NFL Picks Week 6: Dallas Cowboys and Underdogs Guaranteed To Cover Spread

In Week 6 we find some intriguing matchups and some games you certainly want to stay away from betting. 

There are a few games, however, where the underdogs are on the rise and playing some teams that appear to be in quite a lull.

Here are three underdogs you can feel comfortable betting on their line and why.

Dallas Cowboys (+7) @ New England Patriots

The Dallas Cowboys were one of the most banged up teams in the league, and at just the right time they got their bye week.  They appear healthy coming out of their week off, especially in the secondary which will be needed against the Patriots' calculated aerial attack.

Injured earlier in the season, Orlando Scandrick was the most impressive defensive back in the Dallas training camp.  He is said to draw the unenviable job of covering Wes Welker.  He will certainly be exhausted after the game, but having a talented corner healthy to take the job is a big deal for Dallas.

We have already seen them score effortlessly early on against the New York Jets and Detroit Lions and come away with losses due to late collapses.  They will be welcoming back Miles Austin to face the Patriots No. 32 ranked pass defense and are sure to put up points in this one.  Austin will be the star of the show, he had 24 targets in the two games he played in this year with four touchdowns.

The defense will be the key.  They are a much improved group with Rob Ryan manning the show.  His defense ranks No. 1 against the run and No. 14 against the pass.  They also lead the league in sacks before they had a week off.  Rob Ryan will have a complicated scheme to fluster Tom Brady and the league's top passing offense.  In fact, Rob Ryan was able to beat the Patriots as the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns last year.

I think most would agree he has a much more talented bunch in Dallas.  In a shootout Dallas' offense has a great shot at keeping it within seven points.  If Rob Ryan's defense can confuse Brady enough to hold the league's best offense back, they are in line for a big upset.

Prediction:  Dallas - 31     New England - 30

Minnesota Vikings (+3)  @ Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears have a lot of issues on offense and very uncharacteristically their defense isn't lending a helping hand.  They come in No. 28 against the run and No. 27 against the pass.  If they let Adrian Peterson get rolling they are in for a long game.

The Vikings will be playing some of their best football against a hated rival and are coming off their first win of the season.  They boast the No. 5 rush defense allowing just 76 yards per game, which will be key as Matt Forte makes up over 50 percent of the Bears' total offense. 

Bottling up Forte early will be huge for the Vikings because it will force Jay Cutler to throw out of 3rd-and-longs.  We all know the Bears aren't protecting Cutler very well and the Vikings come in second in the league in sacks. Defensive end Jared Allen and company will be licking their chops and coming in hard after Cutler.

The Bears are on a slide and the Vikings will play up to the divisional competition.  It spells a cover for the 1-4 Minnesota Vikings in Chicago.

Prediction:  Minnesota - 24     Chicago - 23

Carolina Panthers (+4) @ Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons are looking like a shadow of the team that went 13-3 last season.  They aren't running the ball as effectively as in past years and Matt Ryan is not getting adequate time to unleash those stud receivers.  Roddy White will be on his own this week as Harry Douglas fills the No. 2 receiver void with Julio Jones out with an injured hamstring.

The Carolina Panthers may be 1-4, but ask anyone they've played so far if they are an easy out.  They have lost each of their four games by just a score, including a three-point loss to division-leading New Orleans last Sunday.

They seem to have gotten running back DeAngelo Williams involved for the first time this season as well.  After a dreadfully slow start Williams has picked up 82 and 115 yards in his past two games.  This running game will do wonders for the creative Cam Newton.

It needs to be noted that Atlanta is historically great at home with Matt Ryan under center, but without a late comeback over the Michael Vick-less Eagles they could very well be 0-2 at home. 

They also had trouble beating a poor Seattle team, winning by just two points.

I like Carolina getting four points here.  They have winning potential over a struggling Atlanta team, and should play within a field goal at worst.

Prediction:  Atlanta - 30     Carolina - 27