

So, I love going against backup QBs. I'm 1-1 doing that this season, with both games coming after the injury to Sam Bradford of the Vikings. This week, I'm taking three more games (including betting against Minnesota again) where I see the starting QB either injured or out. The first is Miami going up against a banged up Marcus Mariota in Miami. Sure, he might play, but if he does it will be with a hamstring injury that will force him to stay in the pocket. Miami's run defense is only giving up 77.6 yards per game, and with Matt Cassell potentially being called into action, Tennessee will want to run the ball. I don't think they will be able to do it. On the other side, QB Jay Culter needs a good performance, and the Titans are giving up over 270 yards per game through the air. I will take Miami to win outright.

Ravens +2.5 at Raiders

I know QB Derek Carr is making progress with his bad back, but he's out for this week. The Raiders are hoping that EJ Manuel will be able to put points up on Baltimore's defense, but without Carr last year, Oakland averaged just 10 points per game. The Ravens' offense is horrid, but I'll take the points and QB Joe Flacco to figure out how to score again. Last year, the Raiders won 28-27 in Baltimore, and I could see another very close game this year.

Rams -1 vs. Seahawks

The other trend that I'm playing this week is to buy in to what we are seeing from the top two rookie head coaches in the NFL. First, I'm on board the bandwagon for Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams. The win at Dallas made me a believer. Under Jeff Fisher, the Rams kind of owned the Seahawks, but something isn't right with Seattle this year, and now they've lost RB Chris Carson. This game is at home for the Rams, and it's their biggest game since they moved back to the West Coast. With the seasons QB Jared Goff and RB Todd Gurley are having so far, I really doubt will see the combined 12 points that were put up in last year's 9-3 Rams win in LA.

Bills +3 at Bengals

The other head coach that is doing some big things in his first year is Sean McDermott of the Bills. Buffalo is 3-1 and is coming off a huge win at Atlanta. You beat a team like that, at their place, and I'm a fan. I know losing Jordan Matthews hurts an offense that already is struggling, but I like the Bills' defense a lot. The Bengals got their first win of the season against a pathetic Browns team last week, and I'm not buying that things are corrected in Cincinnati. Buffalo is getting points, so I'm going with the Bills to continue the run of 'Dogs barking in the NFL.

Bears +3 vs. Vikings

The only time this year that the Vikings had to play outside they got blasted by the Steelers 26-9, and they just lost RB Dalvin Cook for the year last week. On Monday Night Football, Chicago will start their top pick in the draft, QB Mitchell Trubisky, against a really good defense. However, I think the Bears' defense will turn the ball over and set up their young signal caller with short fields and easy scoring opportunities. Chicago also plays well in primetime, so I will take the points here.

Help us support the family of Christiana Duarte, a member of the Rams org. who we lost in the Las Vegas tragedy » https://t.co/dNCw7xbUogpic.twitter.com/AC5TQA0BFs

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 5, 2017

As for our other teams, at the time of this publication, Beatrix Kiddo was still sifting through the data to make their five selections for this week.

However, our hot hand of Bet The Process is taking the Giants -3.5 to keep the Chargers winless, the Bengals -3 to beat the Bills, Panthers +2.5 over the Lions, Seattle -1 to beat the Rams and the Packers +2 cover versus the Cowboys.

This week, our computer algorithm Team Sports Action is on the other side of the Giants versus the Chargers by taking the points. It also likes the Panthers +2.5 against Detroit and the Seahawks -1 to get a win over LA. It agrees with my pick of the Ravens +2.5 at the Raiders and, finally, it likes the Chiefs to beat the Texans on Sunday Night Football.

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