Bet on Football - Week 4 Recap, MNF Preview and Trends

Cincinnati's backup Ryan Fitzpatrick, who hadn’t completed a pass in a regular-season game in three years, did his part in making the sports betting public look brilliant that invested in the Browns despite their dismal 0-3 SU start. Fitzpatrick threw three interceptions and finished the game as Cincinnati’s leading rusher with 41 yards on four scrambles, underscoring the Browns 20-12 money-making victory and the ''Bungles'' struggles in The Jungle.

But what else can you expect from a group of thugs scoring 13 ppg (NFL third-worse), that includes an overrated QB trying to get the ball in the hands of a receiver that's more interested in changing his name than focusing on playing football, and a club led by a coach who has no control over his team? There's a lot of heads needing rolled throughout the entire Cincinnati organization.

The largest upset of the day came during the late afternoon contests in Big D where Washington (3-1 SU and ATS) posted a 26-24 bankroll victory, as the biggest underdogs across the BetUS NFL odds board at +10.5, over the hated NFC East rival Cowboys (3-1 SU, 2-2 ATS).

Washington won for only the second time in its last 13 visits to Texas Stadium but this trip knocked Dallas from the unbeatens. More importantly, the Redskins proved the two-game winning streak they brought in wasn’t just a fluke. They’re legit, and that means the NFC East is now a four-way race as one of the best divisions in the NFL. Note: Washington's defensive end Jason Taylor's consecutive games streak ended at 133 when he was inactive for the game at Dallas.

In the other two late afternoon games the favorites made oddsmakers look like geniuses. San Diego listed at -9 rallied from a 15-0 halftime score to defeat Oakland (1-3 SU, 2-2 ATS) and to hang on to a 28-18 cover win. LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns helping the Chargers improve to 2-2 SU (2-1-1 ATS) after losing their first two games to start the season.

And, Buffalo listed at -9.5 also had to come from behind to cover the spread, as they battled back from a 14-6 halftime deficit with 25 unanswered second-half points en route to a 31-14 win over lowly St. Louis, who remains winless at 0-4 SU and has failed to cover the spread all season, which cost head coach Scott Linehan his job. On the flipside, for the first time in 16 years, the Buffalo Bills are 4-0 SU (3-1 ATS).

Sunday's night cap was served up with a lot of points in what was a great game between the 3-point favored Eagles (2-2 SU, 3-1 ATS) who flew into the Windy City to party with the Bears (2-2 SU, 2-1-1 ATS). When the smoke cleared, the scoreboard read Chicago 24 Philadelphia 20. Bears' Alex Brown stopped Correll Buckhalter at the goal line late in the game, and Chicago hung on to wrap up a great day of football.

Week 4 NFL Football Betting Studs and Duds:

Brett Favre's career-high and Jets-record six TDs, finishing 24-of-34 for 289 yards was impressive. So was Kurt Warner's 40-of-57 for 472 yards with two TDs. And, Larry Johnson's 198 yards rushing with two TDs was stellar, too. And all three performances deserve stud status. However, the biggest stud of the week, by far, was Tampa Bay's placekicker Matt Bryant who had the guts to take the field with a heavy heart to play in honor of his 3-month-old son Matthew Tryson Bryant, who died in his crib on Wednesday. From the best seat in the house, high above Raymond James Stadium, Matthew watched dad kick three PATs and field goals of 23, 36 and the game-winner from 24 yards in a 31-20 Buccaneers victory.

This week's duds were wearing suits and ties known as J.B., Terry, Howie, Michael and Jimmy. The same FOX's NFL Sunday Pregame Show panel who all agreed Favre looked unenthusiastic about playing football and in particularly for the Jets. Prior to Favre throwing a career-high and Jets-record six TDs in a 56-35 win over Arizona. Wonder what sort of numbers he'd put up if he was enthusiastic and really wanted to still play? Notice how the hot weather chick Jillian Reynolds was left out of these knuckle-heads silliness, guys?

It was a fascinating and exciting Sunday of NFL wagering action, to say the least. But if you like smash mouth Monday Night Football, Sunday's action may be topped by the matchup between two of the NFL's most physical and best defensive teams, the Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers.

The early lead in the AFC North will be on the line when the Ravens’ top-ranked defense, allowing just 10 ppg, face the banged up Steelers, owners of the third-ranked defense that's surrendering only 12.7 ppg.

Ben Roethlisberger, already nursing a sore shoulder, was sacked eight times and left with an injury to his right hand in the fourth quarter of a 15-6 loss to Philadelphia last week will be under relentless defensive pressure of Ray Lewis and company. Baltimore has given up an average of just 161.5 yards through its first two games, 72.5 fewer than the league’s No. 2 unit, which belongs to Pittsburgh (234.0).

In the late 90's and early part of 2000, Pittsburgh owned Baltimore, winning 11-of-14 meetings SU. But the Ravens have won four of the last five meetings SU. The only Steelers win in the 5-game span came on Nov. 5 when Roethlisberger threw a career-high five TD passes last season on Nov. 5 in a 38-7 Steelers cover win on MNF, which was Pittsburgh’s 13th straight victory at home on MNF dating back to 1992. BetUS NFL odds favor the Steelers at -6 with a game total of 34½.

- Ravens are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings.

- Home team is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.

- Over is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings in Pittsburgh.

- Over is 10-4 in the last 14 meetings overall.

NFL Free Picks: Pittsburgh Steelers -6

Bye Week 5 Teams: Cleveland, Oakland, St. Louis, and NY Jets.