NFL Week 6 Odds and Predictions: Best Picks Against the Spread
Two of the league’s most popular franchises, Green Bay and Pittsburgh, are on the bye. Here’s a quick look at all Week 6 NFL games, played Sunday unless noted.
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs, Thursday
Kansas City has won 15 straight in this AFC West rivalry, among the longest winning streaks by one opponent over another in league history and tied for the longest active with Patriots over Jets. Two key skill position players are in question in Denver running back Javonte Williams and KC Pro Bowl tight end Travis Kelce. Williams didn’t play in Sunday’s loss to the Jets, while Kelce did play through his issue and caught a TD vs. the Vikings.
Pick ATS: Kansas City (buy down to -10)
Baltimore Ravens “at” Tennessee Titans
Game from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London with a 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff. Baltimore’s offence comes off its worst game of the season in a 17-10 loss at rival Pittsburgh on Sunday despite getting a few key pieces back from injury on that side of the ball. Baltimore turned it over three times and allowed a blocked punt for a safety. The Titans have alternated losses and wins all season and lost 23-16 at Indianapolis on Sunday. Derrick Henry was held to 43 yards rushing and was stopped on fourth-and-1 at the Colts 5-yard line with 8:03 left in the game.
Pick ATS: Baltimore (buy down to -2.5)
Washington Commanders at Atlanta Falcons
Washington is on a bit of extra rest as it was shocked 40-20 at home by previously winless Chicago last Thursday, the Commanders’ third straight loss. Coach Ron Rivera’s seat got much warmer after that embarrassment. Safeties Darrick Forrest and Jeremy Reaves both got hurt in the game and have landed on injured reserve. Atlanta is 3-0 at home following a last-second 21-19 win over Houston on Sunday. Second-year QB Desmond Ridder had by far his best game with 329 yards and a TD while leading the drive for the game-winning field goal.
Pick ATS: Atlanta
Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears
Chicago snapped a franchise-record 14-game losing streak with a 40-20 win at Washington last Thursday. Justin Fields threw for a career-high four TDs for a second straight week. The team’s big offseason addition, DJ Moore, had one of the great games in franchise history with eight catches for 230 yards and three scores. Those two are starting to click. Top running back Khalil Herbert might miss a while with an ankle sprain. The Vikings played yet another close game on Sunday and lost yet another, 27-20. Justin Jefferson was slowed by an ankle injury and the 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year will miss at least Sunday and could go on IR.
Pick ATS: Chicago (buy up to +3.5)
Seattle Seahawks at Cincinnati Bengals
Seattle comes out of its bye week at 3-1, although two of the wins were over the Panthers and Giants, who are among the league’s worst teams. 2022 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Geno Smith has largely proven that was not a fluke with just one pick so far. Seattle’s defence had been an issue the first three games but it dominated in a Week 4 victory at the Giants. Cincinnati played without excellent WR Tee Higgins on Sunday but beat the Cardinals anyways as Ja’Marr Chase caught 15 passes for 192 yards and three scores. Higgins might be back this week.
Pick ATS: Cincinnati
San Francisco 49ers at Cleveland Browns
Could be a trap game for the Niners off their incredibly impressive 42-10 victory over Dallas on Sunday night in a possible NFC Championship Game preview. Plus, the 10 a.m. Pacific kickoff here and Cleveland off its bye week. Maybe the NFL’s two best pass-rushers in San Francisco’s Nick Bosa and the Browns’ Myles Garrett. Bosa won the 2022 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award and sack title, and Garrett certainly is capable of pulling off that double as well.
Pick ATS: Cleveland
Carolina Panthers at Miami Dolphins
Carolina is the only team without a straight up AND against the spread victory. It’s still very early, but rookie No. 1 overall QB Bryce Young is not getting better. He did have three TDs but also three more picks in Sunday’s blowout loss in Detroit. Miami easily handled the Giants 31-16 as sensational rookie running back De’Von Achane had 151 yards rushing. He did tweak a knee and is likely to miss at least this week. The Fins don’t need him to beat Carolina.
Pick ATS: Miami (buy down to -13.5)
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville returns from the first-ever two-game London road trip in which the Jags won both. They upset Buffalo 25-20 on Sunday behind a season-high 315 yards passing from Trevor Lawrence and 136 yard and two scores from Travis Etienne. It’s pretty surprising the Jaguars didn’t request the bye this week. The Colts saw Pro Bowl running back Jonathan Taylor make his season debut Sunday but saw rookie QB Anthony Richardson leave with another injury. He will miss at least this week, so Gardner Minshew will start against his former Jaguars team.
