Each Week, Head of Content Michael Schottey makes his picks for the upcoming slate of NFL action. For more on the best picks of the week, check out Pickwatch Pro for only $30 per year and get access to in-depth insights on proven winners.
All odds are courtesy of our friends at BetMGM.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Cincinnati Bengals (-7.5)
I am not entirely sure that the Bengals are as good as their 2-1 record, but I’m 100 percent sure that the Jaguars are as bad as their 0-3 record. Quarterback Joe Burrow and rookie Wide Receiver Ja’Marr Chase are going to feast on one of the league’s worst defenses. Pick: Bengals
Washington Football Team (-1.5) @ Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons finally showed some offensive firepower, but they have issues with the offensive line and the Football team defensive line is going to take advantage and finally start getting the sacks they’ve been missing. Pick: Football Team
Houston Texans @ Buffalo Bills (-17)
This game might end up being NSFW by the end…I’m actually a bigger fan of Texans QB Davis Mills than most, but the Bills are finally firing on all cylinders and he’s not ready for this smoke. Pick: Bills
Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears (-3)
As bad as both of these teams have been at points this season, there are far more bright spots for the Lions who can win a lot of battles against a Bears offense that doesn’t have its act together—regardless of who’s at QB. Pick: Lions
Carolina Panthers @ Dallas Cowboys (-4.5)
Extremely tempted to pick the Panthers here because it’ll be the best defense the Cowboys have faced this season (all due respect to the Los Angeles Chargers), but the Cowboys are too good, at home, against a Panthers team that has had some injury issues and is trying to reconfigure multiple units. Pick: Cowboys
Indianapolis Colts @ Miami Dolphins (-2)
This is one of the worst games to pick this week, because the Dolphins might be a much better team with QB Tua Tagovailoa on IR and the Colts are struggling with an injured QB themselves in Carson Wentz with zero mobility. Pick: Colts
Cleveland Browns (-1.5) @ Minnesota Vikings
Another difficult game to pick because the Browns are clearly the better team on paper, but they’ve largely played down to opponents this season while the Vikings are punching up pretty effectively and were able to win last week without their best offensive weapon. The Cleveland rushing defense won’t be gashed so effectively, though. Pick: Browns
New York Giants @ New Orleans Saints (-8)
If the Saints are able to score 17 points, this game should be comfortably put away. They will be able against a mediocre Giants defense, and the Giants’ offense is markedly worse. Pick: Saints
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Tennessee Titans (-7.5) @ New York Jets
This spread is offensive to the Titans and their fanbase. The Jets have not even shown they’re able to put up 7.5 points recently. Pick: Titans
Kansas City Chiefs (-7) @ Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles punched up effectively in a Week 1 win and then in a Week 2 loss where they stayed close with the San Francisco 49ers, but they’re not the same team as they’ve dealt with injuries. Pick: Chiefs
Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Rams (-5)
I absolutely love watching the Cardinals offense, but this is going to be tough sledding against a Rams’ defense which will make Kyler Murray’s MVP-caliber season hit a bit of a road bump. Pick: Rams
Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers (-3)
I’ve gotten burned for riding with the Seahawks before and I’ll likely get burned for riding with them again this season, but I do not trust the 49ers to win a close game and trust that Head Coach Pete Carroll and Co. will be bringing their A-game. Pick: Seahawks
Baltimore Ravens @ Denver Broncos (-1)
The Broncos have essentially played a JV schedule to this point by NFL standards and the Ravens are not that. The Denver offense will struggle to score here. Pick: Ravens
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Green Bay Packers (-6.5)
Give me the Pack and double that line. This is a Steelers team that is trending downward and a Green Bay offense that looks darn near unstoppable over the last six quarters. Pick: Packers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-6.5) @ New England Patriots
Do I worry that Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick has spent the last nine months preparing for this moment? Yeah, yeah I do. I also think the Buccaneers will be just fine offensively no matter what the Pats throw at them and defensively will harass the young Patriots passing attack. Pick: Buccaneers
Las Vegas Raiders @ Los Angeles Chargers (-3.5)
Feel really bad picking against the Raiders here, but the Chargers’ defense is as good as any they’ve faced and the offense is up there as well. I’ll take the home team and look for the Raiders to make me look stupid doing it. Pick: Chargers