2016-NFL-Week 7 – Sunday football-Betting preview

Vikings (-3, 39 ½) at Eagles – 1:00 PM EST

Minnesota
Record: 5-0 SU, 5-0 ATS, UNDER 3-2
Super Bowl Odds: 6/1

The Vikings are fresh off the bye week as Minnesota is the lone unbeaten team in the NFL at 5-0. Sam Bradford began training camp with the Eagles, but was dealt to the Vikings following Teddy Bridgewater’s season-ending knee injury. Bradford makes his return to Philadelphia as the Heisman Trophy winner has thrown six touchdown passes and no interceptions in four starts for Minnesota. Since Week 2 of 2015, the Vikings have compiled an incredible 19-2 ATS record the past 21 games, including nine consecutive covers on the road.

Philadelphia
Record: 3-2 SU, 3-2 ATS, 3-2 OVER
Super Bowl Odds: 50/1

The Eagles jumped out to a quick 3-0 start under rookie quarterback Carson Wentz. However, Philadelphia has been grounded the last two weeks after losing at Detroit and Washington as a short road favorite. Philadelphia’s offense failed to bust the end zone in last week’s 27-20 defeat at Washington as Carson Wentz was limited to 11 completions and 279 yards passing. The Eagles own a perfect 2-0 SU/ATS record at home this season, as Philadelphia is hosting Minnesota for the first time since 2010 when the Vikings upset the Eagles as 14-point underdogs, 24-14.

Best Bet: Philadelphia +3

Saints at Chiefs (-6, 50 ½) – 1:00 PM EST

New Orleans
Record: 2-3 SU, 3-2 ATS, 4-1 OVER
Super Bowl Odds: 200/1

The Saints have erased an 0-3 hole by winning consecutive games against the Chargers and Panthers by a combined four points. New Orleans has topped the 32-point mark in four of five games, while holding off Carolina as a 2 ½-point home underdog last Sunday, 41-38. The OVER has cashed easily in the last three games, as the Saints’ defense has allowed an average of 39 points per game in this span. Since Week 3 of last season, New Orleans has compiled an amazing 9-2 ATS record in its past 11 opportunities in the role of an underdog.

Kansas City
Record: 3-2 SU, 2-3 ATS, 3-2 UNDER
Super Bowl Odds: 20/1

The Chiefs have gone through an uneven start through the first five games, alternating wins and losses during this stretch. Kansas City shoots for its first two-game winning streak of the season after dominating Oakland last Sunday, 26-10 as one-point road favorites. The Chiefs held the dynamic Raiders’ offense to three points in the final 57 minutes, while Kansas City rushed for 183 yards and three different players found the end zone on the ground. Kansas City has taken back home-field advantage by winning seven straight games at Arrowhead Stadium since last October, but the Chiefs have covered only three times in this span.

Best Bet: Kansas City -6

Redskins at Lions (-1 ½, 50) – 1:00 PM EST

Washington
Record: 4-2 SU, 4-2 ATS, 5-1 OVER
Super Bowl Odds: 30/1

The Redskins have overcome an 0-2 start to run off four consecutive victories to sit one game behind the Cowboys in the NFC East. Washington improved to 2-1 inside the division after holding off Philadelphia, 27-20 as three-point home underdogs, while limiting the Eagles to 249 yards of offense. Quarterback Kirk Cousins topped the 300-yard mark in each of the first two games (both losses), but hasn’t reached 300 yards passing in the last four contests, all victories. Washington has been dominant in the role of an underdog since last season, putting together an 8-1 SU/ATS record in its last nine when receiving points.

Detroit
Record: 3-3 SU, 3-3 ATS, 4-2 OVER
Super Bowl Odds: 100/1

The Lions have been several exciting games at Ford Field this season as all three home contests have been decided by a total of five points. After blowing a fourth quarter lead in a Week 2 loss to Tennessee, Detroit held off Philadelphia and Los Angeles in close victories. The Lions posted their second-highest point total of the season in last Sunday’s 31-28 triumph over the Rams, as quarterback Matthew Stafford has thrown seven touchdown passes and no interceptions in the last two weeks. Detroit is hosting Washington for the first time since 2010, while the Lions beat the Redskins in their previous matchup in 2013 in D.C. by a 27-20 count.

