NFL Predictions - Week 6

Ringer's Record
Last Week ATS: 8-5
Last Week SU: 7-6

Season ATS: 42-34-1 (55%)
Season SU: 54-23 (70%)

Carolina (+4.5) at Atlanta
Boy am I glad that I picked up Cam Newton on my fantasy team. I had my doubts about Cam-Cam, but he has been a stud so far. Of course it has only translated to a 1-4 start for the Panthers, but this team is clearly getting better. Thanks to Newton and Steve Smith among others, Carolina has been able to hang with the big boys like Green Bay and New Orleans. I see much of the same this week. Atlanta needs a win badly. They are 2-3 and blew a 14-point lead to the Pack this week. I will take Atlanta in a close one.

Prediction - Atlanta 24 Carolina 20

Indianapolis (+7.5) at Cincinnati
Am I reading this spread right? If you would have told me in August that the Colts would be 0-5, the Bengals would be 3-2, and Cincy would be laying 7.5 in this matchup I would have thought you were completely insane. Well, I would have been wrong. Indy has been hapless without Peyton Manning. And Cincy's Andy Dalton has been a pleasant surprise early in his rookie year. I see no reason not to take the Bengals now.

Prediction - Cincinnati 24 Indianapolis 14

San Francisco (+5.5) at Detroit
To stick with the theme of surprises in this 2011 NFL season - who would have thought that San Francisco at Detroit would be the Game of the Week? The answer is nobody. But it is. The 49ers are the new runaway favorites to win the NFC West and the Lions are one of only two undefeated teams left in the NFL. I'm not sure that San Francisco can overcome a trip to the Eastern time zone accompanied by a newly revived Ford Field crowd. Another statement I can't believe I'm making - Detroit moves to 6-0.

Prediction - Detroit 30 San Francisco 23

St. Louis (+14.5) at Green Bay
In the most lopsided spread of the week, the 0-4 Rams travel to Green Bay to take on the 5-0 Packers. St. Louis had a bye week to prepare for the defending champs. It won't matter. Aaron Rodgers and his squad are clicking on all cylinders. The defense even came up big with a 2nd Half shutout at Atlanta last week. Green Bay keeps up with Detroit's pace and improves to 6-0 easily.

Prediction - Green Bay 31 St. Louis 10

Buffalo (+3.5) at NY Giants
Are the Bills for real? I've been hesitant to jump on the bandwagon, but I'm getting closer and closer every week. They head across the state to battle the Giants this week. The Giants had a perfect opportunity to seize control in the NFC East last week, but inexplicably lost at home to the Seahawks. Can they bounce back? I'm not sure. As Chris Berman says "nobody circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills".

Prediction - Buffalo 21 NY Giants 20

Jacksonville (+12.5) at Pittsburgh
Just when everyone is ready to bury the Steelers, they come out and bury the a good Tennessee team. Pittsburgh dominated both sides of the ball against the Titans and moved to 3-2 on the season despite playing mistake-prone football so far. This week they welcome the lowly Jags into Heinz Field. Their rookie QB, Blaine Gabbert, won;t stand a chance. Pittsburgh gets another easy win.

Prediction - Pittsburgh 27 Jacksonville 14

Philadelphia (-1.5) at Washington
This is another that has me thrown for a loop. Before the season began I picked Philly to go 12-4 and Washington to go 3-13. Heading into Week 6 the Eagles have already lost 4 and the Redskins have already won 3. I bought into the "Dream Team" hype, but as I watched them versus Buffalo last week I finally came to the realization that this is not a good football team. And Maybe Washington is.

Prediction - Washington 24 Philadelphia 21

Houston (+7.5) at Baltimore
A couple weeks ago I was very excited about this matchup. Now the Texans have been bitten by the injury bug and it will surely have an impact. Houston's best offensive (Andre Johnson) and defensive (Mario Williams) players will sit this one out. That clearly swings the advantage in the favor of Baltimore. This Ravens D has been dominant and without Johnson to worry about that will continue.

Prediction - Baltimore 27 Houston 17

Cleveland (+5.5) at Oakland
The Raiders won an emotional game in Houston last week, just a day after the passing of their long-time owner Al Davis. Now they return home, where the emotions will surely be flying high again. Cleveland comes in with a 2-2 record, but has not been very impressive. The former Arkansas Razorback that runs the ball better will carry his team to victory. Will that be Darren McFadden or Peyton Hillis. I suspect it will be McFadden.

Prediction - Oakland 27 Cleveland 17

Dallas (+7.5) at New England
Which Tony Romo are we going to get this week? It better be the Pro-Bowl caliber one if Dallas wants to win this game. Even if Romo plays well, can Rob Ryan's defense stop this juggernaut offense? He did last year when he was the D-Coordinator in Cleveland. Nobody makes adjustments as well as Brady and Belechick though. And Brady doesn't lose at home. New England will let Dallas hang around by win it in the end.

Prediction - New England 35 Dallas 28

New Orleans (-4.5) at Tampa Bay
How is it that a team that just won the Super Bowl 2 seasons ago, and has started the season 4-1, is flying under the radar? That is the case of the New Orleans Saints. Their lone loss was on opening night to Green Bay. They have been clicking ever since. They roll into Tampa to take on a Buc team that was embarrassed in San Francisco last week. The Saints are not the team you won;t to see coming off of a loss like that.

Prediction - New Orleans 28 Tampa Bay 23

Minnesota (+3.5) at Chicago
These two teams have been left in the dust by their NFC North rivals. They can both still salvage the season though. Chicago must protect Jay Cutler much better if they plan on going anywhere. Minnesota must remember that they have the world's best RB in their backfield for a complete 4 quarters. The Bears will also need to get their ground game going to help Cutler's case. I think they will get just enough from Matt Forte.

Predition - Chicago 22 Minnesota 17

Miami (+7.5) at NY Jets
Neither of these teams are where they want to be at this point in the season. Miami is winless and one of the front-runners to get Andrew Luck's services. The Jets are in the midst of a 3-game losing streak in which they've given up 30+ points in each. Something has to give in this rivalry game. I like the Jets defense to show up and hold the Dolphins down to break their skid.

Prediction - NY Jets 23 Miami 13