NFL Week 7 Predictions and Picks Against the Spread (4:00 Games)

Can Philip Rivers overcome the injuries to his offense to top the Pats?

Only 3 4:00 games this week. The 1:00 picks were posted on Thursday and there are plenty of games to look into there. Let’s just get right down to business.

ARIZONA CARDINALS @ SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (-6.5)

Somehow both teams have managed to have winning records although neither deserves to have a winning record if you ask me. Both are 3-2. Arizona is coming off their bye week after upsetting the Saints at home thanks to 14 defensive points in the 4th quarter. The Seahawks are coming off an impressive road win over the Bears. The Seahawks play strong at home where they beat San Diego by 7 and San Fransisco 31-6. There’s just no way I’m going to give up 6.5 points to take the Seahawks. 83% of the public is taking the Seahawks, while they have 60% of the consensus at Covers.com. I’m sure they will win this game, but I’m giving the Cardinals a good shot at covering this one if they can get out of this game by a score of 24-20. Home team is 6-2 ATS in these teams last 8 games. Home field should be the difference. With the Cardinals D giving up 27.6 PPG, the Seahawks look like the play at home. Another game I’m 50/50 on ATS. I think it’s too many points, but until Arizona can improve their run defense, they’ll continue to have issues.

Prediction: Seahawks 27 – Cardinals 20

Pick Against the Spread: Seahawks -6.5 (Confidence: 1/5)

OAKLAND RAIDERS @ DENVER BRONCOS (-8)

I like the Raiders +8 here. The Raiders know how to play the Broncos as they’re 6-2 ATS in their last 8 against them. Oakland has topped the Broncos twice in Denver in the last two years, while they’ve been unable to beat them in Oakland. Denver actually crushed the Raiders in Oakland 23-3 and 41-14 the last two years, but lost to the Raiders at home 20-19 and 31-10 the last two years. Try to figure that one out. Denver’s passing game has been outright scary this year, piling up 311 passing yards per contest. Hopefully CB Asomugha can shut down at least one side of the field. The Raiders will also benefit from the return of Darren McFadden, who missed the last two games for the Raiders. Eddie Royal may also miss this one. Denver’s passing D continues to be a problem, which is why the Raiders have a good shot at covering the 8 here. I’m going to pick up the points here, but I’m not confident at all going up against Denver’s passing game.

Prediction: Broncos 24 – Raiders 17

Pick Against the Spread: Raiders +8 (Confidence: 1/5)

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS @ SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (-3)

After the Chargers have dropped back-to-back road games to the Raiders and Rams, as well as another road loss to the Seahawks, the public is absolutely pounding them with 80% of the bets being placed on the Pats +3. This is clearly a trap game for the public. San Diego plays completely different ball when they’re at home. Wins of 41-10 over Arizona and 38-13 over Jacksonville are proof of that, but those two wins don’t really prove anything since those are subpar teams. This is the first time that San Diego will be tested against a good team. We know the Chargers can’t play ball on the road this year. They’re now at 2-3 and this is a very important game for the Chargers. This isn’t a must win game, but they know they just can’t drop to 2-4 this early in the season. The Patriots have had some secondary issues this year, so Philip Rivers may go off. However, I’m going to play the injury report this week. The Chargers may be without Antonio Gates (sprained toe), and two of their top wideouts are doubtful: Malcolm Floyd and Legedu Naanee, plus RB Ryan Matthews is banged up. This means that Patrick Crayton, Buster Davis, and Darren Sproles will have to carry this Chargers offense. On defense, the Chargers are without Merriman and Larry English. The Chargers have a lot of injuries to overcome. I’ll take the +3 due to the injury report, but you have to be careful against a phenomenal home team in the Chargers that can always overcome injuries.

Prediction: Patriots 24 – Chargers 20

Pick Against the Spread: Patriots +3 (Confidence: 3/5)

CONCLUSION

The 1:00 games are must more favorable. I would pass on the 4:00 games. Broncos may cover, but the +8 is tempting so I’ll pick Oakland. I’ll take the Pats +3 due to the injury report, but it’s clearly a trap game as SD is as good of a home team as it gets. Go look at the 1:00 games instead. Good luck.