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.
No small-talk this week, it’s time to move…
Onto the breakdown!
SLICED SPREAD: NFL WEEK 5 BREKADOWN
WEEK 5 ATS: 7-7
WEEK 5 LOCKS ATS: 2-1
WEEK 5 H2H: 9-5
WEEK 5 H2H SURVIVOR PICK: Win (Vikings def. Titans)
THIS SEASON ATS: 36-41
THIS SEASON LOCKS ATS: 5-10
THIS SEASON H2H: 44-33
H2H SURVIVOR TEAMS USED:
Texans (Week 1, Win)
Patriots (Week 2, Loss)
Niners (Week 3, Loss)
Ravens (Week 4, Win)
Vikings (Week 5, Win)
SLICED SPREAD: NFL WEEK 6 PICKS
THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Pittsburgh (-5.5) over TENNESSEE — If the Titans weren’t so shaky, I’d go with the home team. But the Steelers are better than them by more than 5.5 points, no matter how I break this game down in my mind. Steelers win 26-13
SUNDAY:
*LOCK IT UP: Cincinnati (-0.5) over CLEVELAND — The Browns could be due for an inspired effort against their Ohio rivals, but all the Bengals have to do here is win, so… Bengals win 24-20
*LOCK IT UP/H2H SURVIVOR PICK: ATLANTA (-9.5) over Oakland — The Raiders are traveling to the East Coast for a 1:00 pm ET game against one of the top two teams in the league. 9.5 is definitely a big point spread, but this talented Falcons team at home can cover all that and thensome in this spot. Falcons win 34-20
St. Louis (+3.5) over MIAMI — The Rams and Dolphins have both showed some resiliency already this season. I like the points here more than anything else as I sense a close, hard-fought contest. Dolphins win 20-17
Indianapolis (+3.5) over NY JETS — The Jets played the Texans a little bit closer than most of the betting world would have liked last week, but now they are 3.5-point favorites when they still can’t score a lick on offense. I’m not buying that for a minute. Colts win 27-19
Dallas (+3.5) over BALTIMORE — I know a few folks who are thinking that the Cowboys are a very live underdog this week … and I agree with them. Both teams haven’t clicked offensively all that much lately, and while the Ravens defense is tough, Dallas has some defensive playmakers on their side as well. I sense a close, sluggish game where points will be hard to come by. Ravens win 20-17
Detroit (+4.5) over PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles have been way too inconsistent and the Lions will be way too desperate for this one not to be close. I think the Lions’ sense of urgency will propel them to victory, or at least near victory. Michael Vick could cost the Eagles the game by turning the ball over, but he can also lead a game-winning drive as well. I think the former happens this week. Lions win 23-21
TAMPA BAY (-3.5) over Kansas City — The Bucs are the better team and I love their chances to blow the Chiefs out of the water early and often. I actually think the spread is too low, but I’ll take it. Bucs win 31-17
ARIZONA (-4.5) over Buffalo — After getting their doors blown off for two straight weeks, the Bills have to go to Arizona and face another solid team. I see a bounce-back win for the Cards after losing to the Rams last Thursday night. Cards win 17-10
*UNTOUCHABLE SPREAD OF THE WEEK: New England (-3.5) over SEATTLE — I hate this spread and I hate picking games where solid teams travel to Seattle. The Patriots should win this one easily, but I can’t guarantee anything in the great northwest these days. Patriots win 31-24
*LOCK IT UP: SAN FRANCISCO (-5.5) over NY Giants — The Niners are going to be out for revenge in this NFC Championship game rematch. Throw in the fact that SF is clicking on every possible cylinder at the moment, and I love them to overtake the Giants here. After all, it’s only October, not January. Niners win 34-24
Minnesota (+1.5) over WASHINGTON — RGIII’s been practicing this week, which is a great sign for the Redskins. At the same time, I feel like I owe it to the Vikings to continue to roll with them since I jumped on their bandwagon in grand fashion last week by locking them up and picking them as my Survivor Pick. I also love the value of the hotter team getting the points, even if it’s just 1.5. Vikings win 28-19
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
HOUSTON (-3.5) over Green Bay — I would call this the second-most untouchable spread of the week. In other words, don’t bet this game. I’m taking Houston because the Texans are the Super Bowl contenders this year, not this version of the Packers that I’ve seen so far this season. Texans win 27-21
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Denver (+1.5) over SAN DIEGO — The Broncos just can’t fumble away games like they did last week at New England. I think they right the ship here if for no other reason than to save their season. That’s right, this is a real desperation game for the Broncos, and they will deliver the goods here, barely. Broncos win 24-23
Week 6 Locks Recap: Bengals, Falcons, Niners
Week 6 Survivor Pick Recap: Falcons over Raiders
Week 6 Untouchable Spread of the Week Recap: Patriots (-3.5) on the road over Seahawks
That’s it for this week’s edition of SLICED SPREAD.
See you next week — CB.
