Six teams are on a bye this week in the NFL. Here is this week’s schedule and my picks using the spread and the over/under.

9:30 ET Minnesota -9.5 Cleveland(At London) 38: The Vikings have an opportunity to pad their lead in the NFC with a win today. They will win this game but the hapless Browns will put up a fight. Take the Brownies. 

11:00 ET At New Orleans -9 Chicago 47.5: The Saints defense is playing at another level for the past month. Four weeks ago, I would have predicted a shootout. Now, I am calling for a Saints blowout. Put your money on Drew Brees and company. They will cover with ease.  

 1:00 ET Atlanta -5 At NY Jets 45.5: The Falcons are a mess right now and the feisty Jets are the last team they want to see.  A loss to the Jets would be a low blow to a team that is mentally fragile right now. I think Atlanta will bounce back but it won’t be easy. I think Atlanta wins by a touchdown so I am putting my money on them.

1:00 ET At Tampa Bay -2 Carolina 46: The Panthers have come unhinged in recent weeks. The Bucs haven’t been any better but they are at home and the number is reasonable. Take the Bucs as a home favorite. 

1:00 ET At Philadelphia -13 San Francisco 46.5: The Eagles are good but two touchdown favorites? It is risky a play but I am going to put my money on them anyways. The Niners stink defensively so there is now way Philly doesn’t score four touchdowns or win by two scores plus. 
1:00 ET At Buffalo -2.5 Oakland 45.5: The Bills have been tough at home this season. That is why I am putting my money on them. The Raiders have struggled in recent years in 1:00 east coast games. Taking Buffalo is a sound play. 

1:00 ET At Cincinnati -10.5 Indianapolis 41.5: The Colts are abysmal defensively so you have to figure the Bengals are an easy pick here right? Wrong! The Colts are not a very good but the Bengals aren’t exactly the 93 Cowboys. Cincinnati will win but it will only be by one score. Play the Bengals as a road dog. 

1:00 ET At New England -7 LA Chargers 48.5: The Patriots will be without Dont’a Hightower, Malcolm Brown and Stephon Gilmore in this one. Ouch! That is not good when you are facing Phil Rivers and the Chargers high octane passing game. I think New England will win this game but I am taking the Chargers as a road dog. They will go toe to toe with the Patriots. 

4:05 ET At Seattle -5.5 Houston 45.5: The Texans have to travel to the Pacific Northwest to play the surging Seahawks and they are dealing with internal strife thanks to owner Bob McNair’s dumb comments. Take Seattle. They are playing better and they are at home. 

4:25 ET Dallas -2 At Washington 49: As long as Zeke is on the field, the Cowboys can play with anyone. Zeke is playing this week so I am confidently putting my money on the Boys. The Redskins are Jekyll and Hyde at home. 

8:30 ET Pittsburgh -3 At Detroit 45.5: Pittsburgh is playing better but I am not quite ready to jump back on the wagon. This will be a tough game. I am rolling the dice and taking the Lions as a home favorite in this one. I think they will win tonight. 

8:30 ET At Kansas City -7 Denver 43: The Broncos are a dumpster fire right now and travelling to the league’s toughest venue isn’t going to help matters. Put your money on the Chiefs at home. Its a no brainer.