We are running hot through six weeks (at a 63% clip). The Wife Hates Sports is, that is. It’s been a good start, but not something that I like to talk about. That leads to bad luck, garbage decisions, and more. Or perhaps that’s just in my head. I feel pretty locked in to the scenarios, how teams are performing, and which teams are solid offensively and defensively. The last few weeks, I have also been a bit boring with the introductions, and I apologize to those that are regular readers that perhaps like the quirky attempts at non-pick related entertainment. We are also buried in Fall baseball. Rec ball. Challenge ball. Tryouts. So let’s just move forward and shift to our Week 7 NFL Top Picks and CFB Bets.

Pick Your Knows

Confident with your own picks? Think you know who will cover? Go ahead, “pick your knows”.

This is a season long contest with potential prizes going out to our winners, so if you want to join in on the fun, drop a comment here at The Wife Hates Sports… or over at the land of the SportsChump.  We take our top five games of the week against the spread. If you beat us and go undefeated, that leads to fun prizes and heaps of praise on our websites.

Here are our TOP FIVE Best Bets for the week, including my Week 5 NFL Top Picks and College Football Best Bets. The list is ranked in order of confidence, from 50 “dollars” down to $10.

DraftKings Sportsbook: Current NFL and College Football Lines

Week 7 NFL Top Picks and CFB Bets – The 63 Edition

KP’s Picks: The Wife Hates Sports

$50: Carolina Panthers at Washington Commanders (-8.5)

Last year, the games that seemed like “no brainers” to me always bombed in the $50 slot. This game qualifies, so here’s hoping that trend doesn’t come back. Carolina is dead last in total defense. Washington is first in total offense. Jayden Daniels is versatile, accurate, and explosive. Oh, and game aside, I still really hate the name “Commanders”. Washington covers at home.

$40: Auburn Tigers at Missouri Tigers (-4)

No matter what, the Tigers will cover. So I have that going for me… or I don’t. Missouri has had favorable lines in the last few weeks since being blown out by Texas A&M, so let’s take advantage of that again. These SEC games can sometimes surprise. But statistically, Missouri ranks 8th in pass defense, allowing just 154.5 yards per game. That same defense has allowed just five TD’s through the air in six games. Payton Thorne is going to have a tough day, especially on the road. Missouri covers at home.

$30: Central Florida Knights at Iowa State Cyclones (-13.5)

Don’t look now, but the Cyclones are ranked in the top ten. Over the last four games, Iowa State has outscored opponents 143-44. The Cyclones have a top five pass defense in College Football. That group allows 145.7 yards per game through the air. More impressively, they have 10 INT’s compared to just 5 TD’s allowed. That will be a challenge for UCF’s 88th ranked pass offense that has just 7 TD’s in five games. If the Cyclones get a lead early, there will be no looking back. Cyclones cover at home.

$20: Baltimore Ravens (-3.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

As I’ve said in the past, which version of Baker Mayfield will show up today? More so, how will the Tampa Bay defense handle the rushing attack of the Ravens? The Bucs rank 23rd in the NFL, allowing 4.7 yards per carry on the ground. Only five teams have allowed more total yards this season. Baltimore handled the Washington offense last week enough to bring home a win. They’ll add to that momentum on the road in Tampa Bay. Baltimore is too balanced for the Bucs. Ravens cover on the road.

$10: Georgia Bulldogs (+5) at Texas Longhorns

Sometimes, you have to bite and take a chance on the game of the week. There is so much at stake, we all know that. That goes double for Georgia, a team that already has one loss. The Bulldogs are more battle tested at this point in the season. Texas has faced Michigan and Oklahoma… two teams having down years. It’ll be interesting to see how Georgia can handle the Texas offense, which ranks 7th in College Football. Again, this is more assuming Kirby Smart has a plan, and this team has learned a lot since losing to Alabama. Expect a close game and a fun watch. Give me Georgia and the points.

On the Outside Looking In (Other Games I Considered):

  • Virginia Cavaliers at Clemson Tigers (-20.5)
  • Kent State Golden Flashes at Bowling Green Falcons (-20.5)
  • Kentucky Wildcats (-1.5) at Florida Gators

 

Week 7 NFL Top Picks and More: SportsChump

$50 on Miami Hurricanes (-4) at Louisville Cardinals

It pains me to say this, but the Miami Hurricanes are back to being the best college football team in Florida.  They’re ranked 6th, are 6-0, and are putting up insane numbers on the scoreboard.  They lead the nation in both points per game and yards per game.  While their strength of schedule hasn’t exactly been the nation’s hardest, they haven’t scored less than 38 in any game they’ve played this season.  They’ve eked out their last two games by a combined five points and this week head to Louisville. 

I’m just not sure the Cardinals will be able to hang with the Hurricanes all game.  This line is only four points, I’m guessing because the ‘Canes have played their last games closely.  QB Cam Ward leads the league in touchdown passes and is in second in passing yards.  Louisville is middle of the road in defending the pass.  I see no reason why Miami shouldn’t continue to put up points at will on the road.  Miami minus four.

$40 on Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Rams (-4 ½)

Bet against dysfunction.  I looked at my fantasy projections to see whether I should finally start Cooper Kupp.  The wide receiver phenom is potentially scheduled to return this week.  He hasn’t played since Week Two.  ESPN’s projections warned me against it, suggesting the Raiders, who the Rams play this week, are 9th against the pass.  I found this hard to believe.  Then I looked at how the Raiders have fared their last two games.  They allowed 32 to the Steelers and 34 to the Broncos.  Neither of those two teams are capable of scoring. 

