NFL Picks Week 7: Guide to This Weekend's Locks and Upsets

With a myriad of 3-3 teams across the league and Week 7 here, the San Fransisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks have entered us into the betting spectrum for the upcoming weekend.

Key games in Houston and New England headline this week's action, but it's smaller games across the spectrum that have a chance to have more impact in both the locks and upsets categories.

When placing your bets this weekend, make sure to use this as a guide for all the action. All lines for this week's matchups are from Bovada. Make sure you're checking back in with Bleacher Report on Sunday and Monday for all the NFL action you can handle.

This Week's Locks

Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings (-6) - Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET

After a demoralizing loss to the RG3-led Washington Redskins, the Minnesota defense looks to get back on track against the suddenly average Cardinals.

John Skelton will lead the Cardinals on Sunday, as Kevin Kolb will miss extended time with the injury he suffered on Sunday still a problem. Arizona, who started the season 4-0, are now 4-2 and in the thick of the race for the NFC West.

But Minnesota is in a much more demanding position in the NFC North, where a win over the Cardinals would push their record to 5-2 and in a position to be playoff contenders for the next few weeks. Christian Ponder has looked great in protecting the ball and leading the offense, and right now you have to like him over Skelton in this one.

Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans (-7) - Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET

The vaunted Ravens defense of the past few years is now without Ray Lewis, the emotional leader, and one of the league's best cover corners in Lardarius Webb. With Terrell Suggs on the mend, it doesn't figure to get much easier for this group.

Toss in a Texans team still angry at the Green Bay Packers for putting up 42 points on their head, and this could get ugly. The Texans will no longer be seen as the team we thought they were if they lose twice in two weeks at Reliant Stadium, so hedge your bets on the Texans to come out full "Bulls on Parade" style to take down a suddenly overrated Ravens team.

New Orleans Saints (+3) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET

I'm of the opinion that the Saints finally are right in the head. Although their first win was against the Philip Rivers untimely turnover machine that is San Diego, they've had a bye week to sort of some of this internal turmoil and get back to "Who Dat" football.

Facing a Bucs team with some obvious holes on both sides of the ball, I think the passing game is in full effect for Drew Brees and Co.

Doug Martin and LeGarrette Blount need to be factors for the Bucs to have any shot, but with the defense slowly coming along and Jonathan Vilma still in an adviser role, it'll be up to the front four to finally force some pressure on Josh Freeman. I think they get it done, and get their second win of the season.

Upsets

Tennessee Titans (+3) at Buffalo Bills - Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET

You just get the feeling that the Hasselbeck-led Titans are better than the Locker-led ones, at least at this point in time. Part of that is because the former can stretch the field, which has opened up some running room for Chris Johnson.

Factor in Johnson's 100-plus yards and two touchdowns in each of his first two career meetings against the Bills, and Tennessee suddenly looks a lot better on the road than they did on paper.

Buffalo is dealing with under performers on defense and a running back problem they need to sort out, and the Titans sneak in and steal one they probably shouldn't win after the long rest week and win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Detroit Lions (+6) at Chicago Bears - Monday, 8:20 p.m. ET

After a nice win against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Lions finally seem to be finding their stride. The offense appears to have hit a turnover-free stride with Matthew Stafford and have some stability in the backfield with Mikel Leshoure.

Now, facing the Bears on the road in a seemingly must-win game, the Lions will have to pull out all the stops. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as Chicago is coming in at 4-1 off the bye week feeling good about their time at the top of the NFC North.

As always, the spotlight will be on Jay Cutler to perform well on a big stage. And as the Bears have a chance to take a commanding 5-1 record into the following week, Cutler will be forced to perform with something over his head he's never quite handled well—expectations.

I expect the Lions to tear up that six-point underdog status and emerge victorious from the Windy City. It's a must-win, and the talent of this Detroit team will finally emerge on Monday Night Football.