NFL - Week 7 Predictions

Ringer's Record
Last Week ATS: 6-7
Last Week SU: 9-4

Season ATS: 48-41-1 (54%)
Season SU: 63-27 (70%)

Washington (+2.5) at Carolina
The John Beck era is beginning in Washington, despite the Redskins being in the thick of things in the NFC East with a 3-2 record. On the other side of the field, Carolina has been very pleased with their QB play eventhough they only have a 1-5 mark. The Panthers have made a habit of losing heartbreakers. I can see that happening again, but until John Beck can prove he can win I'll go with Carolina.

Prediction - Carolina 20 Washington 14

Seattle (+3.5) at Cleveland
The Seahawks will make the dreaded trip to the Eastern time zone for a 1 pm kickoff. They will be doing so with Charlie Whitehurst behind center. The Browns have been a mess offensively over the last two weeks. The team that can get on track offensively will win this game. Colt McCoy will be the one to find a groove and outduel Whitehurst.

Prediction - Cleveland 20 Seattle 14

Atlanta (+3.5) at Detroit
Detroit lost their first game of the season last week to San Francisco. Of course many of the headlines from that game went to Head Coach Jim Schwartz and his encounter with 49ers head man Jim Harbaugh. What will Schwartz do when he shakes Mike Smith's hand? I guess it depends on the outcome of the game. The Falcons need this game more than the Lions do. Give me the Falcons to hand Detroit their second straight loss.

Prediction - Atlanta 27 Detroit 22

Denver (+2.5) at Miami
All eyes will be on Tim Tebow as the Broncos head to South Florida to take on the Dolphins. Tebow and his former Florida teammates will be honored for their 2008 National Championship. Which makes Denver the pseudo home team. Tebow may not be the prototypical NFL QB, but the kid knows how to win. He will be able to prove that once again against a bad Miami squad.

Prediction - Denver 20 Miami 17

San Diego (-2.5) at NY Jets
The Chargers head to the East Coast looking for a 5-1 start to the season. San Diego comes off their bye week with searching of a 4th straight victory. We could have the second coming of Schwartz vs. Harbaugh this week in Turner vs. Ryan. Rex Ryan said that he would have a Super Bowl ring by now had he gotten the head job in San Diego back in 2007. Norv Turner fired back by saying that Ryan hasn't lived up to his Super Bowl promises in New York yet. Turner's squad gets one step closer to a ring this week.

Prediction - San Diego 26 NY Jets 20

Chicago (+1.5) vs. Tampa Bay in London
This will be the second time in 3 years that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers get the pleasure of traveling across the Atlantic Ocean to London. This time they will face off with the Chicago Bears. Tampa Bay comes in as the top team in the NFC South at 4-2. Chicago got some life back last week with a 39-10 drubbing of Minnesota. This is a pivotal game for each. I think Mike Martz and Jay Cutler are starting to click like they did last year and see the Bears staying on track.

Prediction - Chicago 24 Tampa Bay 21

Houston (+3.5) at Tennessee
This is a crucial game in the AFC South race. Jacksonville and Indianapolis look left for dead. That means that one of these two teams will in all likelihood be headed to the playoffs when the season is all over with. The winner of Sunday's matchup will be standing in 1st place. Houston has struggled in recent weeks and will continue to be without the services of Andre Johnson. That coupled with being on the road means that the Titans will win a close one and remain in 1st.

Prediction - Tennessee 24 Houston 21

Pittsburgh (-3.5) at Arizona
These two teams will meet in Arizona for the first time since Super Bowl XLIII. Two key contributors will be missing from this game. Santonio Holmes has since moved on to New York and Kurt Warner has since retired. Don't think that these teams don't know each other well still. Remember that most Arizona's coaching staff used to be in Pittsburgh. Neither of these teams have played the type of football they've wanted to this year. I think the Cards will keep it close and lose in the end.

Prediction - Pittsburgh 27 Arizona 24

Kansas City (+3.5) at Oakland
The Oakland Raiders made a big splash this week by acquiring Carson Palmer from the Bengals for 2 high draft picks over the next two years. Many wonder if the Raiders overpaid for Palmer's services. They believe they can be a legitimate playoff contenders this year, and the move was necessary once Jason Campbell went down with a broken collarbone. They get an injury-riddled Cheifs team at home this week. Palmer may not play, but it won't matter. Darren McFadden will run the Raiders to victory.

Prediction - Oakland 28 Kansas City 19

St. Louis (+9.5) at Dallas
What are the odds of this? As these two cities focus on a World Series matchup with each other, their football squads also face off. The Rams could possibly be without Sam Bradford's services - which would make it very unlikely that they get their first win of the year. Dallas has been up and down all season. If they want to be a playoff team this is a must win. The Cowboys will get it done.

Prediction - Dallas 31 St. Louis 13

Green Bay (+8.5) at Minnesota
The Packers are now the only undefeated team remaining in the NFL. The Brett Favre drama is over now, so their rivalry with the Vikings can be more about the play on the field. Minnesota will give rookie QB Christian Ponder his first career start against the Super Bowl champs. Green Bay's pass defense ranks near the league's bottom, but don;t expect Ponder to expose them. Green Bay wins this going away.

Prediction - Green Bay 28 Minnesota 14

Indianapolis (+14.5) at New Orleans
This will be the second of 2 recent Super Bowl rematches in Week 7. Two short years ago, the Saints won their first Super Bowl title by beating the Colts. This Saints team looks very similar to that one. This Colts team could not be more opposite. For starters, Curtis Painter will lead this team into the Superdome and not Peyton Manning. The Colts could be the NFL's worst team, but they do have fight. That fight will allow them to cover the spread but ultimately drop to 0-7.

Prediction - New Orleans 34 Indianapolis 21

Baltimore (-7.5) at Jacksonville
Baltimore's defense has not showed any signs of age catching up to them. They have been the most dominant D in the NFL this year, and get to take on a rookie QB on Monday night. The Ravens travel to Jacksonville to face Blaine Gabbert and the Jags. Jacksonville has lost 5 straight and it does not look good for them to end that streak against this Ravens D. Look for them continue being dominant on Monday.

Prediction - Baltimore 24 Jacksonville 14