NFL Week 6 Picks: Lovin’ Da Bears, Lions and Bengals

Article content

BEST BETS

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-4) vs. CHICAGO BEARS (3-2) in London

Article content

LINE: Chicago by 2.5

The Jaguars have more experience playing overseas, where they’re 6-5 compared to Chicago’s 1-1 record, but Caleb Williams has thrown for more than 300 yards in two of his past three games and the Jags pass defence is ranked 32nd. The Bears would be the pick here if they were giving three field goals.

Article content

TAKING: CHICAGO -2.5

Bears 27, Jaguars 17

DETROIT LIONS (3-1) at DALLAS COWBOYS (3-2)

LINE: Detroit by 3

The Steelers couldn’t do it, but the Lions will take advantage of a Cowboys defence missing Micah Parsons and Demarcus Lawrence and avenge last season’s Week 17, 20-19 loss at AT&T Stadium. Detroit is a great Survivor Pool pick — if any Survivor Pools are still alive.

TAKING: DETROIT -3

Lions 30, Cowboys 18

Article content

CINCINNATI BENGALS (1-4) at NEW YORK GIANTS (2-3)

LINE: Cincinnati by 3.5

Daniel Jones has the worst prime-time record (1-13 SU) of any quarterback since 1970, Malik Nabers (concussion) seems to have suffered a setback after he didn’t practice Thursday and the Bengals playoff chances are in a state of desperation after losing a 41-38 shootout against the Ravens they should have won. Watch for Joe Burrow to stay hot.

TAKING: CINCINNATI -3.5

Bengals 31, Giants 17

And the rest ….

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (3-2) at NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (2-3)

LINE: Tampa by 3.5

Even with trouble focusing while Hurricane Milton wreaks havoc in Tampa, the Bucs will likely face rookie QB Spencer Rattler making his debut behind a battered offensive line. Todd Bowles will throw several different looks at him while Baker Mayfield, who is tied for second in league TD passes, throws strikes against a Saints pass defence that ranks 26th.

Article content

Article content

TAKING: TAMPA BAY -3.5

Bucs 24, Saints 13

ARIZONA CARDINALS (2-3) at GREEN BAY PACKERS (3-2)

LINE: Green Bay by 5

Is Jordan Love healthy? In his two games back from an MCL injury that he returned from quicker than expected, the Packers QB has thrown four interceptions along with six TD passes. He’ll pick on a sub-par secondary as Josh Jacobs provides extra time trampling the Cards’ 28th-ranked run defence.

TAKING: GREEN BAY -5

Packers 28, Cardinals 21

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (2-3) at TENNESSEE TITANS (1-3)

LINE: Indy by 1

Injuries on both sides leave unanswered questions about who will be the quarterbacks for this game. But forget that for a second as the Titans defence is comfortably ranked No. 1 with an average of 243.8 yards allowed per game, while the Colts ‘D’ is at the other end of the spectrum, ranked 32nd with an average of 419.2 yards allowed per game.

Article content

TAKING: TENNESSEE +1

Titans 17, Colts 14

CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-4) at PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (2-2)

LINE: Philadelphia by 9

Why are the Eagles chalk when their previous game was a 33-16 loss to the Bucs and they’re 3-8 in their past 11 games? Because Lane Johnson, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are all back practising in full, the Browns are very beat up with the most significant issue being Myles Garrett’s Achilles and their QB is terrible.

TAKING: PHILADELPHIA -9

Eagles 24, Browns 10

HOUSTON TEXANS (4-1) at NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-4)

LINE: Houston by 7

Can Drake Maye save the day in New England? Maybe not, but his mobility behind an injured offensive line should boost the league’s 31st-ranked attack and the Texans, who will be without league-leading receiver Nico Collins, haven’t beaten anyone by more than six points this season.

Article content

TAKING: NEW ENGLAND +7

Texans 20, Patriots 14

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (4-1) at BALTIMORE RAVENS (3-2)

LINE: Baltimore by 6.5

This looks a lot like a shootout. Separated by 75 minutes of Parkway, Baltimore and Washington are the NFL’s top two teams in average points per game and average rushing yards, more than a little because of running QBs Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels. There’s such a thing as an overreaction, but it’s also tough to bet against the rookie in D.C. these days.

TAKING: WASHINGTON +6.5

Ravens 30, Commanders 28

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (2-2) at DENVER BRONCOS (3-2)

LINE: Los Angeles by 3

Coming off a needed bye week, the Chargers still had a lot of DNP’s for Wednesday’s practice. QB Justin Herbert’s high ankle sprain should be better after the rest and it’s likely he’ll have his two starting tackles back, but Joey Bosa’s absence is a concern. The Broncos followed up a two-game road winning streak by plastering the Raiders, which makes them appealing as a home ‘dog here. So does their defence and Herbert’s 13-17 ATS record when he’s a favourite of -3 or more.

Article content

TAKING: DENVER +3

Broncos 17, Chargers 16

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (3-2) at LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (2-3)

LINE: Pittsburgh by 3

The Raiders have switched from Gardiner Minshew to Aidan O’Connell and whether that turns out to be a good or bad thing, they’ve lost star DT Christian Wilkins to a foot injury and the status of Maxx Crosby is back up in the air after he missed Wednesday’s practice. Provided George Pickens responds well after being benched for lack of effort, we’re expecting Justin Fields to have a better day than he did last week against Dallas, while Russell Wilson lurks in the weeds.

TAKING: PITTSBURGH -3

Steelers 20, Raiders 14

ATLANTA FALCONS (3-2) at CAROLINA PANTHERS (1-4)

LINE: Atlanta by 6

Kirk Cousins is coming off the biggest night (509 passing yards) of his 155-game career and appears to have found a level of chemistry with Drake London, Darnell Mooney and Kyle Pitts. The Falcons might not take the Panthers as seriously as they should after Carolina’s defence has surrendered 70 points in its past two games, but it should be safe to take the Falcons when they’re giving less than a TD.

Article content

TAKING: ATLANTA -6

Falcons 29, Panthers 22

BUFFALO BILLS (3-2) at NEW YORK JETS (2-3)

LINE: Buffalo by 2.5

The banged-up Bills could be without RB James Cook, WR Khalil Shakir and DT Ed Oliver, but Josh Allen practised Wednesday (through an injured left hand and ankle) despite getting knocked out of last week’s loss to the Texans with a hit that put him in concussion protocol. Bills are also playing their third straight road game and trying to avoid a three-game losing streak, while the Jets will be fuelled by the firing of head coach Robert Saleh and a defence that, despite the losing record, is still ranked second. How are they not the favourite?

TAKING: NEW YORK +2.5

Jets 21, Bills 20

RECORDS

Don Brennan

LAST WEEK: 6–7-1

SEASON: 38-38-2

BEST BET LAST WEEK: 1-2

BEST BET SEASON: 5–9-1

Dan Bilicki

LAST WEEK: 6–7-1

SEASON: 35–41-2

BEST BEST LAST WEEK: 0-1

BEST BET SEASON: 3-2

Information in the above article is for entertainment purposes only and is not targeted to under 19 audiences. Using this information to contravene any law is prohibited. Visit the Responsible Gaming Council’s Safer Play to keep gambling safe and fun.

Article content