Week 7 NFL Picks: Predictions, Advice for Latest Vegas Spreads and Odds

There's very little respect for the Chicago Bears around the NFL these days, and there's even less among handicappers.

How else would you explain Odds Shark's 7.5-point spread in the Thursday night game between the Green Bay Packers and the team once known as the Monsters of the Midway?

The Bears had victory snatched away from them in the last two weeks against the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars, but the Bears were competitive for large portions of the game.

On the other hand, the Packers are coming off a 30-16 home defeat to the Dallas Cowboys, and they come into this game badly injured at the running back position. Both Eddie Lacy (ankle) and James Starks (knee) will not be able to play in this game, and newly acquired Knile Davis is the team's only healthy running back. 

Aaron Rodgers has not been on his game this year, as he is averaging just 6.46 yards per pass and 226.6 yards per pass. The Packers' once-prolific offense ranks 25th in the league, and that's a huge drop for a quarterback who has been a two-time NFL MVP.

The Packers have regularly pounded the Bears over the years and have won 10 of the last 12 games between the two teams, but their offense is not functioning at a high level. 

The Packers will most likely win this game, but it will be by seven points or less and the Bears will get the cover.

Game	Point Spread	Over/Under	Prediction
Chicago at Green Bay	GB -7.5	46	Chi; under
N.Y. Giants at L.A. Rams	NYG -2.5	44	NYG; under
Washington at Detroit	Even	49.5	Detroit; over
Minnesota at Philadelphia	MIN -2.5	40.5	Minn; under
Cleveland at Cincinnati	CIN -10	45.5	Cin; over
Indianapolis at Tennessee	TEN -2.5	48	Tenn; over
Baltimore at N.Y. Jets	Even	40.5	NYJ; over
Oakland at Jacksonville	JAC -1	48.5	Oak; over
New Orleans at Kansas City	KC -6.5	50.5	KC; over
Buffalo at Miami	BUF -3	44	Buffalo; under
San Diego at Atlanta	ATL -6.5	53.5	Atlanta; over
Tampa Bay at San Francisco	TB -2.5	46.5	SF; under
New England at Pittsburgh	NE -7	45.5	Pitt; over
Seattle at Arizona	ARI -2	43.5	Sea; over
Houston at Denver	DEN -7.5	40.5	Denver; over

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Oakland at Jacksonville

The Oakland Raiders lost a key game last week at home to the Kansas City Chiefs. While a defeat at the hands of their historical rivals hurts, it should not derail the Raiders.

Oakland takes a 4-2 record into Jacksonville to play the Jaguars this week, and the home team has beaten the Indianapolis Colts and Bears the past two weeks.

Those were the Jaguars' first two wins after four straight losses. That helps the Jaguars get out of the doldrums, but it does not indicate that they are a complete team and ready to join the ranks of the contenders.

The Raiders have a vibrant offense with Derek Carr at quarterback along with wideouts Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper, and they have played their best football on the road this season. Oakland is an impressive 3-0 away from home, and they should be prepared for a bounce-back game against the Jags.

The oddsmakers have made the Jaguars a one-point favorite, but the Raiders are not going to let the home team celebrate. Look for a sharp game from the Raiders, and they will win with relative ease.

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

New England at Pittsburgh

This appeared to be a glamour matchup between two of the best teams in the AFC, but some of the luster came off the matchup when Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suffered a torn meniscus in Week 6 against the Dolphins. 

As a result of that injury and Monday's subsequent surgery, Roethlisberger won't play against New England, and backup Landry Jones will be forced to line up under center for the Black and Gold.

That's a huge blow for Pittsburgh's high-powered passing game, but it seems like the linemakers have overreacted. The Patriots have been made seven-point favorites even though the game is in Pittsburgh.

While Roethlisberger is out, the Steelers have a sensational running back-wide receiver combination in Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown.

Jones played in seven games last year and started two of them. He completed 58.2 percent of his passes for 513 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions. Those are not great numbers, but they are not awful, either.

He is a competent backup playing at home with explosive teammates. 

The Patriots come in with Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and LeGarrette Blount playing sensational football, and Bill Belichick's team will be prepared to play a sound game.

The Patriots may very well come away with the win, but this will not be a runaway. The Steelers will battle them for 60 minutes, and this game will be decided by a late Stephen Gostkowski field goal.

The Steelers get the cover.