NFL Week 5 Tips

(No running game? No worries. Rodgers should torch the Redskins this weekend AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Week 5 and it's time to shine. I'm loving my predictions this week. So much so that I've added 2 units to my tally of bets ATS. But first, Head to Head and Survivor Picks...

Head To Head Picks (37-25)

- Jaguars (W) @ Bills

- Buccaneers @ Bengals (W)

- Falcons (W) @ Browns

- Rams (W) @ Lions

- Chiefs @ Colts (W)

- Packers (W) @ Redskins

- Bears (W) @ Panthers

- Broncos @ Ravens (W)

- Giants @ Texans (W)

- Saints (W) @ Cardinals

- Chargers (W) @ Raiders

- Titans @ Cowboys (W)

- Eagles @ 49ers (W)

- Vikings @ Jets (W)

Yep, according to me, only one of the four 0-4 teams will win this week and that will be the 49ers who will just scrape home over the Eagles.

Survivor Pick

Four weeks in and I'm still alive in my Survivor comp. About 1,800 people signed up and there are only 500 or so of us left, playing for a cool $1,000. I've used: Titans, Packers, Ravens and the Saints.

This week: Bengals (Come on Carson, get that offense going!)

Picks Against The Spread (29-30-3)

(The team with the bracketed line is who I like...Time to get over that 50% hurdle)

5U

• Rams (+3) @ Lions

The Rams are rolling right now behind Bradford and a fiesty defence. With Jackson feeling better than he did last week, the running game should be there too against the Lions (Jackson has 312 yards from scrimmage in two career games against the Lions). Emotionally, the Lions should be drained after last week's tight loss on the road to the Packers. This is a good spot for the Rams and, with Best not completely healthy and still no Stafford, the Lions shouldn't be giving the Rams a 3 point start. Rams win their third in a row.

• Packers (-2.5) @ Redskins

Will the real Redskins please show us who they really are? What is this team? All I know is that they've been burned through the air by Schaub and Bradford so with Rodgers and the Packers coming to town, this doesn't bode well for the Skins. The Packers have been sloppy the last two weeks and will be looking to stamp their authority as a premier team in the NFC. The Redskins, meanwhile, will be drained after last week's emotional win. No running game + Clay Matthews in McNabb's face = Redskins loss.

4U

• Falcons (-3) @ Browns

I think the Browns match up pretty well with the Falcons so I think this will be a fairly tight game. What I like here though is that Jake Delhomme is going to start in place of Wallace for the Browns. This means 'interception time' for a Falcons' D that leads the NFL in picks with 8. The Falcons are just too solid right now on both sides of the ball and, with a real shot at winning their division, they must go out and dominate games like these. With that type of mentality, I'm taking the Falcons here.

• Saints (-6.5) @ Cardinals

The exact same principle applies here. One team looking to win a tough division Vs a team in total disarray and who have an undrafted rookie starting at QB (Hall). The Saints have barely scraped by in the games that they've won this year (5pt W, 3pt W, 2pt W). Don't you think they're tired of that? The Cards have been awful on the defensive side of the ball and I think Brees is ready to pick them apart this week. Meanwhile, the offense will probably sputter with Hall making his first start. Saints by alot.

3U

• Buccaneers @ Bengals (-6.5)

Last time the Bengals played at home they absolutely somothered the Ravens. The same will happen here. Back home after a 2 week road trip, Palmer, Benson, T.O. and Ocho will be chomping at the bit to move the chains and rack up the points. This is the week I finally think the Bengals put all of their pieces together in attack. The Steelers did just that in Tampa Bay's last game, and that was with Charlie Batch at the helm (he's not that much better than Palmer is he?)

• Bears (-1.5) @ Panthers

The Bears were humiliated last week on national television. With Cutler back on his feet and feeling OK, the Bears are a must-take here at -1.5. The Panthers have lost Steve Smith (their only threat in the passing game) for the week, leaving Clausen with nothing to do apart from hand it off to Williams and Stewert (he's struggled to even do that mind you). With this in mind, the Bears D will snuff out the Panthers running game while Mike Martz and the offensive line will work things out (the Panthers only have 4 sacks). Having lost a heartbreaker last week, the Panthers are in line for a further blow. Bears on the road.

• Eagles (+3.5) @ 49ers

With Vick and McCoy out, many will be wondering how the Eagles will win this game. The bigger question is...how will the 49ers? They've lost close ones and blowouts and it's now or never for the niners. And, while I think having home field advantage in this one will get them over the line, I love the spread here for the Eagles. Bell will fill in at RB and was effective last year in an extended role with the Saints. Meanwhile, Kolb (having had no preparation last week remember) will be looking to prove that he has what it takes to make it as a starter. No better time than primetime right Kev?

2U

• Broncos (+7) @ Ravens
• Vikings (+4) @ Jets

1U

• Jaguars (-1) @ Bills
• Chiefs (+7.5) @ Colts
• Giants @ Texans (-3)
• Titans @ Cowboys (-6.5)

0.5U

• Chargers @ Raiders (+6)

Can you smell that? Smells like victory. cam_crawford@msn.com is where you can reach me. Peace out.