HNGN Returns for Week 7 and the competition is heating up. Cal beat us again last week, but only by one. The tie in the Bengals/Panthers game shook things up a bit, but we enter the third week of our selections with Cal (26-3-1) in the lead followed by Brandon and I (21-8-1) and then Jordan (20-9-1).
The New York Jets will visit the New England Patriots to start Week 7 off on Thursday Night Football, and then Sunday will feature the top matchups of the week between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys at 4:25 followed by the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football. Check out our Week 7 picks below. And for all you gamblers out there, each writer also chose a favorite and an underdog who they think will cover their spread this week.
Jets at Patriots, Thursday @ 8:25 p.m.
These two teams are decimated with injuries, but the Patriots have seemingly returned to form after scoring 80 points in the past two weeks in wins over the Bengals and Bills. The Jets have looked awful, despite playing the Broncos fairly tough on Sunday. Based on Tom Brady's recent passing success, he should have a field day with the Jets' secondary.
Tom: Patriots 31, Jets 17
Jordan: Patriots 27, Jets 10 (Patriots to cover -9.5 spread)
Brandon: Patriots 30, Jets 16
Cal: Patriots 30, Jets 10
Falcons at Ravens, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
The Falcons are on a three-game losing streak during which they've surrendered an average of 32.7 points per game. It looks like Joe Flacco showed up just in time to face a struggling Atlanta defense after his five-touchdown effort against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. The Ravens should take this one at home.
Tom: Ravens 34, Falcons 27
Jordan: Ravens 24, Falcons 14
Brandon: Ravens 27, Falcons 24 (Falcons will cover +7.5 spread)
Cal: Ravens 20, Falcons 10
Titans at Redskins, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
It's probably harder to choose matchups between really bad teams as opposed to really good teams. Both Tennessee and Washington have a combined three wins, with two coming against Jacksonville and the other against Kansas City. It's been a rough three weeks for Washington, who were dominated on back-to-back primetime performances and then traveled all the way out to Arizona to lose their fourth straight. Kirk Cousins is in dark place and it might remain that way.
Tom: Titans 19, Redskins 17
Jordan: Redskins 17, Titans 14 (Titans will cover +5.5 spread)
Brandon: Redskins 24, Titans 18
Cal: Redskins 20, Titans 3
Seahawks at Rams, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
Doug Baldwin's comments should have Seattle fired up after they were dominated on both sides of the ball at home this past Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. The Rams are coming off of a 31-17 loss on Monday Night Football against the 49ers, and it looks like they'll fall to 1-5.
Tom: Seahawks 33, Rams 16
Jordan: Seahawks 31, Rams 14
Brandon: Seahawks 34, Rams 24
Cal: Seahawks 42, Rams 10
Browns at Jaguars, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
Brian Hoyer has helped the Browns in a few late-game situations this season. Cleveland is now entering a three-game stretch where they'll face the Jaguars, Raiders and Buccaneers. I think they'll be on a five-game win streak by the time they're done with the Bucs.
Tom: Browns 27, Jaguars 13 (Browns will cover -5.5 spread)
Jordan: Browns 14, Jaguars 7
Brandon: Browns 29, Jaguars 10
Cal: Browns 27, Jaguars 3
Bengals at Colts, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
Here's a good matchup for Week 7. After starting 3-0, the Bengals have come back down to Earth, losing to the Patriots in Week 5 by the score of 43-17 and then tying the Carolina Panthers 37-37 on Sunday after kicker Mike Nugent missed a 36-yard field goal late in overtime that would have won it. The Colts are on a four-game win streak and have had 10 days of rest, and I think they'll win in a shootout.
Tom: Colts 35, Bengals 31
Jordan: Colts 21, Bengals 17
Brandon: Colts 28, Bengals 27
Cal: Colts 31, Bengals 30
Vikings at Bills, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
Two very bizarre NFL teams will square off in Buffalo on Sunday, and I honestly couldn't give you a word of insight regarding this matchup. It all depends who shows up, because that's been the story with these two teams. In their losses, the Vikings have averaged 7.3 points, but scored 75 points in their two wins. The Bills took down the Bears in Week 1 and then the Lions in Week 5, but looked awful in losses to the Chargers, Texans and Patriots. I flipped a coin. Buffalo it is.
Tom: Bills 23, Vikings 20
Jordan: Bills 14, Vikings 7
Brandon: Bills 20, Vikings 17 (Vikings will cover 3.5 spread)
Cal: Bills 17, Vikings 14
Dolphins at Bears, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
Brandon Marshall will face his former team on Sunday while Dolphins coach Joe Philbin visits a familiar foe he saw many times during his tenure with the Green Bay Packers. These teams have been streaky as well this season, and after that last-second loss to the Packers on Sunday, I think the Dolphins get a win in Chicago and improve to 3-3.
