Week 4 of the NFL is here! The Cleveland Browns kicked it off Thursday night with a win over the Steelers to move to 3-1 on the season. We have our first Sunday Morning Football game of the season as the Colts and Commanders square off at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England. It’s time to select which teams will start the games out fast. Let’s figure out the Opening Script: first-half best bets for NFL Week 4.
Chicago Bears -2.5 (-112)
It appears that Tyson Bagent will start for the Chicago Bears this week, as he should. Bagent was paid handsomely in the offseason to be a top-tier backup. The Bears are 2-1 in the first half against the spread after three games. Ben Johnson is an elite play scripter, and as long as Bagent can stick to that script, the Bears will get rolling early.
The New York Jets are actually a good team in the first half, going 3-0 so far this year. But this number has been adjusted to less than a field goal, which makes sense with Caleb Williams out. New York has their fair share of injuries in this one as well. Breece Hall, AD Mitchell, and Mason Taylor have all been ruled out of the game. Kenyon Sadiq is questionable as well. Give me the Bears to start the game strong.
Minnesota -6.5 (-110)
I love the Minnesota Vikings this weekend. Miami is a terrible team on the other side of the ball, and Minnesota, the leaders of the NFC North, have looked great early in the year. Miami is now missing De’Von Achane, easily their best player, who was lost to a season-ending knee injury.
Kyler Murray looked good for the Vikings in his first true game for them after suffering the concussion in Week 1. Even with Justin Jefferson missing this one, Miami is just a bad team. Kevin O’Connell will script it up well in the first half. My only concern for Minnesota is a backdoor cover for the game by the Dolphins. We don’t have to worry about that for the first half, where the Vikings are 3-0 ATS, and Miami is 0-3 ATS.
Buffalo Bills -3.5 (+102)
Another team that is undefeated against the spread in the first half is the Buffalo Bills. They’ve been covering at halftime in all three of their games. They are also the second highest-scoring first-half team, only to the Baltimore Ravens this season. New England is beat up all over the place, especially on the offensive line, and superstar cornerback Christian Gonzalez will miss this one as well.
The Patriots are just 1-1-1 in the first half ATS this season, and Drake Maye is clearly in his head. New England is a Close Your Eyes Special team this week, so I believe they’ll cover the seven-point spread at the end of the day, but give me the quick start for the Bills.
Lions/Panthers Over 24.5 (-112)
Fireworks on a beautiful October evening in Charlotte sounds like a fun way to end our first half plays. This game is setting up to be a complete shootout. Both of these teams have explosive offenses, with Carolina as one of the league leaders in first-half points, averaging 15.7. Only the Bengals vs. Jaguars game has a higher over/under on the weekend.
Bears + Vikings + Bills + Lions/Panthers 1st Half Parlay (+1282)
