NFL 2023 Week 7 Prequel
Thursday, October 19, 2023, 8pm
Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints (-1 1/2) — Both teams have good defenses, solid running backs, and very competent quarterbacks. Doug Pederson has a coaching advantage over Dennis Allen. Both teams have been less than consistent. In an evenly matched game, go with the more imaginative coach. Upset special, Jaguars win outright
Sunday, October 21, 1pm
Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens (-2 1/2) — Two very good football teams that are well coached face off. Lamar Jackson is better than Jared Goff. dustin Tucker made NFL history in Detroit with a record 66 yard field as time expired. The Lions are for real, but the Ravens at home are a tough team to beat. Ravens cover
Las Vegas Raiders (-3) at Chicago Bears — The Bears are horrendous, but the Raiders are not nearly as good as their 3-3 record. They try to lose games but sometimes get bailed out by a more inept opponent. As bad as Josh McDaniels is, Matt Eberflus may be worse. Bryan Hoyer has a stronger arm than Jimmy Garoppolo. Justin Fields gets little help. In a close game, Daniel Carlson could be the difference. It’s hard to trust a Raiders team that excites nobody, but the Bears are that bad. Raiders cover
Cleveland Browns (-2) at Indianapolis Colts — The Colts are young and improving but the Browns have a serious defense. They shocked previously unbeaten San Fransisco even without Deshaun Watson. The Browns do not have much offensive firepower, but the Colts do not either. The Brown could face a major letdown after such an emotional win, but give them one chance to show last week was not a fluke. Browns cover
Buffalo Bills (-8 1/2) at New England Patriots — The Bills are very good and the Patriots are horrendous. The Bills have far more talent on both sides of the ball. The home field will not matter. Yet the Bills barely survived a bad Giants team at home. The spread is too high for a Bills team that plays down to the level of their competition. Bills win but fail to cover
Washington Commanders (-2) at New York Giants — The Commanders are worse than their 3-3 record would indicate. The Giants are awful but nearly pulled off a shocker at Buffalo. Three tries to gain one yard on three separate drives was too much to ask. Tyrod Taylor filled in admirably for the injured Daniel Jones. The Giants defense was stout last week. This is the week the Giants finally get another win. Upset special, Giants win outright
Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-2 1/2) — Despite being kept out of the end zone last week at home against Detroit, the Buccaneers are an improved team. Baker Mayfield is no scrub. Expect the Buccaneers to rebound against an Atlanta team still finding its way. Buccaneers cover
4pm
Pittsburgh Steelers at Los Angeles Rams (-3 1/2) — Both teams are up and down. They are both well coached. Sean McVay knows his team is rebuilding, while nobody gets more out of less than Mike Tomlin. Matthew Stafford is better than Kenny Pickett, but Pickett is good enough. The Steelers run the ball hard. After the impressive road win at Baltimore, trusting the Steelers at an average Rams team is reasonable. Upset special, Steelers win outright
Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks (-8) — The Cardinals are awful. The Seahawks are punching above their weight limit. Pete Carroll is ageless. He has worked wonders with Geno Smith. After a solid first half, the Cardinals looked listless in the second half at the Rams. The Seahawks are slightly better than the Rams. Seahawks cover
Green Bay Packers (-1) at Denver Broncos — The Packers are bad but the Broncos are worse. Jordan Love has not played well. Russell Wilson is having a nightmarish season. The Broncos are on the verge of blowing it all up before the trade deadline and starting over. Love throws too many interceptions to trust him though. This is the week the Broncos finally get relief from their pain. Upset special, Broncos win outright
Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs (-5 1/2) — Nobody loses close games like the Chargers. The Chiefs are winning, but not by wide margins they are used to. The Chargers have an offense to keep pace with the Chiefs. The biggest gap is coaching. Andy Reid is among the best. Brandon Staley is among the worst. The Chiefs are not blowing anyone out, making the spread a concern. Chiefs win but fail to cover
8pm
Miami Dolphins at Philadelphia Eagles (-2 1/2) — Both teas are 5-1 and thinking Super Bowl. The Eagles suffered a shocking loss at the Jets to knock them from the unbeaten ranks. The Eagles will be angry at home. Tua Tagovailoa is firing to Tyreek Hill and others at will, The Dolphins are a legitimate contender, but go with the home field and an angry team looking to rebound. Jalen Hurts will correct himself and get it done. Eagles cover
Monday, October 22, 8pm
San Francisco 49ers (-7) at Minnesota Vikings — The 49ers suffered stunning loss at Cleveland to knock them from the undefeated ranks. The Vikings have just not been playing week. Trading away Dalvin Cook looks like a dumber move by the week. The 48ers have a suffocating defense. The spread is high for a road team, and the Vikings are desperate enough to make it a closer game than oddsmakers believe. 49ers win but fail to cover