ATS Predictions
We’ll be here to guide you with weekly picks against the spread on key games throughout the 2023 regular season. Here are a handful for Week 7 with lines from earlier in the week.
We get an indication whether the Vikings are for real and whether the Chiefs can extend their 11-game win streak.
Detroit Lions +1.5 @ Minnesota Vikings | Matchup Report
The Vikings are 5-0 but still have question marks as any team led by Sam Darnold should have. This line has moved towards the Vikings but this just means better value on Detroit in our opinion.
True Aidan Hutchinson is out and true this is a letdown spot for Detroit after stomping the shit out of the Cowboys last week. But the Lions have covered 9 of 10 as underdogs and are 18-6 ATS going back 24 games when catching points.
They have also covered 7 straight vs the Vikes and 11 of 13 road games. That’s a lot of juice for a dynamic team that can outscore the Vikings even if Detroit’s defense sags without their best pass rusher. The danger here is Minnesota usually wins SU as chalk (21-3 SU) but we take the Lions.
Kansas City Chiefs +2.5 @ San Francisco 49ers | Matchup ReportÂ
You can almost blindly bet the Chiefs as a road underdog and be guaranteed to win your bet. Since October 2016, KC is 15-1-1 ATS in their last 17 games as road dogs.
Mix in the 49ers injury woes and the fact Kansas City is unbeaten and still hasn’t played well and you get the idea they will eventually pop a great game. This feels like the spot.
KC is 7-1 ATS past 8 games vs SF and are 19-4 SU in road games while also dominating non-conference foes (12-3 ATS). We play on KC.
Baltimore Ravens -3.5 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Matchup ReportÂ
Another team that gets its ‘are you for real’ test in Week 7 is Tampa Bay. Would rather back Baker Mayfield or Lamar Jackson is a prime-time matchup?
That’s what we said. The Bucs are not gonna score 50 on the Ravens and even if they do, Baltimore might score 53. The Ravens dominate the NFCÂ winning 11 in a row SU. They also dominate as a road team at 15-6 ATS, while the Bucs have lost 10 of 11 vs AFC North teams.
On MNF, the Ravens ride a 10-4 SU streak and they are are also 9-2 SU vs the Bucs going back many years. Maybe the Bucs are for real but this still feels like a Ravens win. We play Baltimore.
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Archived NFL Week 7 picks article from Oct 21, 2023
Las Vegas Raiders (-2.5) at Chicago Bears: Raiders
Las Vegas is playing decent football while the 1-5 Bears are basically toast sans Justin Fields for another week. The Raiders won’t miss Jimmy Garoppolo close to as much as Chicago will miss Fields. It’s wild they’re giving up less than a field goal.
Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks (-7.5): Seahawks
In Seattle’s previous matchups with weak opponents, it posted double-digit victories over the Panthers and Giants. I know that was a rough one in Cincinnati, but now they’re back home for an opponent that still doesn’t have Kyler Murray and has lost three straight games by 14-plus points. I’m expecting a blowout.
Green Bay Packers (-1.5) at Denver Broncos: Broncos
Denver continues to insist the season isn’t over, and this home game against a mediocre team with a struggling quarterback is the Broncos’ final chance to prove that. This squad is too talented to keep losing the way it has, and it has at least benefited from extra time to prepare for Jordan Love and Co. I’ll take the points with the desperate home side.
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Archived Week 7 NFL picks article from Oct. 21, 2022
Atlanta Falcons at Cincinnati Bengals (-6.5): Bengals
Cincinnati is just 3.5 points better than Atlanta at a neutral site? That’s way off. Getting the Bengals for less than a touchdown is a no-brainer. The defending AFC champs have won three of four and Atlanta is still one of the least talented teams in football.
Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans (-2.5): Titans
Tennessee by a field goal or more makes sense, but it’s surprising this isn’t an even -3. The Titans are ranked 12 full spots ahead of Indy in terms of DVOA as they ride a three-game winning streak. At home, I’ll definitely give the points.
New York Jets at Denver Broncos (-1): Broncos
I know Denver has been a mess but I again think we’re this line is the result of overthinking. The talent gap is large, and Denver is basically in a moneyline spot at home with Russell Wilson destined to find his groove? Craziness. We’re also going anti-trend with the streaking Jets, who have to produce a dud eventually. This spot makes sense.