Best Bet: Washington +1 ½

Raiders at Jaguars (-1, 47 ½) – 1:00 PM EST

Oakland
Record: 4-2 SU, 3-3 ATS, 4-2 OVER
Super Bowl Odds: 25/1

The Silver and Black put up a thud last Sunday in a 26-10 home defeat to the Chiefs, as Oakland has been outgained in all six games this season. With running back Latavius Murray sidelined, the Raiders’ rushing attack was grounded by picking up only 64 yards. Murray is expected back in the lineup on Sunday, but he has also struggled out of the gate by gaining 235 yards in four games following 1,066 yards in 2015. However, Oakland has thrived in the road underdog role since Jack Del Rio took over as head coach last season by posting a perfect 8-0 ATS mark, including outright wins this season at New Orleans and Baltimore.

Jacksonville
Record: 2-3 SU, 3-2 ATS, 3-2 OVER
Super Bowl Odds: 100/1

The AFC South may be the worst division in football, but you can’t say it’s not competitive. Jacksonville is one way away from the .500 mark after starting 0-3 as the Jaguars held off the Bears last Sunday, 17-16. The Jags scored all 17 of their points in the fourth quarter in spite of putting up only 311 yards for the game. Jacksonville has yet to bust through the win column at home as its first victory over Indianapolis came in London, as the Jaguars have lost six of their past nine games at Everbank Field since the start of 2015.

Best Bet: Oakland +1

Chargers at Falcons (-6, 54 ½) – 4:05 PM EST

San Diego
Record: 2-4 SU, 4-2 ATS, 4-2 OVER
Super Bowl Odds: 80/1

There probably isn’t a team in the NFL that has played to more exciting finishes than the Chargers. Five of San Diego’s six games have come down to the final minutes, including last Thursday’s 21-13 home victory over Denver as three-point underdogs. After building a 21-3 advantage, the Broncos rallied to score 10 points and had a chance to tie the game on the final play, but couldn’t convert a Hail Mary pass. The Chargers travel to the east coast for the first time this season as San Diego has yet to win away from Qualcomm Stadium, owning an 0-3 SU and 2-1 ATS road mark.

Atlanta
Record: 4-2 SU, 5-1 ATS, 5-1 OVER
Super Bowl Odds: 20/1

The Falcons are back at home for the first time since outlasting the Panthers in Week 4, as Atlanta split a pair of road games in tough environments at Denver and Seattle the last two weeks. Atlanta lost a 26-24 heartbreaker in Seattle in Week 6, but the Falcons managed a cover as seven-point underdogs for their fifth consecutive cover. The Falcons are listed as a favorite for only the second time this season, as Atlanta has cashed just once in 10 chalk opportunities since 2015. Atlanta cashed seven UNDERS in eight games at the Georgia Dome last season, but has eclipsed the OVER in both home contests this season.

Best Bet: San Diego +6

Patriots (-7, 47 ½) at Steelers – 4:25 PM EST

New England
Record: 5-1 SU, 5-1 ATS, 4-2 UNDER
Super Bowl Odds: 5/2

What a difference one player makes. Or just Tom Brady coming back from his four-game suspension. Brady has totaled 782 passing yards in two blowout victories over the Browns and Bengals, while throwing three touchdown passes in each win. Not only are the Patriots sitting atop the AFC East at 5-1, but New England has covered in all five victories. New England held off Pittsburgh in the 2015 season opener, 28-21 as 7 ½-point home favorites, as Brady carved up the Steelers’ defense for four touchdown tosses. The Pats have captured six of the previous eight meetings since January 2005, but New England fell in its past visit to Pittsburgh in 2011 by a 25-17 count.

Pittsburgh
Record: 4-2 SU, 4-2 ATS, 4-2 UNDER
Super Bowl Odds: 12/1

The Steelers will look to recover from last Sunday’s surprising 30-15 road favorite loss at Miami, as Pittsburgh also suffered a huge loss with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger injuring his left knee. Big Ben will miss several weeks as backup Landry Jones is thrust into the starting role. Jones came in relief to beat the Cardinals as a home underdog last season, but lost in his only NFL start at Kansas City the following week. The Steelers own a perfect 3-0 SU/ATS record at Heinz Field this season, while posting a 4-0 ATS mark in its past four home underdog opportunities since 2013.

Best Bet: New England -7