NFL Picks Week 6: 2 Underdogs Sure to Cover the Spread

Week 6 of the 2011 NFL regular season welcomes back teams off a bye for the first time this year, and that's exactly where my focus lies.

Oddsmakers have been spot on with the closing line, as underdogs enter this round of games with a 37-37-3 against-the-spread record.

Let's take a look at two teams getting points that will have you cashing at the betting window on Sunday.

St. Louis Rams at Green Bay Packers

The St. Louis Rams entered their bye week with a 0-4 straight-up record, but bettors shouldn't forget that third-year head coach Steve Spagnuolo has cashed tickets with a rested team in both opportunities.

Rams quarterback Sam Bradford completed 30-of-42 passes for 251 yards and a touchdown in a 23-20 overtime loss as 4.5-point road underdogs last year.

In the team's first opportunity with rest under Spagnuolo, St. Louis fought hard as a 14-point road underdog against the New Orleans Saints, only to fall short in a 28-23 contest.

Green Bay moved its record to 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS after last week's 25-14 win as six-point road favorites over a revenge-minded Atlanta squad.

This is the highest-priced line of the NFL season thus far, which has me ready to play.

Did you know that the Packers are 0-5 ATS in their last five tries as home favorites of 14.5 to 21 points?

You do now.

Pick: St. Louis Rams (+15.5)

Dallas Cowboys at New England Patriots

The Dallas Cowboys are claiming they are healthier than at any point of the season, which will likely result in wide receiver Miles Austin returning to the field.

It absolutely came at the right time, as the team was unable to hold onto a 20-3 first-half lead in Week 4, dropping a 34-30 decision to the Detroit Lions as 2.5-point home favorites.

The Cowboys will benefit greatly from having defensive coordinator Rob Ryan against New England quarterback Tom Brady.

He was the architect of Cleveland's defense last year that led directly to a 34-14 win over the Patriots in Week 9 of the 2010 campaign.

Brady completed just 19 of 36 passes and the offense was limited to only 283 yards.

Bettors need to realize that Dallas has lost its two games by a combined seven points, failing to hold a lead in each contest.

A bye week helps a team limit mistakes and regroup.

New England just gained revenge from last year's playoff exit with a 30-21 win over the New York Jets.

Let's just hope that Cowboys signal caller Tony Romo can get us to the finish line, leaving behind his patented late-game mistakes.

Pick: Dallas Cowboys (+7.5)