NFL Picks: 3 Underdogs That Will Win Outright in Week 6

So far, the NFL season is shaping up to be pretty unpredictable.

Powerhouses are falling, weaker teams are conquering, and the many expectations going into the season are being shattered.

It is hard to find a concrete answer to the wackiness of this season, but one thing is for certain; it sure makes for some entertaining football!

Here are three underdog teams that will win outright in Week Six.

Philadelphia Eagles over the Washington Redskins

No, this is not a typo. The Philadelphia Eagles are officially underdogs going into Week Six.

Philly is in full panic mode, and for good reason. The Eagles are 1-4 in the NFC East and optimism for the ironically-named “Dream Team” is in short supply.

Meanwhile, the Washington Redskins are enjoying success that has eluded the franchise for some time.

This fixture is a crucial NFC East battle, and both teams know a lot of momentum can swing in each team’s favor with a positive result.

Yet with all the trouble the Eagles have had so far this season, I see them getting a win in Week Six when they travel to FedEx Field.

I say this with confidence because when examining statistics, the Eagles should, in fact, have a lot better of a record than they do.

Philly not only leads the league in rushing yards per game, they also rank in the top 11 in points per game (11^th), total yards per game (3^rd) and pass yards per game (8^th).

Their defense is also playing well, boasting the seventh best defense in the league when it comes to opposing passing yards. The only standout blemish is their run defense, which ranks 30^th in the league.

On the other side, Washington is actually very average when it comes to their play. They rank 15^th in total yards per game and they are mediocre when it comes to throwing the football (19^th). They run the ball pretty well and are likely going to keep it on the ground and hopefully exploit the Eagle’s frail run defense.

Still, the Eagles have a gigantic chip on their shoulders and are looking to turn their season around. It is still too early to write them off as mega-busts and I expect Vick and company to bring the heat.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the New Orleans Saints

Another team with massive expectations going into the season, the verdict is still out when it comes to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

While they sit second in the NFC South, their play has been inconsistent and experts remain skeptical with Raheem Morris’ side.

The New Orleans Saints will travel to Tampa to challenge the young squad, and I have a feeling the 2009 champs are going to find the Bucs to be a lot peskier than they think.

Josh Freeman has the potential to be an elite quarterback in this league, and the showdown between him and Drew Brees will be explosive to say the least.

Tampa Bay has a solid coaching staff that puts a lot of pressure and faith in their young players. Morris is a coach that gets along extremely well with his squad and has the backing of every person come game day.

The Bucs’ offensive rankings are not thrilling, but the vast potential they have can surely play into their hands. LeGerrette Blount has shouldered a heavy load for the Bucs’ running game, and the squad will pray that he is healthy for this game.

Also, the receiving core for Tampa is young and hungry, with the likes of Arrelious Benn, Kellen Winslow, Mike Williams and Preston Park all being valuable options for Freeman.

New Orleans are never an inviting squad to face, though, because the experience of both Sean Payton and Drew Brees demands the utmost preparation from an opposing squad.

You can always count on the Saints to rank among the best in the league when it comes to their offense, and this year is no different. Brees is playing like his typical self and leading a second-ranked passing offense going into Week Six.

NOLA has proven to be one of the best teams in the league and the respect they have from opponents is much reserved.

That being said, the young Bucs will have no fear when it comes to this match up.

The Saints narrowly avoided a loss last Sunday to the upstart Carolina Panthers, who, under Cam Newton, were unfortunate not to come away with a victory.

It took a Drew Brees-fueled drive with 50 seconds remaining on the clock to ensure the win, but Carolina was able to put 27 points up against the Saints defense. This can and will surely supply Tampa some motivation.

In all my years of being around elite sports, there is nothing that can take the place of confidence, especially in young teams. Tampa is a squad who has no fear and sometimes ignorance is exactly what a squad needs in order to get a result.

Morris’ squad will jump at the opportunity to take down conference leaders, and with the right preparation and inspiration, the Bucs have the chance to come out on top.

Carolina Panthers over the Atlanta Falcons

What can be said about Cam Newton that hasn’t already been expressed?

As the number one overall draft pick, to say Newton had a target on his back going into this season would be the biggest understatement.

What the former Heisman trophy winner has done is simply jaw dropping, as his short NFL career is already off to a rocket start.

The Carolina Panthers made some dramatic offseason changes to their squad, and it appears from their record that they still have some work to do. But at 1-4 in the NFC South, their record doesn’t fully give justice to the type of football Newton and the Panthers have been playing.

The week six game against division rivals Atlanta Falcons will prove a stepping stone for the rebuilding franchise.

Atlanta, who just last year was the best team in the NFC, are struggling to recapture that form that had opposing defense cringing week in and week out. Matt Ryan is looking shaky and hasn’t been able to utilize his weapons as well as he usually does.

“Matty Ice” has thrown seven touchdown passes this season and six interceptions. Those are not numbers typically associated with the former Boston College standout, and he is finding it difficult to develop any sort of rhythm.

All-Pro receiver Roddy White has only two touchdown receptions this year, and he leads his team! These numbers are well short of his expected output, when last year he was blowing up secondaries and finding the end zone with regularity.

Also, 2011 first-rounder Julio Jones is not only playing well below his potential, he came off the field injured last Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. If the Falcons stand a chance to turn their season around, they need to get the speedy wide out healthy and involved with the offense.

Carolina might be hard lucked for a win at the moment, but they are definitely not losing games by large margins. In each of the four games that they lost, they were within seven points of victory in each contest.

Disgruntled and controversial receiver Steve Smith has had a long career in Carolina, and it looked as if he would be on his way out during the offseason. By bringing in Newton and other players to complement the Pro-Bowler, Smith has rejuvenated his passion for the franchise and has exploded so far this season.

Also, Greg Olsen is finally producing after experiencing four frustrating years as a Chicago Bear.

While in Chicago, his athleticism and skills were not employed properly and he found his offensive role diminish each year. After landing in Carolina, Ron Rivera has gotten the most out of the tight end and he already has three touchdown catches for his new team.

This NFC South tie pits two teams who seem to be going in different directions; the Panthers are playing high-quality football while the reigning conference champs appear discombobulated.

Still, many will pick the Falcons to outlast the Panthers and come out on top, simply based off reputation and standing. Look for Carolina’s luck to finally come around though, as they will take the victory from their conference foes in Week Six.