Kansas City Chiefs (-2) at San Francisco 49ers: Chiefs
Loving the low-point faves this week, especially when the talent gap is there. The Chiefs are still the Chiefs and the 49ers just looked so damn bad in Atlanta last week.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Miami Dolphins (-7): Steelers
The Steelers are not a good team but they did just beat the Bucs, and even if Tua Tagovailoa is good to go, he might not have left tackle Terron Armstead. Pittsburgh can at least keep it close against a team that has lost three in a row.
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Week 7 NFL picks archived article from Oct. 24, 2021
Check the Week 7 NFL picks here for a quick analysis and prediction on every game. Odds midweek courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook, official betting partner of the NFL and home to some generous creative bonuses for new customers.
And visit the NFL odds and matchup pages here at NFP for line updates and full statistical breakdowns of every game, every week.
Week 7 NFL picks
2021 RECORD: 45-48-1
DENVER BRONCOS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (-2 at FanDuel): BROWNS
I was actually on the Broncos here when they were getting a field goal and a hook. Now, I love the value we’re getting for the Browns at home in what might feel like a must-win game against an opponent riding a three-game losing streak.
CINCINNATI BENGALS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (-6.5): BENGALS
The Ravens stomp on bad teams but the Bengals no longer qualify as bad. In fact, they aren’t far off of Baltimore’s caliber. The Ravens won impressively last week, but don’t forget that they were lucky to beat the Indianapolis Colts at home one week prior.
WASHINGTON AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (-7.5): WASHINGTON
I’m still not giving up on the WFT and their stacked defense, and the Packers have just one blowout win this season. This should remain close.
ATLANTA FALCONS (-2.5) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS: DOLPHINS
I don’t trust either team but the Falcons laying points on the road against a superior and desperate Dolphins team? No way.
NEW YORK JETS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (-7): PATRIOTS
The Patriots pounded Gang Green last time out in New York. Now they’re at home and trying to save their season. No way this one is remotely close. I really can’t believe this line.
CAROLINA PANTHERS (-3) AT NEW YORK GIANTS: PANTHERS
I also had trepidation about laying a field goal on the road with a Panthers team that has fallen back to earth with three consecutive losses, but the Giants are an injury-ravaged mess right now and Carolina’s defense is good enough to bounce back in this spot. I’ll risk it.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (-5.5) AT TENNESSEE TITANS: CHIEFS
The Chiefs put it all together in the second half of their Week 6 matchup with Washington, and you get the feeling they’ll start to dominate now. It’s scary to lay 5.5 points against a team led by Derrick Henry, especially considering Kansas City’s bad run defense, but I also think the Titans could suffer a letdown after an exhausting Monday night victory over the Buffalo Bills.
DETROIT LIONS AT LOS ANGELES RAMS (-14.5): RAMS
I’ve gone back and forth on this one, but the ship appears to be sinking too quickly in Detroit and the Rams are operating on extra rest. I wouldn’t bet it, but L.A. should win handily at home.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (-3): EAGLES
The Jon Gruden fiasco is likely to eventually do a number on the Raiders, who were awful at home two weeks ago in a loss to the Chicago Bears. A three-point Raiders win is the most likely outcome here, but I’ll roll the dice on the team on more rest and in less disarray with Lane Johnson returning.
HOUSTON TEXANS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (-17.5): CARDINALS
This is daunting because the backdoor could always be open with a line like this. The Cards have never been a three-score favorite in team history. The Texans have lost four games by double-digit margins already and it would be surprising if they stuck around at all with Davis Mills here.
CHICAGO BEARS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (-12): BEARS
The Bucs are just 2-4 against the spread, and their banged-up secondary remains vulnerable. This means a lot to the Bears, so I’ll take the points and hope for a backdoor cover in the worst-case scenario.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (-4.5): COLTS
Both of these teams are banged up and untrustworthy right now, but if not for a wild Ravens comeback two weeks ago, the Colts would be riding a three-game winning streak. Why are they getting 4.5 points from a Jimmy Garoppolo-led 49ers team that hasn’t won in impressive fashion all season?
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (-4.5 at FanDuel) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: SEAHAWKS
If the Pittsburgh Steelers needed overtime to beat the Russell Wilson-less Seahawks in Pittsburgh, I’m not laying 4.5 with the inconsistent, unreliable and somewhat depleted Saints on the road. This is a huge game for a veteran Seattle team, and Geno Smith isn’t a total wreck. They’ll at least make this a field-goal game.
Archived Week 7 NFL picks article from Oct. 22, 2020
2020 RECORD: 51-35-2