The schedule gets nasty in Week 6 with the opening third of the NFL season coming to a close.
Not only do teams really start to feel the wear and tear of the gridiron, but several clubs are up against tricky situations that could impact the outcome of their Week 6 odds.
Each week I highlight these spots — aka spot bets — and what to consider when folding these angles into your usual handicapping routine.
Here are my top letdown, look-ahead, and schedule spots to consider when betting the Week 6 NFL odds.
Letdown spot: Minnesota Vikings (-3.5) at Chicago Bears
The Vikings shift gears in Week 6, coming off a huge home stand against the Kansas City Chiefs before traveling to the Windy City to face the Chicago Bears this Sunday.
Minnesota took the fight to Kansas City but couldn’t edge the reigning champs, falling to 1-4 SU on the season. The 27-20 defeat would have been a huge turning point for the Vikes, who have stayed true to form, with those four losses all coming by a touchdown or less.
On top of that tough loss, star WR Justin Jefferson left Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury. After undergoing tests, Jefferson was placed on injured reserve and will be out until Week 10 at the earliest.
The Bears enter Week 6 with a schedule advantage, having roughed up the Washington Commanders on Thursday for their first win of the year.
Chicago benefits from that mini-bye, looking to keep its offensive momentum rolling following 68 combined points in the last two outings after scoring 37 total points in the first three games of 2023.
There may also be a look-ahead spot at play for the Vikes as well, with a Monday Night Football showdown against the San Francisco 49ers on deck in Week 7.
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Look-ahead spot: Carolina Panthers at Miami Dolphins (-13.5)
The Miami Dolphins bounced back from a bad loss to Buffalo in Week 4 with a 31-16 win over the New York Giants as 13-point home faves in Week 5. And from the looks of this Week 6 line, the Fins should have another easy day ahead with the Carolina Panthers coming to South Beach.
That’s if Miami can stay focused on the Panthers and not look ahead to a trip up the coast to play the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football in Week 7.
The Dolphins may have come through for those who laid the lumber in Week 5, but it wasn’t pretty. Tua Tagovailoa threw two interceptions — one a pick-six — and the Fins added a fumble to their turnover troubles. That’s five giveaways in the past two games.
With Miami looking past the Panthers and to a possible Super Bowl preview in Philly, could Carolina capitalize on that sloppy play and still be within this pile of points?
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Schedule spot: Baltimore Ravens (-4) vs Tennessee Titans
The Ravens are still stinging from a 17-10 road loss to the rival Pittsburgh Steelers — a game that featured multiple bad drops from WRs and equally ugly turnovers from QB Lamar Jackson. Now, the Ravens must cross the pond for a matchup with the Tennessee Titans in Week 6.
While this is a “neutral site” contest, the trip to the UK sends Baltimore away from home for the third straight game and fourth time in five weeks. The team is planning on flying to London on Monday rather than waiting until later in the week.
The Ravens aren’t the only team up against the schedule in Week 6 (though they have it the worst). Here are some other schedule spots to keep in mind:
