It’s time to keep it rolling. I was a perfect 5-0 with my picks in Week 6. I’m now 19-11 on the season. So why stop picking winners now? Four teams have a bye in Week 7: Green Bay, Oakland, Seattle, and Pittsburgh. Good, I didn’t want to pick them anyways! As part of the PodcastOne Sportsnet Challenge, I’m only allowed to pick from the Sunday games, and there are 12 total games on the Sunday slate this week,
This includes a 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff from London as the Tennessee Titans take on the Los Angeles Chargers. And, ya, we’ll stay away from that one. So, only 11 games for me to choose from. Here are my picks for Week 7:
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES over Carolina Panthers
-The 3-3 Eagles are coming off a win over the New York Giants on Thursday Night Football. A win over the Giants isn’t saying much, but the extra time to prepare for a beatable 3-2 Carolina Panthers team, in Philadelphia, is certainly worth taking into consideration when picking this game. There’s just something about the Panthers that I hate in this one on the road. Carolina is coming off a 23-17 loss to Washington in Week 6. Now Cam Newton goes up against an Eagles’ defense that ranks fifth in the NFL, allowing just 19.5 points per game. Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz has thrown seven touchdowns and no interceptions in his last three games, and again, home field and extra time to prepare will be the key. Give me the Eagles to take care of business at home, Sunday at 1 p.m.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS over Houston Texans
-The 3-3 Jaguars are a 5-point favorite at home as they host the 3-3 Texans Sunday at 1. There’s a three-way tie for first place in the AFC South, with the Tennessee Titans also at 3-3. Jacksonville can only control what it can control, and this is a must-win, as the jaguars have lost two straight games, both on the road, in Kansas City and in Dallas. Meanwhile, Houston has won three straight, but not on eof those three wins convinced me that they’re for real. I think the Jaguars will find a way to turn things around in their own building against a beatable Texans team. Give me Jacksonville to win this game at home.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS over Baltimore Ravens
-The 4-1 Saints are a 2.5-point underdog on the road in Baltimore Sunday at 4:05. New Orleans is coming off the bye, but has won four straight since losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1. Baltimore’s defense ranks No. 1 in the NFL, allowing just 12.8 points per game. But the 4-2 Ravens have yet to face a QB/RB duo like Drew Brees and Alvin Kamara this year. Brees has yet to beat the Ravens in his career, but I expect that to change on Sunday. Baltimore is coming off a 21-0 win over Tennessee. Will the Ravens shut out the Saints? No way. The only question is, can the Saints’ defense stop the Ravens’ offense. I think they can keep it close enough for the Saints to escape Baltimore with their fifth win of the season. I’m feeling good about New Orleans.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS over Cincinnati Bengals
-This game got flexed into the NBC Sunday Night Football game of the week, putting the 5-1 Chiefs on Sunday Night Football for the second straight week. Kansas City is coming off a loss to the Patriots at Gillette Stadium. It was the Chiefs’ first loss of the year. And now, they return home to host a 4-2 Bengals team that’s coming off a loss to the Steelers. Cincinnati has certainly impressed this year, but I could see Patrick Mahomes carving up the Bengals’ pass defense that ranks 28th in the NFL, allowing 292 pass yards per game. The Chiefs lost to the Pats, but it was arguably the most impressive loss I’ve ever seen. KC is for real. Mahomes is a legit stud. They’ll beat Cincy at home.
LOCK OF THE WEEK: LOS ANGELES RAMS over San Francisco 49ers
-The 6-0 Rams are the only undefeated team remaining in the NFL. They’re a 10-point favorite on the road in San Francisco Sunday at 4:25. The 49ers are 1-5 and have lost four straight, including Monday night’s loss in Green Bay. San Francisco is struggling after losing Jimmy Garoppolo for the season. And the 49ers defense is one of the worst in the league, allowing 30 points per game. The Rams should be able to put up their usual 30 points on Sunday, and take advantage of San Francisco trying to function on a short week. That’s not usually the recipe for success against the best team in the NFL, especially if you’re one of the worst teams in the NFL. It’s a lock. The Rams will win this one in San Fran.
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