NFL Week 6 Odds and Predictions: Best Picks Against the Spread
Here’s a quick look at all Week 6 NFL games, played Sunday unless noted.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday
For the first time in his unprecedented career, Tom Brady threw for at least 400 yards and five TDs in a game as the Bucs routed the Dolphins on Sunday. Brady did suffer a thumb injury, but it’s not expected to keep him out. His backup is journeyman Blaine Gabbert. Philadelphia snapped a three-game losing streak Sunday with a 21-18 comeback win at Carolina. The Eagles’ offence remains a problem, however. Defence and special teams won that game.
Pick ATS: Tampa Bay (alternate line of -6.5)
Miami Dolphins vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Sunday game from London with a 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff. Amazingly, this is the 30th all-time game in London and there NEVER has been a matchup featuring two teams with winning records. The Jaguars play there every year nowadays and always stink. They enter on a 20-game losing streak following Sunday’s home blowout vs. Tennessee. At 1-4, the Dolphins have been huge disappointments. They might get back starting QB Tua Tagovailoa from injury. He was knocked out early in Week 2.
Pick ATS: Miami (alternate line of -2.5)
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears
The NFL’s oldest rivalry is renewed for the first time this year and it has been dominated by the Packers since Brett Favre’s days. Green Bay won a crazy game Sunday in Cincinnati despite kicker Mason Crosby missing three field goals and a PAT. Crosby did hit the 49-yard winner late in overtime. Chicago pulled perhaps the biggest upset of Week 5, 20-9 in Las Vegas. Rookie Justin Fields hyperextended his knee but played through it and had his first TD pass of his career. He should be OK to play this week but monitor that.
Pick ATS: Green Bay
Cincinnati Bengals at Detroit Lions
This is a rare game the winless Lions have a realistic shot to win, if not a great one. They have been rather unfortunate this season, losing two games on a walk-off field goal of at least 54 yards. That was the case Sunday in Minnesota, 19-17. Detroit had rallied from down 16-6 in the fourth to lead with 37 seconds left. Cincinnati lost in overtime at home to Green Bay in part because kicker Evan McPherson missed a potential winning field goal late in regulation and in OT. He actually celebrated the OT one, thinking it was good. QB Joe Burrow went to the hospital after with a throat injury but is expected to be fine.
Pick ATS: Cincinnati
Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts
Short week for the Colts as they visited Baltimore to close Week 5. They were down a couple of injured defensive starters and their best offensive lineman. Houston lost its fourth in a row Sunday, blowing a 22-9 third-quarter lead and falling 25-22 to New England. Rookie third-round pick Davis Mills had his best game by far, throwing for 312 yards and three scores.
Pick ATS: Houston (alternate line of +10.5)
Los Angeles Rams at New York Giants
New York could be down starting QB Daniel Jones and former Pro Bowlers in running back Saquon Barkley and Kenny Golladay for this one after all three left Sunday’s loss in Dallas injured. It frankly would be surprising if Jones and Barkley can play. New York already was without two other receivers in that one, too. The Rams are on extra rest after winning 26-17 in Seattle last Thursday as Matthew Stafford threw for 365 yards and a TD.
Pick ATS: Los Angeles
Kansas City Chiefs at Washington Football Team
Kansas City has dropped to a fourth-favourite to win Super Bowl 56 after the Chiefs were dominated at home Sunday night by Buffalo, 38-20. That KC defence is simply a problem. Top running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire left with an injury. Pro Bowlers in tight end Travis Kelce and receiver Tyreek Hill also left but it’s not thought their injuries are potentially serious like CEH’s might be. Washington lost 33-22 at home to New Orleans as that dominant 2020 Washington defence continues to struggle.
Pick ATS: Kansas City
Minnesota Vikings at Carolina Panthers
Minnesota blew a 16-6 fourth-quarter lead at home to Detroit but won on Greg Joseph’s 54-yard field goal as time expired. Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook was out injured. Carolina was upset 21-18 at home by Philadelphia as QB Sam Darnold struggled with three picks – he looked like he did in his Jets tenure. Canadian rookie Chuba Hubbard rushed for 101 yards with superstar running back Christian McCaffrey out injured again. He should play in this one, though.
Pick ATS: Carolina
Los Angeles Chargers at Baltimore Ravens
Short week for the Ravens as they hosted the Colts to close Week 5 – at least Baltimore didn’t also have to travel. The Chargers won the NFL game of the year thus far, 47-42 over Cleveland on Sunday. That was absolutely bonkers with 41 points scored in the fourth quarter alone. The best QB in the NFL right now might be Chargers second-year Justin Herbert, who threw for 398 yards and four scores and rushed for a fifth.
Pick ATS: Baltimore
Arizona Cardinals at Cleveland Browns
Matchup of former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks from Oklahoma who went No. 1 overall in the draft in Arizona’s Kyler Murray and Cleveland’s Baker Mayfield. I think it’s fair to say Murray has become the much better pro. Arizona remained the NFL’s lone unbeaten with a 17-10 win over San Francisco on Sunday – the Cards’ first time not scoring at least 30 points this year. Cleveland lost a wild one at the Chargers, 47-42, and saw a handful of starters leave injured. As it is, Mayfield is playing through a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder.
Pick ATS: Arizona (alternate line of +3.5)
Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos
The shine is off the Raiders following a second straight loss, 20-9 at home to Chicago on Sunday. Vegas had only 259 yards and was penalized 10 times. The Raiders failed to score on their opening drive in their 11th consecutive game, their longest such streak in nearly a decade. The shine is off the Broncos, too, as they lost their second in a row, 27-19 in Pittsburgh.
Pick ATS: Denver (alternate line of -2.5)
Dallas Cowboys at New England Patriots
Dallas won its fourth in a row Sunday, 44-20 over the Giants. Dak Prescott threw for 302 yards and three scores. Top receiver Amari Cooper was clearly limited by a hamstring injury so monitor his status for this one. Defensive Player of the Year candidate Trevon Diggs had yet another interception and leads the NFL with six. Sunday’s trip to Houston shaped up as a possible trap game for the Pats off hosting Tom Brady the week before. New England was lucky to beat the Texans, rallying from down 22-6 in the third and winning on Nick Folk’s 21-yard field goal in the final seconds. Mac Jones’ 135 completions are tied with Joe Burrow of the Bengals for the most ever by a rookie in his first five starts.
Pick ATS: Dallas
Seattle Seahawks at Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday night game. Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson gruesomely injured the middle finger on this throwing hand in last Thursday’s loss to the Rams and had surgery over the weekend. He’s out at least four weeks. Wilson has started 149 consecutive games, the longest active streak by a QB. Geno Smith will get the call going forward. Pittsburgh snapped a three-game skid with a 27-19 home win over Denver. Canadian receiver Chase Claypool returned after missing a game injured and had five catches for 130 yards and a TD.
Pick ATS: Pittsburgh
Buffalo Bills at Tennessee Titans, Monday
Buffalo is the new +502 favourite to win Super Bowl 56 following its incredibly impressive 38-20 victory at Kansas City on Sunday night. Josh Allen threw for three scores and rushed for another. The Bills’ excellent defence forced four turnovers and had an interception return for a touchdown. Tennessee had little trouble Sunday winning 37-19 in Jacksonville. Derrick Henry had a fourth straight 100-yard game with 130 and three TDs. He may well break the NFL single-season rushing yardage and TD record.
Pick ATS: Tennessee