NFL Week 5 picks: Bengals, Texans and Ravens games offer the best betting value for full football day

Sometimes there are so many games you like on the board that it can be hard to pick just one to wager on. As a sports betting writer, I try to figure out exactly which game is worth betting on and which one I want to share with you readers. It hasn’t been a great NFL season, but I really like three games on the board in the early slate, so I’m going to share all three plays instead of focusing on just one game.

Bengals vs. Dolphins

Winning a football game is always a challenge, and winning on the road is even harder. However, when one team is overwhelmingly terrible and the other is good, you put aside where they play and focus more on the game. The Bengals are a vastly superior team to the Miami Dolphins. The Bengals have lost two straight tough games, one to the Steelers and one to the Jaguars.

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The Dolphins have lost all four games and haven’t scored more than 13 points in a game. They are without their best player, DeVon Achane, and things are going from bad to worse. Joe Burrow is going to exploit a defense that has been decent, but not great. Give me the Bengals -7. They are going to be used in a ton of teasers.

Texans vs. Titans

Sometimes you need a game to take out all of your frustrations. The Texans are one of the worst teams in football right now with a 0-4 record. There were expectations that this team could be a playoff contender with their defense. Unfortunately, the defense hasn’t played all that well, and the offense hasn’t been much better.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward (1) loses the ball after being pressured by Houston Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter, left, during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

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The Titans are terrible as well, but there wasn’t much hope for them. They’ve been competitive, but they are still a year or two away from winning consistently. In three of their four games, they’ve been within one score for the final. I do think they can stay close with the Texans. Weather might be a bit rough, but I’m taking the over on this game. I really wouldn’t be surprised if the Texans scored 35 or more, and I don’t think they stop everything. This is another leg that will be used in a lot of teasers.

Ravens vs. Falcons

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Over the past few weeks, the Falcons have looked like one of the best teams in football. They went from looking like a disaster to having Michael Penix Jr. come back for them and now seeming like one of the better teams in the game. Bijan Robinson has been a fantastic running back and one of the best weapons in the sport.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) runs for a touchdown past Buffalo Bills safety Cole Bishop (24) during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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The Ravens have Derrick Henry, one of the best running backs the league has ever seen. He has been fantastic this season, with seven touchdowns already. Outside of Week 1, the Ravens haven’t been exactly crisp, but they have won three of four games. The Falcons have one of the best rushing defenses in football, so they will need someone, anyone to make some throws for them in order to win. I think this game has gotten too far in the other direction, and I’m taking the Ravens +3 in this one.

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