Tom: Dolphins 24, Bears 17
Jordan: Bears 24, Dolphins 13
Brandon: Bears 31, Dolphins 24
Cal: Bears 34, Dolphins 27 (Bears will cover -3 spread)
Saints at Lions, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
Two dome teams will likely be missing their best player on Sunday. I think the Lions offense is better without Calvin Johnson than the Saints are without Jimmy Graham, but Detroit has looked stagnant ever since scoring 35 on the Giants in Week 1. I think the Saints will take this one coming out of their bye week.
Tom: Saints 24, Lions 20
Jordan: Saints 28, Lions 14
Brandon: Lions 27, Saints 21
Cal: Lions 37, Saints 14
Panthers at Packers, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
Carolina's defense is nowhere to be found and Aaron Rodgers is now lighting it up after a slow start. The Panthers did score 37 points against a staunch Cincinnati defense, but the Packers have held their opponents to 17.5 points in their past four games, which is good enough for the way the offense is playing. I think Rodgers will out-duel Cam Newton.
Tom: Packers 31, Panthers 23
Jordan: Packers 28, Panthers 20
Brandon: Packers 27, Panthers 21
Cal: Packers 21, Panthers 20
Chiefs at Chargers, Sunday @ 4:05 p.m.
The Chiefs are coming off of a bye and the Chargers are coming off of a scare against Oakland. The Chargers have been scoring, but the Kansas City defense has played tough against their last four opponents. Andy Reid should have a sufficient game plan following their bye week.
Tom: Chiefs 20, Chargers 17 (Kansas City covers +4 spread)
Jordan: Chargers 24, Chiefs 17
Brandon: Chargers 26, Chiefs 22
Cal: Chargers 28, Chiefs 14
Cardinals at Raiders, Sunday @ 4:25 p.m.
The Cardinals are 4-1 and have beaten the Giants and 49ers with Drew Stanton as their quarterback. Carson Palmer is now back from his shoulder injury, so I don't think it will be a big test for Arizona when they head to Oakland to face the 0-5 Raiders.
Tom: Cardinals 27, Raiders 17
Jordan: Cardinals 20, Raiders 17
Brandon: Cardinals 30, Raiders 17
Cal: Cardinals 17, Raiders 3
Giants at Cowboys, Sunday @ 4:25 p.m.
New York started 4-0 at the Cowboys' new stadium until they finally lost in Dallas last year. But the Giants just lost Victor Cruz for the season and will now be without cornerback Trumaine McBride for the rest of the way, which hurts their depth at arguably the most important position. Meanwhile, Dallas' offense is completely healthy and is one of the best all-around in the NFL. The only chance the Giants have in this one is to eat the clock with long drives, but without Rashad Jennings and Victor Cruz, they'll be facing a Dallas defense that shut down Seattle on the road last week. Sadly, the Cowboys will improve to 6-1.
Tom: Cowboys 27, Giants 24
Jordan: Cowboys 24, Giants 13
Brandon: Cowboys 28, Giants 22
Cal: Cowboys 33, Giants 30 (Giants will cover +7 spread)
49ers at Broncos, Sunday @ 8:30 p.m.
This should be the best matchup of the week. The 49ers have settled down after shooting themselves in the foot in Weeks 2 and 3, while the Broncos are quietly doing their thing. If the Broncos were on the road, I would have probably chosen San Francisco, but the 49ers are traveling to Denver and Patrick Willis might not be playing. The home crowd in Denver wants those three TD passes from Manning so he can pass Brett Favre and take the all-time record.
Tom: Broncos 27, 49ers 20
Jordan: Broncos 28, 49ers 17
Brandon: Broncos 29, 49ers 24
Cal: Broncos 34, 49ers 31
Texans at Steelers, Monday @ 8:30 p.m.
The Steelers have shown that not only are they bad, but they're also undisciplined. The Texans aren't anything special either, but Bill O'Brien has them playing fundamental football. Pittsburgh is allowing 4.4 yards per rush this season, and after a 31-10 loss to Cleveland, they might be searching for big-picture answers rather than focusing on their matchups ahead. If Houston can run the ball with Foster like they've been doing, this one's a no-brainer.
Tom: Texans 20, Steelers 10
Jordan: Steelers 21, Texans 14
Brandon: Steelers 22, Texans 18
Cal: Texans 27, Steelers 20
That's it for Week 7. Feel free to comment below and challenge any of our selections, and let us know what you think about our picks with the spreads.
