NFL Week 5 Picks: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Tennessee Titans

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Tennessee Titans
Sunday, 10/6/13, 1:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Kansas City -2.5
Current Betting Line: Kansas City -3
Opening Total: 41
Current Total: 38.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Tennessee Titans will have to make due without quarterback Jake Locker for a few weeks

Kansas City has started the 2013 NFL season with a perfect 4-0 record, as it comes off a 31-7 victory over the New York Giants as 3.5-point home favorites Sunday, while going UNDER the total in all four contests. “We’re very excited,” commented Chiefs safety Eric Berry. “It’s a great feeling.” The Chiefs will now try and win their first five games of a campaign for the first time in 10 years, while the offense has been putting up points under first-year head coach Andy Reid and new signal-caller Alex Smith. Kansas City is 2-1 SUATS against AFC South division opponents the last two-plus seasons, which is important to consider when making your pro football picks in Week 5.

The Chiefs have scored 26 or more points in three of four games this season, which is far different than accomplishing that feat just twice in 2012. Kansas City has one of the more dynamic playmakers in the league in running back Jamaal Charles, who ranks third in averaging 125.5 yards per game from scrimmage. It’s a definite turnaround season for a franchise that went a franchise-worst 2-14 last season.

Tennessee is trying to win three games in a row for the first time in two seasons, as it comes off a 38-13 victory over the New York Jets as 3.5-point home favorites in Week 4, while going OVER the betting total of 40.5. The Titans will need to move past losing No. 1 quarterback Jake Locker for a few weeks due to a hip injury, which is important to consider when making your NFL betting picks, as former Buffalo Bills thrower Ryan Fitzpatrick takes over under center. Tennessee is 2-1 SU and 0-2-1 ATS against AFC division opponents over the last two-plus seasons.

The Titans may hold some value in this affair due to Fitzpatrick being an experienced option as a backup, considering he posted three straight 3,000-yard seasons in Buffalo. Tennessee has also made a major turnaround on the defensive end—allowing 17.2 points per game and recording 14 sacks, which is a huge improvement from last year’s horrible numbers.