After a 4-2 week, I am 11-10-1 on the season.
Baltimore Ravens (4-3) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4)
Line: Tampa Bay -1.5 (previously Baltimore -1.5)
No question Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles is one hell of a defensive coordinator, but he didn’t have an awful lot of success as head man of the Jets (24-40). Let’s not forget that while Tom Brady deserves a lot of credit for this positive run in Tampa, Bruce Arians was also a big-time difference-maker as the head coach. The Bucs have only played one complete game all season — their season opener in Dallas, where they dominated in all phases of the game. A short week usually helps the home team, but sometimes the team in disarray shows more disarray on the short work week. I’ll take the Ravens.
Prediction: BALTIMORE 23, Tampa Bay 17
Denver Broncos (2-5) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5) in London
Line: Jacksonville -2.5
For all the good play by the Jags, new head coach Doug Pederson hasn’t totally changed culture. However, he is getting some good play out of quarterback Trevor Lawrence to the tune of 157 points through seven games. Denver may get Russell Wilson back, but it doesn’t change the fact he still has a partially torn hamstring and the Broncos have scored just 100 points in seven games. Both teams are 2-5 and on four-game losing streaks. This will mark the ninth time the Jags have played in London. They are 4-4.
Prediction: JACKSONVILLE 25, Denver 16
Las Vegas Raiders (2-4) at New Orleans Saints (2-5)
Line: Las Vegas -1.5
New Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels has to be happy with the consistency of his team. His Raiders squad has played four good games in a row. The Saints, for their part, are just 1-3 at home this season. The Raiders are 0-3 on the road. Neither team has a real strong defense, but the Raiders aren’t as bad as the Saints on that side of the ball. I am looking at two clubs that make mistakes. I’ll take the one that plays the better defense. I also think there is a coaching edge on the Raiders’ side in the Josh McDaniels-Dennis Allen battle.
Prediction: LAS VEGAS 34, New Orleans 29
Arizona Cardinals (3-4) at Minnesota Vikings (5-1)
Line: Minnesota -3.5
New Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell is having a positive impact on his team. The Vikings seem like a much more consistent club, and they compete on both sides of the ball. Meanwhile, the Cardinals just won a high-scoring affair against the Saints at home. The Vikings are 3-0 at home and are riding a four-game winning streak overall. The Vikings are allowing 19.7 points per game, and the Cardinals are allowing 25.1 per game. I’ve got to like the home team on a winning streak.
Prediction: MINNESOTA 30, Arizona 23
San Francisco 49ers (3-4) at Los Angeles Rams (3-3)
Line: San Francisco -1.5
Usually if one team has won seven of the last eight games against a particular opponent, I am sticking with the team that has won the seven or I am shying away from the game if the spread is too high. Well, here you have the 49ers at just 3-4 on the season — and yes, they beat the Rams 24-9 earlier this month, but I am feeling different about this one coming up on Sunday. The 49ers just got shellacked by the Chiefs, and I am not sure they are coming into this one on a high. Meanwhile, the Rams beat the Bucs two weeks ago and then had their bye. Rams head coach Sean McVay needs his club to step up. I think the Rams are going to play a big-time game this week against a team that is floundering a bit.
Prediction: LOS ANGELES 27, San Francisco 22
New York Giants (6-1) at Seattle Seahawks (4-3)
Line: Seattle -3.5
In case you hadn’t noticed, this is a classic battle in which one team needs the win more than the other. In this case, it’s the surprising home team at 4-3 and in first place in the NFC West. The Seahawks have won three of their past four, and the Giants are on a four-game winning streak. No question Brian Daboll has lifted the Giants back to relevance. However, he and his team are swimming in some deep water coming into a very hostile and loud environment. Daboll will be matching wits with Pete Carroll, who always has his teams ready for big games. I think the Seahawks will send the Giants back home licking some wounds.
Prediction: SEATTLE 27, New York 17
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