In fact, 32 and 34 are the most the Steelers and Broncos have scored all season.  I’m not a huge believer in the Rams but I am a huge disbeliever in the Raiders.  They return to the city they once called home yet not even all the old school Raiders fans in Los Angeles, nor word of Tom Brady’s future minority ownership, can save this team any time soon.  The line opened at 4 ½ then quickly jumped to 6 ½ upon word that the Raiders fire-saled Davante Adams.  He wouldn’t have made a difference.  Rams cover the 4 ½.

$30 on Kansas City Chiefs at San Francisco 49ers (-1)

You know that bully that always picks on you and that has always got the better of you.  You cower down until, one day, you stand up to that bully and knock his block off.  There’s no feeling quite as rewarding.  The Kansas City Chiefs have gotten the better of the San Francisco 49ers for longer than they’d care to remember.  What if I were to tell you that Patrick Mahomes has never lost to San Francisco, a perfect 4-0?  They must prove to themselves that KC is a team they can beat.  Finally, they will.  They’re too good for Mahomes to own them outright.  I expect San Fran to finally get the Mahomes monkey off their back and cover the 1 ½ at home.

$20 on Seattle Seahawks at Atlanta Falcons (-2 ½)

The Falcons are sneaky good this season.  Remember way back in Week One when they only scored ten points against the Steelers, and we all wondered whether the Kirk Cousins move was a bust?  Atlanta has won four of their last five since then, their only loss coming to the Chiefs.  They’ve stolen games from Philadelphia, New Orleans and Tampa.  Steal one game, I call it a fluke.  Steal two, I call it lucky.  Win all three of those games by a combined total of nine points and you’re showing me you know how to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. 

This weekend, they host the Seahawks who are losers of their last three after starting 3-0.  These teams are going in completely opposite directions.  This is one of the highest over/under totals on the board, holding steady at a healthy 51, which I not surprisingly like over.  This has all the makings of a shootout, with Smith and Cousins trying to outduel each other.  (FYI, Cousins 2+ passing TDs parlayed with Smith 2+ passing TDs comes back +120.)  I like the prop, I like the game over, and I like the Falcons to win this game on their last possession, as they do, and cover the opening line of 2 ½.

$10 on Georgia Bulldogs at Texas Longhorns (-4)

Remember that diatribe I went on last week about the reason Oregon joined the Big Ten was to host night games against Ohio State?  I called for a Ducks victory.  It was the only game I called right all week.  There’s a similar game going on in Austin this week.  Texas has joined the SEC.  This week they host Georgia.  This is exactly why the Longhorns joined the conference.  Trust me, they didn’t do it for the money.  So far, Texas has been absolutely mowing through teams.  Not only are they seventh in the nation in scoring but they are number one in defense with regards to points allowed.  Although impressive and ranked fifth in the nation, Georgia struggled against Kentucky and Mississippi State. 

The Bulldogs have a tough stretch of games coming up against Florida, at Ole Miss and hosting Tennessee.  Okay, so the Florida game is not all that tough, but none are tougher than the opponent they’ll face this weekend in Austin.  Meanwhile, this is the last tough game on Texas’ schedule.  They’re staring an undefeated regular season squarely in the face.  All they need is to knock off the last team to go back-to-back.  Big game for the Longhorns in pursuit of a national championship.  Their roster is loaded with talent that I’m not sure Georgia can keep up with.  We’re about to find out just how much better Texas might be than everyone else.  The crowd will be fired up.  The team will be fired up.  I see the Longhorns bringing this one home.  Otherwise, what’s the point?  Texas minus.

Last Week’s Recap: The Wife Hates Sports

  • $50: Missouri Tigers (-27) at UMass Minutemen – CORRECT
  • $40: Clemson Tigers (-20.5) at Wake Forest Demon Deacons – CORRECT
  • $30: Houston Texans (-6.5) at New England Patriots – CORRECT
  • $20: Pittsburgh Steelers (-3) at Las Vegas Raiders – CORRECT
  • $10: Washington Commanders (+7) at Baltimore Ravens – PUSH

Season Stats for Kevin Paul and The Wife Hates Sports (Top Five Only)

  • NFL: 8-5-1 ($100)
  • CFB: 11-5 ($270)
  • Overall: 19-10-1 ($370)

Week-by-Week for Kevin Paul and The Wife Hates Sports (Top Five Only)

  • Week 01: NFL: 1-2 ($20) | CFB 1-1 (-$10) | Week: 2-3 ($10) | Overall: 2-3 ($10)
  • Week 02: NFL: 3-0 ($100) | CFB 1-1 (-$10) | Week: 4-1 ($90) | Overall: 6-4 ($100)
  • Week 03: NFL: 1-2 (-$60) | CFB 1-1 ($30) | Week: 2-3 (-$30) | Overall: 8-7 ($70)
  • Week 04: NFL: 0-1 (-$30) | CFB 4-0 ($120) | Week: 4-1 ($90) | Overall: 12-8 ($160)
  • Week 05: NFL: 1-0 ($20) | CFB 2-2 ($50) | Week: 3-2 ($70) | Overall: 15-10 ($230)
  • Week 06: NFL: 2-0-1 ($50) | CFB 2-0 ($90) | Week: 4-0-1 ($140) | Overall: 19-10-1 ($370)

Chime in with your top picks for the week.  Thank you for visiting The Wife Hates Sports!

——-

If you enjoy The Wife Hates Sports, you can support my work by buying from Fanatics through my site.  It’s of no additional charge to you.  I simply get a cut of any Fanatics sale purchased through links here.  That goes for any Fanatics Experience ad within posts or via the banners on the home page.