Against the Odds – Week 5

Vinnie has gotten more right than wrong, among his four-star picks. His other picks? Now that’s a different story. Good thing this week yields more promising lines than usual, in a few cases.

Indianapolis 

@ Houston (+3.5): The Colts are off to an unusually slow start, but consider this – Indy has won 11-of-12 versus the Texans since its franchise came into being. The Houston Texans managed to keep Peyton Manning and the Colts from beating them 

once … ever. 

Houston needs its first win of the season badly, but with the Tennessee Titans 4-0 already, the Colts are just as desperate to turn things around. Matt Schaub thrives when he has time to throw, something Indy’s pressuring defense can certainly do something about. Meanwhile, there is no shortage of ways Joseph Addai and Manning’s weapons in the passing game can move the chains and score points.

  

Gimme Indy minus the points

!

New England

@ San Francisco (+3.5): The Patriots were throttled by

Miami, had a bye week to figure things out and now face an up-and-down 49ers team. It’s difficult these days to anticipate whether

New England‘s defense will show up or whether they’ll be embarrassed, but San Fran’s offense is similarly unpredictable. If there’s one thing we can count on, though, it’s that coach Bill Belichick will have his team ready to dismantle the first obstacle in its way.

 

  

Gimme New England minus the points!

Buffalo @ Arizona (-1): 

Buffalo has won the first quarter of its games with an effective running game, improved play from Trent Edwards and a stifling defense. As impressive as the Bills pass defense has looked, it faces a worthy challenge from Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald & Co. I say the Bills once again come out on top.

 

 

Gimme Buffalo!