The Miami Dolphins will be trying to bounce back from last weekend’s 38-7 loss in New England when they visit the AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday as 5.5-point underdogs on the NFL Week 5 odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Miami’s loss to the Patriots as a 6.5-point underdog marked its first defeat of the season, and dumped the current leaders in the AFC East standings to 1-6 straight up in its last seven road dates ahead of Sunday afternoon’s game at Paul Brown Stadium.
While the Dolphins suffered their fourth-worst loss in franchise history last week at Gillette Stadium, they have otherwise played solid defence, allowing just 17.3 points per game while covering in three straight-up wins to open the season. However, Miami ranks 29th in the NFL in total yards per game, and has been a dismal performer as a betting underdog, going 3-9 SU and 3-8-1 against the spread in its past 12, according to the OddsShark NFL Database.
Conversely, the Bengals rose to the occasion after a decisive 31-21 loss in Carolina two weeks ago, hanging on to win a 37-36 seesaw battle with the Atlanta Falcons as 3.5-point underdogs to improve to 3-1 and maintain a share of top spot in the AFC North. Cincinnati has now averaged 30.5 points per game during a 5-1 SU run, including a pair of home victories, but is just 4-4 SU and 3-5 ATS in eight games as home chalk.
Elsewhere on the NFL Week 5 odds, AFC championship contenders clash as the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs host the Jacksonville Jaguars as 3-point favourites, while the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Falcons as 3-point chalk in a clash of slumping squads.
The Chiefs’ torrid offence cooled off slightly in last week’s 27-23 win over Denver as 3.5-point road chalk, but Kansas City remains unbeaten ATS this season and in eight of nine overall. The Jaguars’ offence rebounded following a stunning 9-6 loss to Tennessee, pounding the New York Jets 31-12 last weekend at home while favoured by 7.5 points. However, Jacksonville is just 1-3 SU and ATS in its past four as a road underdog.
The Falcons fell to 1-3 with last week’s overtime loss to Cincinnati, but their problems pale in comparison to the Steelers, who look to avoid losing four in a row on home turf.
Elsewhere, the Los Angeles Rams will try to improve to 5-0 as they visit the Seattle Seahawks as 7-point betting favourites, while the Minnesota Vikings attempt to end a three-game winless streak when they visit the struggling Philadelphia Eagles as 3-point underdogs.
[relatedlinks]