Sliced Spread: 2011 NFL Football Week 7 Picks and Predictions

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Welcome to SLICED SPREAD, the place on Inside Pulse Sports for weekly NFL picks against the spread, head to head survivor picks, and score prognostications.

Time constraints are forcing me to cut the small talk this week, so let’s put week 6 in the books and move…

Onto the breakdown!

SLICED SPREAD: NFL WEEK 6 BREKADOWN

WEEK 6 ATS: 7-6
WEEK 6 LOCKS ATS: 1-2

WEEK 6 H2H: 10-3
WEEK 6 H2H SURVIVOR PICK: WIN (Raiders over Browns)

THIS SEASON ATS: 47-43
THIS SEASON LOCKS ATS: 12-6

THIS SEASON H2H: 62-28

H2H SURVIVOR TEAMS USED:
Chargers (Week 1, Win)
Lions (Week 2, Win)
Steelers (Week 3, Win)
Packers (Week 4, Win)
Giants (Week 5, Loss)
Raiders (Week 6, Win) 

SLICED SPREAD: NFL WEEK 7 PICKS

Home teams are shown in CAPS
Point spreads shown in ().

SUNDAY:

Atlanta (+3.5) over DETROIT — As the Lions move on from both their first loss of the season and the coaches’ handshake heard ’round the world, they will be facing an Atlanta time that isn’t without true grit though they do lack consistency. I sense another close game, with the visiting Falcons further humbling Detroit and winning both head to head and against the spread in my gut feeling pick of the week. Falcons win 29-24

Chicago (-0.5) over TAMPA BAY — Speaking of being humbled, the Bucs certainly proved me wrong last week and cost me a precious lock of the week win in the process. That said, Chicago is a pretty rough and tumble team, and I think the Bears prevail in a close hard-fought contest. Bears win 21-17

CAROLINA (-2.5) over Washington —
Rex Grossman is out, John Beck is in, and Cam Newton will finally notch his second win of the season. Panthers win 27-19

*LOCK IT UP: Denver (+1.5) over MIAMI —
With all of the Tim Tebow fans down in Florida, this just might resemble a home game for the Broncos in Miami. Either way, Tebow is the spark plug that will drive Denver over the hapless Dolphins this week. Broncos win 24-16

NY JETS (+1.5) over San Diego —
The Jets’ issues are far from resolved, but if they can beat the Chargers this week, Rex Ryan knows that his players can get their swag back before their bye week. I think Gang Green pulls out all of the stops and holds off San Diego in a mild upset based on the teams’ current records. Jets win 26-20

Seattle (+3.5) over CLEVELAND —
I don’t have a great read on either the Seahawks or the Browns right now, but I did see the Seahawks knock off the Giants on the road two weeks ago, so that alone makes me lean towards taking the points and running before I think too long and hard about it. Seahawks win 17-10

Houston (+3.5) over TENNESSEE —
These teams just don’t like each other very much, and I think this one will get ugly and stay close when all is said and done. Titans win 24-21

Pittsburgh (-3.5) over ARIZONA —
The Cardinals just don’t scare me in this spot. If anything the Steelers making a plethora of mistakes is the only way I can see Arizona winning, and I see the opposite happening on Sunday. Steelers win 28-13

OAKLAND (-4.5) over Kansas City —
Regardless of who plays quarterback for the Raiders this week, I think the entire team will continue to step up and fight hard for every yard on every play. This is especially true against an inferior division rival in the Chiefs that has tripped up the Raiders in the past, because this week Oakland will protect its home field and inch closer to surprise playoff contention. Raiders win 31-17

*H2H SURVIVOR PICK: DALLAS (-13.5) over St. Louis —
Dallas came so close to toppling the Patriots up in New England last week, but they fell just short like so many other teams do. The Rams will serve as perfect fodder this week, and the Cowboys will score a lot in a huge rebound win against a bad team with an injured quarterback. Cowboys win 34-10

*LOCK IT UP: Green Bay (-8.5) over MINNESOTA —
Bet against Aaron Rodgers at your own peril. Packers win 38-17

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:

NEW ORLEANS (-14.5) over Indianapolis — After last week’s trap game loss in Tampa, I am hoping that the Saints look at this week as a dire MUST-WIN situation regardless of who they are playing. I think New Orleans barely covers the spread, but breezes through head to head. Saints win 28-13

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:

*LOCK IT UP: Baltimore (-7.5) over JACKSONVILLE — Last week, the Ravens more than doubled up Houston when they beat the Texans 29-14. While it is true that the Jaguars covered +12.5 in Pittsburgh last week, they are nowhere near as good as the Texans and Jacksonville’s home field doesn’t really scare me away all that much. Also, the Ravens’ defense will be fired up and looking to dominate on the nationally televised Monday Night Football stage. Ravens win 30-12

That’s it for this week’s edition of SLICED SPREAD.

See you next week – CB.

 

 

 

 

 

CB is an Editor for Pulse Wrestling and an original member of the Inside Pulse writing team covering the spectrum of pop culture including pro wrestling, sports, movies, music, radio and television.