Week 4 NFL best bets and picks for the Sun’s handicapping contest

By Case Keefer (contact)

Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016 | 2 a.m.

The AFC South showdown between the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans will likely fall as one of the least-bet games on the board today.

Not in the Sun’s handicapping contest. The game for the divisional lead at the quarter point of the season was one of two contests that three of four sports writers used one of their six weekly picks on.

Check below to see who everyone took, and all the rest of the bets for week 4.

Ray Brewer (2013 co-champion)

2016 Record: 10-8 (3-3 last week)

Jaguars plus-2.5 vs. Colts in London

Panthers minus-3 at Falcons

Texans minus-4.5 vs. Titans

49ers plus-2 vs. Cowboys

Vikings minus-4.5 vs. Giants

Best Bet (1-2): Browns vs. Redskins over 47 points Washington has surrendered 38, 27 and 27 points in three games. Offensively, it has the NFL’s second-best passing attack. Cleveland may be using a rookie quarterback in Cody Kessler, but that didn’t prevent the Browns from scoring 24 points last week.

Case Keefer (2012, 2014 & 2015 champion, 2013 co-champion)

2016 Record: 8-10 (3-3 last week)

Redskins minus-7.5 vs. Browns

Titans plus-4.5 at Texans

Buccaneers plus-3 vs. Broncos

Chiefs plus-5 at Steelers

Giants plus-4.5 at Vikings

Best Bet (1-2): Ravens minus-3.5 vs. Raiders It’s hard to find NFL lines that are field goal off, but I think the Ravens should be touchdown favorites here. Baltimore is the first strong defensive team Oakland has faced, which will slow the Raiders’ offense. The Raiders meanwhile play virtually no defense, which will enable the Ravens to move the ball the best they have all year.

Jesse Granger

2016 Record: 7-11 (1-5 last week)

Raiders plus-3.5 at Ravens

Cowboys minus-2 at 49ers

Saints plus-4 at Chargers

Rams plus-8 at Cardinals

Giants vs. Vikings over 42.5 points

Best Bet (1-2): Seahawks minus-1.5 at Jets The Seahawks’ offense finally found its way last week in a 37-18 win over San Francisco. Russell Wilson is banged up with a knee injury but I think he plays well enough to score some points. More importantly, Ryan Fitzpatrick is coming off of a six-interception performance and I’m afraid to see what happens against the Legion of Boom.

Taylor Bern

2016 Record: 6-11-1 (3-2-1 last week)

Jets plus-1.5 vs. Seahawks

Colts minus-2.5 vs. Jaguars in London

Titans plus-4.5 at Texans

Cardinals minus-8 vs. Rams

Chiefs plus-5 at Steelers

Best Bet (1-2): Lions minus-3 at Bears The Bears look and feel like a team that has already given up on the season, so until the lines get out of whack I'll bet against them.

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.