Pick ATS: Jacksonville
New Orleans Saints at Houston Texans
If New Orleans can get any offence this year, it could be dangerous because that defence is one of the NFL’s best and shut out the Patriots 34-0 in Foxborough on Sunday. Alvin Kamara rushed for a touchdown to become the Saints’ career TD leader, and Derek Carr had two scoring passes. Texans rookie QB CJ Stroud has set an NFL record with five straight games to start his career without a pick, but Houston lost in the final seconds on Sunday in Atlanta. Top wideout Tank Dell left with a possible concussion.
Pick ATS: New Orleans
New England Patriots at Las Vegas Raiders
Short week for the Raiders after they beat the Packers 17-13 on Monday. They are full of former Patriots, led by head coach Josh McDaniels and QB Jimmy Garoppolo, who returned from a one-game concussion absence Monday and threw his NFL-high seventh interception. It might be time for New England coach Bill Belichick to retire after the Pats were embarrassed a second game in a row Sunday, 34-0 at home by New England. It was the second-worst shutout loss in team history, trailing only a 52-0 drubbing in Miami against the undefeated Dolphins in 1972. It also dropped the Patriots to 1-4 for the first time since 2000, Belichick’s first season in New England. QB Mac Jones was horrific and benched again but remains the starter – surely with a VERY short leash Sunday.
Point spread: Raiders -3
Pick ATS: Las Vegas (buy down to -2.5)
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams
A couple of years ago, this was a playoff matchup. Now both are rebuilding. Rams WR Cooper Kupp, the 2021 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, made his season debut Sunday in a 23-14 loss to the Eagles. Kupp caught eight passes for 118 yards, but the Rams were shut out in the second half. Arizona lost 34-20 at home to Cincinnati as Josh Dobbs had three turnovers. Usual starting QB Kyler Murray is still not ready to be activated off IR.
Pick ATS: Los Angeles
Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets
The Eagles are 5-0 after a 23-14 win at the Rams on Sunday, once again doing just enough to win but certainly not dominating. Jalen Hurts passed for 303 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 72 yards and another score. Philly has now won 22 of its past 23 regular-season games. The Jets offence hadn’t taken the field with a lead since late November of 2022 … until Sunday’s 31-21 win in Denver in the “Nathaniel Hackett Bowl.” Breece Hall rushed for 177 yards. They also have a Bryce Hall on defence, and he had a TD as well.
Pick ATS: New York (buy up to +7)
Detroit Lions at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This was flexed into the late-afternoon with the Bucs better than expected as they are 3-1 out of their bye week and atop the NFC South. Baker Mayfield has played very well under centre with a 101.5 QB rating. Then again, the only good team the Bucs have played was Philadelphia, and the Eagles won by two touchdowns. Detroit played without two key offensive players Sunday in rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs and top WR Amon-Ra St. Brown but still easily beat Carolina 42-24 to get three games over .500 for the first time in seven years. Jared Goff threw for three scores and rushed for one.
Pick ATS: Tampa Bay (buy up to +3.5)
New York Giants at Buffalo Bills
Unfortunately, this is the Sunday night game as most NFL fans were hoping this would get flexed out because the Giants are unwatchable offensively right now. New York again was without Pro Bowl running back Saquon Barkley for Sunday’s 31-16 loss in Miami and QB Daniel Jones left injured, but it’s hoped Jones will play here. If not, veteran Tyrod Taylor starts. Buffalo played in London on Sunday and looked sloppy with the travel, etc., in a 25-20 loss to Jacksonville as the Bills’ three-game winning streak was snapped. The Bills lost starting linebacker Matt Milano to a knee injury in the first quarter and is likely done for the year. That’s a big loss.
Pick ATS: New York (buy up to 14.5)
Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Chargers, Monday
Second straight California game for the Cowboys as Sunday night they were blown out 42-10 at San Francisco. Maybe Dallas isn’t very good considering its wins are against New England and both New York clubs. None of those teams are good. The Chargers come out of their bye week at 2-2 but could easily be 4-0. Pro Bowl running back Austin Ekeler hasn’t played since Week 1 due to an ankle injury but should be back. Ditto star pass rusher Joey Bosa, who missed Week 4.
Pick ATS: Los Angeles
