The NFL season has seen its share of upsets already, but are more on the way? Here are some bets for gamblers to take before Week 7 kicks off Thursday night in Denver.
Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos (+3): Thursday, 8:20 p.m.
I love the Broncos as three-point underdogs this week. The Chiefs, according to Adam Schefter, have already ruled out key players, including Sammy Watkins, Chris Jones, Andrew Wylie, and Eric Fisher for a Thursday divisional matchup. The Broncos held Kansas City to a couple of their lower point totals of last season, with 27 and 30 respectively.
With Patrick Mahomes hobbled and Kansas City reeling, expect Denver to ride Philip Lindsay against a soft Chiefs front. I would take Denver straight up, but take the home dog with the points at least.
The Pick: Denver (+3)
Prediction: Denver 26, Kansas City 23
San Francisco 49ers (-9.5) at Washington Redskins: Sunday, 1 p.m.
Kyle Shanahan has a homecoming in store as he travels back to his old stomping grounds to visit Washington. This is pretty simple. San Francisco is undefeated; take the Niners, lay the points. San Fran is cooking on all cylinders despite the loss of Kyle Juszczyk, and I don’t think that will change against a Washington team that looks lifeless and has no difference makers on the offensive side of the ball. The 49er front will feast on an offensive line that is still without Trent Williams.
The Pick: San Francisco (-9.5)
Prediction: San Francisco 30, Washington 13
Oakland Raiders at Green Bay Packers (-7): Sunday, 1 p.m.
The Raiders are coming off a bye, and are still being disrespected. Taking the points in Green Bay was a no-brainer for me. The Raiders put up points in bunches early against a dominant Bears defense and held on late to come back in London. Now, they face a Green Bay team that could be without Geronimo Allison and Davante Adams. Cash in now on that line, but even with Adams back from turf toe, Green Bay has looked inconsistent for much of the year. Expect that to continue Sunday.
The Pick: Oakland (+7)
Prediction: Green Bay 26, Oakland 23
New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears (-3): Sunday, 4:25 p.m.
Home teams always get a field goal at home, so this game is essentially a pick-em on FOX Sunday afternoon. The Bears are the more desperate team, but the Saints should be the pick. New Orleans has a solid ground game to complement Teddy Bridgewater, and New Orleans should win both sides of the ball in the trenches.
Akiem Hicks (elbow) being placed on IR hurts the Bears, and the Saints’ defensive line should rip through a Chicago front that is under siege. Expect Michael Thomas to have a big game, as the Saints once again prove they are a legitimate title contender with Drew Brees on the mend.
The Pick: New Orleans (+3)
Prediction: New Orleans 20, Chicago 17
New England Patriots (-9.5) at New York Jets: Monday, 8:20 p.m.
The Patriots may be unbeaten, but the offense looks anything but through six games. The Jets, meanwhile, are coming off their first win of the season with Sam Darnold back at the helm. New York is rejuvenated, and a dangerous opponent for a Patriots team heading into the Meadowlands.
The Jets defense will come to play, led by Jamal Adams. Even though it’ll have been 10 days since their Thursday night game in Week 6, I don’t anticipate the Patriots will pull away as they have against Washington and Miami. The Jets fell by 16 with Luke Falk as their quarterback; with Darnold, the Jets can at least make up a touchdown.
The Pick: New York (+9.5)
Prediction: New England 27, Jets 19
*lines via Westgate Superbook
