NFL Week 7 Odds and Predictions: Best Picks Against the Spread
On the bye this week are the Super Bowl favoured Buffalo Bills as well as the Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings and the league’s only unbeaten club, the Philadelphia Eagles.
New Orleans Saints at Arizona Cardinals, Thursday
A pair of disappointing 2-4 teams. New Orleans was without its top three receivers in Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry and good-looking rookie Chris Olave as well as Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore in Sunday’s 30-26 loss and it sounds as if only Olave will play here. Arizona may have lost receiver Marquise Brown to a season-ending injury in Sunday’s loss to Seattle but will get back receiver DeAndre Hopkins from suspension and traded for Carolina’s Robbie Anderson.
Pick ATS: Arizona
Atlanta Falcons at Cincinnati Bengals
Atlanta upset San Francisco 28-14 on Sunday to improve to a surprising 3-3. Marcus Mariota threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran for another score against the NFL’s top-ranked defence. Cincinnati rallied for a 30-26 win at New Orleans on a 60-yard TD pass from Joe Burrow to Ja’Marr Chase. The reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year had seven catches for 132 yards and two scores.
Pick ATS: Cincinnati
Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys
You don’t hear about any quarterback controversy on the Cowboys after backup Cooper Rush struggled mightily in Sunday night’s loss in Philadelphia. Starter Dak Prescott is expected to return from injury for this one. Detroit comes off a bye week but on a three-game skid. The defence has been atrocious.
Pick ATS: Dallas (alternate line of -6.5)
Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans
The Colts seem to have righted the ship by winning three of four as they took down the visiting Jaguars 34-27 on Sunday despite playing without star running back Jonathan Taylor for a second straight game. He’ll probably return for this one. The Titans come of their bye week on a three-game winning streak. That includes 24-17 at Indy on Oct. 2 when Derrick Henry rushed for 114 yards and a TD.
Pick ATS: Tennessee (alternate line of -2.5)
Green Bay Packers at Washington Commanders
Washington won an ugly game in Chicago on Thursday night in Week 7, but quarterback Carson Wentz suffered a fractured finger on his throwing hand and will miss perhaps 4-6 weeks. Taylor Heinicke should start going forward unless the team thinks rookie Sam Howell is ready. Green Bay looks broken right now on a two-game skid. The last thing Aaron Rodgers needs is to lose another receiver, but Randall Cobb is going to miss time.
Pick ATS: Green Bay
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers
Carolina is a complete mess right now and traded away receiver Robbie Anderson to Arizona. In Sunday’s loss to the Rams, P.J. Walker passed for just 60 yards while making his third career start in the injury absences of Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold and Matt Corral. Tampa Bay was a 10-point favourite on Sunday in Pittsburgh but stunned 20-18 as a late two-point try failed.
Pick ATS: Carolina
New York Giants at Jacksonville Jaguars
The Giants won another game Sunday they weren’t expected to, a 24-20 comeback vs. Baltimore. Coach Brian Daboll has done a remarkable job as New York already has surpassed last year’s win total. Jacksonville dropped its third in a row Sunday, 34-27 at Indianapolis. Trevor Lawrence was 20 of 22 with 163 yards and one score while running for two TDs.
Pick ATS: Jacksonville (alternate line of -2.5)
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens
Cleveland dropped its third in a row Sunday, 38-15 at home to New England. Star running back Nick Chubb finished with 12 carries for 56 yards, both season lows. The Ravens have been kings of blowing double-digit leads in losses this season and did it again Sunday in a 24-20 defeat at the Giants. Baltimore outgained New York 406 yards to 238.
Pick ATS: Baltimore
New York Jets at Denver Broncos
The Jets already have surpassed last year’s win total after a 27-10 upset at Green Bay on Sunday. Breece Hall ran for 116 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown. He’s now the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year favourite. It’s a short week for the Broncos as they visited the Chargers on Monday to close Week 6.
Pick ATS: Denver (alternate line of -2.5)
Houston Texans at Las Vegas Raiders
Houston comes out of its bye week but made news Monday when the team fired executive vice president of football operations Jack Easterby. Las Vegas also comes out of its bye with just one victory on the season. It’s possible that star wideout Davante Adams will be suspended for this game as he was charged with misdemeanor assault after shoving a cameraman in Week 5.
Pick ATS: Las Vegas (alternate line of -6.5)
Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Chargers
Short week for the Chargers as they hosted the Denver Broncos on Monday to close Week 6. Pro Bowl receiver Keenan Allen was out again with a hamstring injury but has been targeting this game to return. Seattle knocked off Arizona 19-9 on Sunday as rookie Kenneth Walker rushed for 97 yards and a fourth-quarter TD.
Pick ATS: Los Angeles (alternate line of -6.5)
Kansas City Chiefs at San Francisco 49ers
These teams met in the Super Bowl following the 2019 season and could again this winter. Kansas City lost 24-20 at home to Buffalo on Sunday despite Patrick Mahomes throwing for 338 yards and two scores, although he was picked off twice. The Niners were upset 28-14 in Atlanta on Sunday. They couldn’t overcome two interceptions by Jimmy Garoppolo and a fumble by Jeff Wilson that resulted in a Falcons touchdown.
Pick ATS: San Francisco (alternate line of +3.5)
Pittsburgh Steelers at Miami Dolphins
Miami is expecting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa back from concussion protocol for this Sunday night matchup. The Fins lost their third in a row Sunday, 24-16, and had to start seventh-round rookie Skylar Thompson under centre. It’s not clear if the Steelers will have rookie starting QB Kenny Pickett as he left Sunday’s upset of the Bucs with a concussion. Mitch Trubisky would start if Pickett isn’t ready.
Pick ATS: Miami (alternate line of -6.5)
Chicago Bears at New England Patriots, Monday
Patriots QB Mac Jones had a fine rookie season in 2021, but he might have lost his starting job to fourth-round rookie Bailey Zappe whenever Jones is back from injury. Zappe has been fantastic in leading back-to-back blowout wins. The offensively-challenged Bears are on extra rest after losing 12-7 at home to Washington on Thursday in Week 6.
Pick ATS: Chicago (alternate line of +10)
