NFL Picks Week 6: Game-by-game predictions against the spread

If I can turn things around hopefully the New York Giants can turn things around, I continued my "hot streak' in Week 5 after a very good Week 4 going 9-4-1 in week five. I'm now 19-7-1 over the last two weeks after being a miserable 16-31-1 the first three weeks of the season. Let's see if I can get my overall record back to respectable after week 6.

All odds from SB Nation's NFL Odds page.

Best Bets

Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs (-9.5)

The Chiefs are going to win a lot of games this year with a very tough defense and an offense that methodically moves the chains and plays mistake free football. But the Oakland Raiders are actually a decent team. They might not be the world's best team, but they are playing well. Terrelle Pryor is completing 68 percent of his passes and averaging 8.1 yards per pass attempt and the Raiders defense is pretty close to average. I think in a division game this game should be closer than people think it will be and I'll take the Raiders to stay within 9 points. Pick: Oakland

Carolina Panthers at Minnesota Vikings (-1.5)

The Vikings are favored here, but I think the Panthers team matches up well with the Vikings. The Panthers interior defense is terrific and they should be able to contain Adrian Peterson and that means that Minnesota will try to rely on Christian Ponder, Matt Cassel or Josh Freeman to beat the Panthers -- which means the Vikings will likely lose this game. The Panthers are still a team who hasn't yet figured out how to win consistently, but this is a game they should be able to win. The Vikings are giving up 30.8 points per game this season on defense which means the Panthers should be able to score enough points to win. Pick: Carolina

Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (pick 'em)

Thank you, Tampa Bay! One of the only franchises that can make a Giants' fan feel like things aren't looking so bad amidst this miserable season, from staph infections, to releasing their franchise quarterback, to anything and everything that makes Greg Schiano Greg Schiano. From the outside looking in you get the feeling that the Buccaneers absolutely hate their head coach and sooner or later (probably sooner) the Buccaneers could just quit on their season. Their offense is terrible (11 points per game) and while their defense is solid, the Eagles' fast-paced offense will likely give some teams problems this year, not to mention with Michael Vick out of Sunday's game the chance of turnovers to slow down the Eagles offense might actually have diminished. I don't believe the Eagles are a great team by any means, but I am confident that the Buccaneers are terrible. Pick: Eagles

Cincinnati Bengals (-8) at Buffalo Bills

I can't believe I'm making this pick with Thad Lewis playing in this game (what the heck is a Thad Lewis?), but I just don't trust the Jekyll and Hyde Bengals at the moment. In two games on the road this year they have lost to the Bears and the Browns, and while the Bills aren't great at home they have beaten the Panthers, Ravens, and played the Patriots very tightly. I'd feel more comfortable with E.J. Manuel starting, but this Bills defense is a nice young defense that should keep the game within a touchdown if they can get anything from Thad Lewis and their terrific running back combination. Pick: Bills

St. Louis Rams at Houston Texans (-8)

The Texans haven't had the season they were expecting to have as a team that was a legitimate Superbowl Contender last year, but I'm not ready to give up on them. Matt Shcaub has struggled, but I think this is the week he breaks the streak and doesn't throw a pick six (four weeks in a row right now a NFL record) against this terrible St. Louis Rams defense. Something isn't quite correlation with the Texans season right now they are first in overall yards allows, first in passing yards allowed and are giving up 27.8 points per game (25th in the NFL). On offense they are 7th in total yards, 13th in passing yards, 8th in rushing yards and scoring only 18.6 points per game (26th in the league), which is in an indication that they are a talented football team making some untimely mistakes right now and I think they'll straighten that out a bit moving forward. Pick: Texans

New York Giants at Chicago Bears (-7.5)

The Bears are better, but Thursday night games can be a bit sloppy and maybe the Giants can stay within 7 points. Wow, from Super Bowl contender to "I think they can stay within 7 points." How the mighty have fallen.

Other Games

Green Bay Packers (-3) at Baltimore Ravens. Pick: Packers

Detroit Lions (-2.5) at Cleveland Browns. Pick Browns

Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Jets (-3). Pick: Steelers

It's now or never for the Steelers coming off a bye week with their season spiraling out of control.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos (-26.5). Pick: Jaguars

Four touchdowns? Come on Jaguars don't let me down. I can't believe a NFL team can't stay within four touchdowns.

Tennessee Titans at Seattle Seahawks (-14). Pick Titans

Titans defense is very solid, maybe enough to keep them within 14 points even without Jake Locker.

New Orleans Saints at New England Patriots (-3). Pick: Patriots

Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco (-9.5). Pick: Cardinals

Washington at Dallas (-5.5). Pick: Redskins

Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers (pick em). Pick: Colts

Last week: 9-4-1

Overall Record: 33-38-2

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