NFL Predictions Week 7: Picks for Every Game

I'll shoot you straight here—there are a lot of ugly and close matchups this week.

But, there is plenty of intrigue in a number of them.

Two games feature spreads over 13 points and two more over seven.

The rest of the matchups have spreads of four points or fewer.

This means you have be sure with your team. Winning on a field goal is something that a number of the games will likely come down to.

It is still only Tuesday, but here are the early week picks for every game.

Bears (-1) at Buccaneers

This game is super strange and the line has already moved from Bucs +1.5 to Bears -1.

Neither team is good against the spread though and that explains much of why it is no bigger than one.

Both teams are coming off big wins against division rivals and they both covered the spread.

The Bears, however, are 0-2 against the spread on the road.

The Play: Bucs +1

Redskins at Panthers (-2.5)

You know your team is in trouble when quarterback change is in the air. As it it always seems to be with Rex Grossman, he's peaked already and the Redskins are considering a change to John Beck.

The Redskins as a team have peaked as well and have seen every game but Week 1 decided by one score or fewer.

The Panthers are 4-2 against the spread and have covered in every home game.

The Play: Panthers -2.5

Chargers (-2.5) at Jets

What exactly is the deal with the New York Jets?

Nobody really knows: Whether it is Mark Sanchez's fault; or the offensive line's fault; or the coaches' fault; either way, the Jets are 2-4 against the spread and those two wins came against the Jaguars and Dolphins.

They have hardly been a convincing team in that respect.

The Chargers, meanwhile, are coming off a bye and have had two weeks to prepare.

They certainly haven't been great either, but they'll force the Jets to respect their run game and then Rivers will go after their safeties.

The Play: Chargers -2.5

Seahawks at Browns (-3)

The Seahawks are coming off a bye week following a huge surprise victory against the New York Giants.

But now they have to travel back east and they are historically bad against the spread off a bye week (4-16 in last 20).

The Browns aren't much of a safe play either, but we can't expect the Seahawks to maintain that momentum they had entering the bye week (three straight covers).

The Play: Browns -3

Texans at Titans (-3)

This is another super-close matchup.

The Texans are battling injury problems and the Titans are battling consistency problems.

Both teams are coming off losing efforts both straight up and against the spread. Houston has too much talent to let the ship completely sink though.

Tennessee got out well, but they're not a team I really feel can maintain throughout the season.

This game will come down to who runs the football better.

The Play: Texans +3

Broncos at Dolphins (-2)

The Tim Tebow era starts as an underdog team on the road.

Fortunately for Broncos fans, it isn't a place Tebow is unfamiliar with.

The young QB returns to Florida to take on the winless Dolphins.

They are notoriously bad at home and Denver's lone cover came on the road.

The Play: Broncos +2

Falcons at Lions (-3.5)

This is fairly simple.

The Atlanta Falcons cannot cover spreads on the road and this will be no different.

Matt Ryan and the offense are not the same force as last year, and the defense is much worse off than they were a year ago too.

The Lions are coming off their first loss of the season (straight up and against the spread) and they'll be out to score points in bunches.

The Play: Lions -3.5 

Chiefs at Raiders (-4)

The Oakland Raiders have made plenty of headlines of late since the passing of late, great Al Davis.

They now have a new starting linebacker (Aaron Curry, former No. 4 overall pick) and a new starting quarterback in Carson Palmer (former No. 1 overall pick).

This team believes it can win and can win now.

But, they're a team in flux this week and that scares me. As bad as Kansas City can be, they've covered the spread in the last three games including two on the road.

The Play: Chiefs +4

Steelers (-3.5) at Cardinals

Sick of waiting around for the Steelers to play consistently? 

Take a number and get in line.

They have yet to cover a spread on the road and they don't look much like the team that represented the AFC in the Super Bowl last year.

That said, they're still 3.5 points better than a struggling Cardinals team.

Buck the trends and ride on pure football skill alone.

The Play: Steelers -3.5

Rams at Cowboys (-13)

This is a really tough call.

The Cowboys haven't been two touchdowns better than anyone all season long.

The Rams, however, have yet to cover a spread and lost by double digits each time they went on the road.

Roll with the Cowboys as they chuck the football all over this defense.

The Play: Cowboys -13

Packers (-8.5) at Vikings

I've given up trying to understand the Minnesota Vikings.

Fortunately for me, Christian Ponder is going to start at quarterback for the first time in his career. Now I can make a bit more sense out of what they're going to do: lose.

The Vikings rookie signal-caller is going to be good, but it is extremely difficult to start a career against the defending Super Bowl champions.

The Play: Packers -8.5

Colts at Saints (-14)

Are the Saints 14 points better than the Indianapolis Colts?

Absolutely.

Have the Colts covered the only two double-digit spreads against them this year?

Correct.

But this is still the Saints and they're 2-0 at home straight up and against the spread.

The Play: Saints -14

Ravens (-7.5) at Jaguars

This line has already moved 1.5 points since it opened at 9.

The reasoning?

Likely that Jacksonville covered against Pittsburgh on the road this week.

For people looking to bet the Ravens, this is a good thing.

Baltimore has won by at least 15 in all four wins this year.

The Play: Ravens -7.5