NFL Week 5 betting recap: Inside the week's biggest upsets, best bets and how it all affected the Week 6 lines

Welcome to our Monday review of the NFL weekend from a betting standpoint and a glance at line movements for the upcoming set of games.

Each Monday in this space, we will recognize the most significant outright wins by underdogs, review the baddest of bad beats, glimpse at the games that most impacted how the sportsbooks fared financially and list the matchups whose lookahead spreads were majorly affected by outcomes and injuries. 

Oddsmakers and the public hit the pause button on predominantly slender point spreads. After a month of mostly minuscule numbers, Week Five offered six games with lines of at least 7 points, pending Kansas City vs. Las Vegas on Monday night, and a few more that fell just under the threshold.

Let's roll the videotape to see how things transpired for the bettors and sportsbooks, along with a peek to the upcoming menu of games.

Top 'Dogs

Two of those five underdogs facing spreads of a touchdown-plus on Sunday pulled off bombshells.

The New York Giants, spotted 9.5 points in London, didn't need any of them to cover with a 27-20 upset of Green Bay. The Giants, though 4-1 straight-up, are no better than in a second-place tie in the super-strong NFC East. The Packers are a seriously shaky 3-2, looking like a .500-at-best team.

Houston, having earned a dollop of respect despite entering Sunday's game with an 0-3-1 outright record, gained more by tripping up Jacksonville 13-6 as a seven-point 'dog. The AFC South is the polar opposite of the NFC East, with the league's least imposing foursome. Yes, the Texans are in the title mix.

Though Dallas was a five-point underdog in its 22-10 win over the Los Angeles Rams, the matchup had barely a scent of an upset. L.A.'s Super Bowl hangover cannot be cured with a handful of aspirin, and the Cowboys remained perfect with fill-in quarterback Cooper Rush. 

Bad Beats

The Titans-Commanders game hit the mild bad beats quiniela. Washington, receiving anywhere from a half-point to 1.5, trailed 21-17 in the final minute with a first-and-goal from the Tennessee two-yard line. Two passes fell incomplete. The third did not — it just happened to land in a Titan's hands for an interception that enabled Tennessee to cover at -1.5. A touchdown would have taken the total of 43 to an Over. So, if you had the Titans and an Under, it's time to wind down the party.

Philadelphia, favored by 5.5, similarly was blessed with first-and-goal late in a game tied 17-17. The Eagles settled for a field goal, handing Arizona a cover in its 20-17 defeat when the Cardinals botched a game-tying boot at the buzzer.

Buffalo and Pittsburgh combined in the first half for 34 points, with the Bills doing almost all of the heavy lifting, which was just 11 points short of the total. An Over with the Bills' mighty offense seemed like a lock. Alas, the teams combined for just seven points thereafter, with the 38-3 final score 3.5 points shy. 

How The Books Fared

The sportsbooks got back on a winning track Sunday, according to ESPN. They can send a thank-you card to the Giants and Texans for their aforementioned upsets.

The public apparently pooh-poohed the fact that Atlanta dove into its game at Tampa Bay with a 4-0 ATS record. The Falcons, down by 21 after three quarters, rallied to cover in a 21-15 loss that hit Caesars Sportsbook where it hurts. More than four of every five dollars were placed on the Buccaneers at -10.

One other heavily bet team had mixed results. The Los Angeles Chargers opened at -3 against Cleveland and wound up at -1.5. The only conceivable margin of victory between those numbers happened, with the Browns bowing 30-28 after drawing more than 80 percent of the money. 

One other pounded squad at a comparably lopsided rate covered with ease. San Francisco, -6 at Carolina, coasted 37-15.

Week 6 Line Moves

Two spreads shifted by a touchdown (with a missed PAT) from the lookaheads, while three other experienced major movement.

Owing largely to the Dolphin's hazy QB situation, with the team's top two options coping with concussions, Minnesota has gone from +3 to -3 for its matchup in Miami.

Indianapolis' favoritism at home against Jacksonville has dwindled from -7 to -1 even though the Colts are coming off a win and the Jaguars a loss. Viewers of the Colts' sleep-inducing Thursday nighter, in which they failed to register a touchdown even with an overtime period, were clearly influenced.

One other game traded favorites as Cleveland flipped from +1.5 to -3 as host of New England. Here, too, movement was in the direction of a Sunday loser and away from a victor. The Patriots won easily with a rookie QB, Bailey Zappe, in his initial start.

The Tampa Bay-Pittsburgh line has expanded from 3.5 to 8.5, with the Steelers managing a paltry three points Sunday against the Pats. Imagine if this game were in Tampa rather than Steel City.

Bettors are flocking to Philadelphia, sending its line against Dallas from -1 to -5 in the Sunday nighter in Philly. Though both teams were triumphant, the Cowboys were the more impressive.

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