“Pick ‘Em or Kick ‘Em”™: FGT VS. Urban Sports Scene 2023 Week 5 NFL Picks

October 5, 2023

By the Football Garbage Time Staff

If you followed last year, you won over 60% of your picks, and we aim to do even better this year.

And if you’ve been following us, you know that we here at Football Garbage Time have gone head-to-head against Wally, Will and Ray at Urban Sports Scene on our NFL Picks for the last 6 seasons. Why? Because they’re awesome competitors, they KNOW their sports, and, heck, they’re just good guys! This year we’ll have their picks up right HERE, so keep it tuned in, to both us and them, because we’ll be picking all season all long.

Without further to do, here we go:

Week 5 Games

Ha Kung Wong’s Picks

Ha Kung’s Thoughts:

After a 64.7% record two seasons ago, I ended last season 63.3% (178-103). So that’s eight years in a row with over a 60% pick rate. I also ended up 16-4 for Locks of Week (80%) and 8-12 for Upsets of the Week (40%) which is also eight years in a row of Locks being over 70%. I was 11-5 in Week 4 as I make up for a rough start and am now 38-26 (59.4%) overall for the season. Unfortunately, I hit my Lock of the Week (Chiefs) and and should have hit my Upset of the Week (Bears), but somehow didn’t, meaning I’m 75% for Locks and 50% for Upsets so far. But there are plenty of weeks to go!

Let’s get to that Lock (for Survivor Leagues) and Upset for Week 5…

Lock of the Week ➡ Miami Dolphins (-10.5) over New York Giants

The Dolphins put up 70 against the lowly Broncos then came back to Earth with a loss to the Bills. Guess who else is about as lowly as the Broncos on defense and offense? Yup, the Giants, who made the Seahawks defense look like they rewound time to the Legion of Boom. Lock in the Dolphins.

Upset of the Week ➡ Houston Texans (+1.5) over Atlanta Falcons

CJ Stroud has exceeded all expectations as a rookie QB and is setting numerous records in the process. Nico Collins has taken the next big step forward and Tank Dell looks like a solid WR2 who could go off at any time. The Falcons, on the other hand, seem to be operating in reverse with an incredibly embarrassing showing in the UK against the Jaguars. I like the potential for an upset here.

Joanne Kong’s Picks

Scott King’s Picks

Coming Soon!

Wole’s Picks

Wole’s Thoughts:

Check out Wole’s thoughts on his picks in the recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

Ray’s Picks

Ray’s Thoughts:

Check out Ray’s thoughts on his picks in the most recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

Will’s Picks

Coming Soon!

Will’s Thoughts:

Check out Will’s thoughts on his picks in the most recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

George’s Picks

George’s Thoughts:

It was a big bounce back for me (and the whole group) so let’s continue that momentum by going back to the well of picking against Anthony Richardson. And don’t be fooled by that comeback, the Rams held Richardson and the Colts down for most of that game and his lack of accuracy at a QB is something that will cost the Colts in the short term while he works through it. Tennessee’s not that good but Derrick Henry finally started to look like his old self again and that will be the difference for the Titans.

Also don’t be fooled by Zach Wilson’s renaissance against the Chiefs. That was at home against an overrated defense. Can Wilson take his act on the road. I say no even if it is the embattled Broncos defense in opposition.

Joe Burrow is clearly too injured to play. And if the Bengals keep playing him they risk permanently damaging the franchise QB they’ve just invested hundreds of millions in. And Arizona has been a far tougher out than people thought. They even punched back at the all-conquering 49ers. Cardinals “tank” fails again, they beat Cincinnati.

Speaking of the 49ers they play the game of the week against Dallas and just like in the playoffs they will take down the Cowboys.

Eliminator picks: The Dolphins are hugely popular and are worth using against the struggling Giants. If you didn’t use Washington in week 1 they are a pretty good pick this week also. If you want to sneak a marginal team by then the Packers beating the Raiders looks a good bet to me also.