Week 3 gave us an absolute layup against the spread with the Buffalo Bills only a 5.5-point favorite against the Jacksonville Jaguars, for reasons passing understanding.
The Bills had more than a week to prepare. The Jaguars are the Jaguars. So naturally this was the only pick last week every one of our experts got right.
Week 4 should be a bit more difficult, but once again everyone here is fading the Jaguars at the Houston Texans. This might become a trend the rest of the year the way Trevor Lawrence’s team is playing.
We’re also all tailing the New York Jets at home against the Denver Broncos, because of course.
Here’s a full look at every line as we close in on the quarter-mark of the season.
| Name | Last Week | YTD |
| Blake Schuster | 11-5 | 27-20-1 |
| Christian D’Andrea | 9-7 | 26-21-1 |
| Charles Curtis | 6-10 | 20-27-1 |
| Cory Woodroof | 7-9 | 20-27-1 |
| Prince Grimes | 7-9 | 17-30-1 |
| Robert Zeglinski | 7-9 | 17-30-1 |
All odds via BetMGM
Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants (Thursday Night)
Opening Line: Cowboys -4
Blake Schuster: Giants +5.5
I don’t feel good about either of these teams, however the Cowboys are 11-8 on Thursday Night Football over the last 10 years. Neither team is going to care about style points this week, which makes it a good time to take the home underdog — even if that home dog is the Giants.
Prince Grimes: Giants +5.5
I would feel so much better about this if the Giants didn’t have so many injuries in the secondary. But the vibes are bad in Dallas right now.
Charles Curtis: Giants +5.5
Giants fandom bias aside, weird things happen on Thursdays in divisional matchups and I can’t bet on the Cowboys until they stop playing bad football.
Cory Woodroof: Cowboys -5.5
The Cowboys can’t possibly be bad enough to lose to the Giants in prime time … right?
Robert Zeglinski: Cowboys -5.5
The Cowboys look like they’re on the verge of imploding, but they still have one of the better rosters in the league. This is the perfect opportunity for a get-right game. Don’t “jump off” their bandwagon just yet.
Christian D’Andrea: Cowboys -5.5
I hate laying points on the road, and I hate betting on a Mike McCarthy team. But Dallas needs a statement win to suggest a playoff run is possible. New York may be due for a letdown after last week’s road win. Either way, I hate this line.
Denver Broncos at New York Jets
Opening Line: Jets -7.5
Blake Schuster: Jets -7.5
That was nice improvement from Bo Nix last week. The Jets’ defense should cause him to take a step back.
Prince Grimes: Jets -7.5
Not expecting a whole lot from Bo Nix against this defense.
Charles Curtis: Jets -7.5
We saw a little life out of Bo Nix last week, but I’m not buying it.
Cory Woodroof: Jets -7.5
I have less confidence in the Jets offense than I do the Jets defense putting Bo Nix in a blender.
Robert Zeglinski: Jets -7.5
The Jets are finally hitting their stride. Aaron Rodgers launching darts off his wrist and the New York defense pinning its ears back with a lead is Gang Green’s vision fully realized. (Their collapse will probably come later!)
Christian D’Andrea: Jets -7.5
The Broncos Week 3 win was impressive, but failed to suggest Bo Nix can be a viable downfield passer as a rookie. And now he gets to face a top 10 passing defense.
Cincinnati Bengals at Carolina Panthers
Opening Line: Bengals -6.5
Blake Schuster: Bengals -4.5
The Andy Dalton revenge narrative is really fun, but Panthers fans aren’t allowed to have nice things right now.
Prince Grimes: Panthers +4.5
Wish I could have gotten this at the opening +6.5 line, but Cincy’s first win won’t come easy.
Charles Curtis: Panthers +4.5
Four words: ANDY. DALTON. REVENGE. GAME.
Cory Woodroof: Bengals -4.5
The Bengals will get their first win against a Panthers team that seemingly overachieved against the Raiders with a QB swap.
Robert Zeglinski: Bengals -4.5
Prime Joe Burrow can’t start 0-4, can he? I refuse to even entertain the possibility.
Christian D’Andrea: Panthers +4.5
I will lose my mind if Cincinnati starts the season 0-4 with losses to the three teams with 2023’s worst records. But I will also be surprised if the Bengals earnestly take care of business, because it is still September and that’s not what they do.
Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Opening Line: Eagles -3
Blake Schuster: Buccaneers +2.5
Even after last week, it’s still the Eagles who look more like frauds.
Prince Grimes: Buccaneers +2.5
I’m not sure who wins, but the Eagles aren’t playing good enough to lay points against another solid team.
Charles Curtis: Buccaneers +2.5
Last week’s game was just a hiccup. They’ll carve up the Eagles’ defense.
Cory Woodroof: Eagles -2.5
Saquon Barkley will dictate how this game goes either way. I feel like Philly sneaks out of this with a victory like it did in New Orleans.
Robert Zeglinski: Buccaneers -2.5
Tampa Bay is playing at home against a struggling quarterback who might be without his three top receivers. I wouldn’t be shocked if this game somewhat resembled these two teams’ matchup from last year’s playoffs.
Christian D’Andrea: Buccaneers -2.5
Vita Vea is back at practice, which is terrible news for a Philly team that needs to run the ball more than ever to be successful.
Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears
Opening Line: Bears -1.5
Blake Schuster: Bears -3
Chicago’s defense can shut down what’s left of the Rams’ offense.
Prince Grimes: Rams +3
Until Chicago smooths some things out on offense, I’ll pick up these points on a Rams team that figures things out.
Charles Curtis: Rams +3
Sigh. I guess. I am skipping this game in real life.
Cory Woodroof: Bears -3
The Rams’ defense is very not good, so let’s give Chicago the field goal victory here.
Robert Zeglinski: Bears -3
Amidst a firestorm on offense, Caleb Williams is somehow showing meaningful progress each week. I think we see his full-on breakout against a walking wounded Rams squad just trying to leave September above water.
Christian D’Andrea: Bears -3
I kinda hate it, but the Bears have the league’s fourth-ranked defense and LA clocks in at 30th. Assuming Caleb Williams’ fourth quarter last week is even slightly sustainable it should be enough to create the space for a win.
New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons
Opening Line: Falcons -3.5
Blake Schuster: Saints +1.5
Two overconfident NFC South teams meet in Atlanta. Murphy’s Law is currently in effect.
Prince Grimes: Saints +1.5
New Orleans got a good humbling last week. Think they bounce back in Atlanta.
Charles Curtis: Saints +1.5
A possible shootout and therefore the Saints offense is a better choice.
Cory Woodroof: Falcons -1.5
Both of these teams absolutely hate each other, and I think they’ll split like last year. Falcons take this one, Saints take their home game later in the season.
Robert Zeglinski: Falcons -1.5
Taking the home points against a division rival with Kirk Cousins looking healthier by the week. Man, when did the NFC South get interesting? 2024 is unsettling and weird, friends.
Christian D’Andrea: Falcons -1.5
New Orleans was punching way above its weight class. Atlanta is still trying to find its peak.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans
Opening Line: Texans -3.5
Blake Schuster: Texans -7
A get-right game for Houston against a team that has everything going wrong.
Prince Grimes: Texans -7
I would feel a whole lot better about this if Joe Mixon was back. But how can anyone feel good about the Jaguars chances to slow Houston after what Buffalo just did to them.
Charles Curtis: Texans -7
Fire Doug Pederson.
Cory Woodroof: Texans -7
Houston doesn’t look quite ready for prime time yet, but Jacksonville looks despondent.
Robert Zeglinski: Texans -7
The Jaguars managed to do the impossible. They actually developed Trevor Lawrence THEN broke him again! It’s time to tear that whole Jacksonville operation down to the studs.
Christian D’Andrea: Texans -7
As bad as Houston looked last week, Jacksonville looked worse.
Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers
Opening Line: Packers -5
Blake Schuster: Packers -2.5
I’ve seen this NFC North game