NFL Week 6 Picks 2025 (Thursday 9th October-Monday 13th October)

The 1972 Miami Dolphins normally have to wait a little longer before they can crack out the champagne and celebrate being the only team that finished with an unbeaten season for another year, but the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles fell in Week 5.

This is the first time in eleven years that there has not been an unbeaten team through five weeks of the NFL season and there is a real feeling that very little is separating a number of teams at the top of the mountain.

The Eagles have a very good record, but have far from impressed, while the Buffalo Bills have not exactly had the toughest of schedules.

Out of all of the teams, the likes of the Detroit Lions have perhaps impressed the most, but we have already seen the huge impact that injuries can have on any team at any time.

It has felt like a season when more injuries have been at play- the Baltimore Ravens look a shell of themselves with the Defensive unit banged up and Lamar Jackson out with a hamstring issue- and there does feel like vacuum to be filled at the top. The likes of the Eagles and Bills should still have enough about them to reach the post-season, but it is Washington, Detroit, Tampa Bay and Indianapolis who are perhaps looking sharper right now.

That also means an opportunity for the likes of the Kansas City Chiefs to fight through the early issues they are having after being dropped to 2-3 with a defeat on Monday Night Football. The AFC really does look weaker without the Ravens operating near to their best and the Chiefs looking like they have taken a backwards step and that could open the door to a team like the Denver Broncos to surprisingly come through the pack.

However, we are only just entering Week 6 and so much Football is still to play before we can think about Playoffs and potential Super Bowl Champions.

There are some who believe that any time a Pick goes down the wrong way that the system has been rigged against them, but it's never the case.

In saying that, it does not mean I was not hugely frustrated with the shenanigans in the Arizona Cardinals game last week.

Having a Running Back drop the ball just before crossing the line for a Touchdown to prevent the Cardinals from leading 28-6 in the Fourth Quarter is one thing, but then to have a player earn an Interception only to Fumble the ball, have a team-mate kick the ball back inside his own End Zone and then give up the recovery to the Titans for another Touchdown meant an epic fourteen point swing in the most foolish of fashions.

Instead of being what looked a comfortable cover twice, the Cardinals managed to shoot themselves in the foot for long enough to lose outright.

Adding to the Miami Dolphins inability to make a Fourth Quarter stop, two potential winners turned out moving in the wrong direction and it has continued what has been a relatively slow start to the season.

Of course there is plenty of time to move the margins back in the right direction for the NFL Picks as the pages search for another winning season from the sport, but starting sooner than later is the ambition and that begins with the Week 6 selections.

Those will be added to the thread across the next few days, beginning with another Thursday Night Football selection from the NFC East.

Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants Pick: As one of two teams who lost their unbeaten record in Week 5, the Philadelphia Eagles (4-1) are looking to bounce back on a short week when travelling to the Divisional rivals the New York Giants (1-4).

The loss to the Denver Broncos felt like it has been coming for a while and the Eagles will want to get back on the horse immediately. None of the performances this season have been a complete four Quarter success for the Eagles, but the talent has allowed them to make some big plays at key times to help the team win even when not at their best.

Head Coach Nick Sirianni will not want to panic, but the will want to see the Eagles put a strong game on the board before having something of a mini-break before heading back out in Week 7.

Running the ball more efficiently has to be the focus for the team to help them get back to basics, but it has been a slog so far this season. The Offensive Line has not been able to stay healthy, which doesn't help, and Landon Dickerson will be a big miss, although it should not take too much for Saquon Barkley to find the motivation needed to face his former team.

You have to expect the Eagles can have success running the ball against this Giants Defensive Line, although it may be another day when they struggle for consistency in moving the ball through the Running Back.

Jalen Hurts can take the ball and make some gains with his legs, but the Wide Receivers have not been completely on board with some of the play-calling and the Eagles have made a real effort to get the passing game going. AJ Brown had a big outing in Week 5, although he was not able to haul in the Hail Mary pass that would have kept the Eagles unbeaten.

There have been signs of improvement in the passing game and Jalen Hurts is not expected to be under the same pass rush pressure against this Giants team that have struggled to get to the Quarter Back. In the main the Secondary has still been able to hold up, but this Eagles team will give the New York Giants a significant test, even if they have yet to show the form that took them to the Super Bowl.

Injuries have been an issue for the Giants on the Offensive side of the ball, but they are expected to have success running the ball and especially if Jalen Carter is ruled out for the Eagles.

One of the disappointments early this season has been the play at the Line of Scrimmage on both sides of the ball and teams have continued to run the ball efficiently against the Eagles, which should be the case on Thursday Night Football as long as this game is close.

The problem for the Giants is that the Quarter Back has yet to force teams to respect him, whether that is Russell Wilson or Jaxson Dart operating behind Center. The Giants have beaten the Los Angeles Chargers with Dart at Quarter Back, but they were blown out by the struggling New Orleans Saints in Week 5 and the Eagles could sell out to stop the run and force New York to beat them through the air.

It really doesn't help that Malik Nabers is out and Darius Slayton could also be absent for the Giants, which will take away some key Receivers for Jaxson Dart. The Eagles have not really gotten the pass rush ramped up, but Jaxson Dart may not be able to make much use of the time he may be given against this solid Philadelphia Secondary.

Interceptions could be a problem for the young, inexperience Quarter Back in this primetime spot and the short week of preparation certainly does not favour the Giants.

Last year the Giants struggled when facing Divisional rivals and they have already been beaten by the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys.

The Eagles ended with six wins in seven games against NFC East rivals in 2024 and they have already added to that here and they can bounce back from a Week 5 defeat.

Nick Sirianni does not have a good record when trying to pick his team up from a loss, but the Eagles should still be much stronger than the New York Giants. The spread is one that allows a backdoor cover to be in play, but the Giants have struggled for consistency Offensively and it may see the road team pull away for a double digit win to maintain control of the Division.

New York Jets vs Denver Broncos Pick: The second of three games to be played in London in the NFL will kick off the Sunday action in Week 6.

When the six teams were announced for the London games it was something of a disappointment and the New York Jets (0-5) have been as poor as some feared. They have had a couple of competitive losses in the early tenure of Head Coach Aaron Glenn, but the last couple of defeats to the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys have been really bad and the team are already on course to finish with the Number 1 Pick in the next NFL Draft as the only one that has yet to win a game this season.

The hope for the Jets is that they can produce better playing outside of the United States, but they were beaten at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium by the Minnesota Vikings in 2024.

This year they are facing the Denver Broncos (3-2) who are heading to London after upsetting the defending Champions Philadelphia Eagles on the road. With Divisional rivals Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers both losing in Week 5, the Broncos are tied for the best record in the AFC West and they have been set as significant favourites.

Denver are expected to be a well balanced team when they have the ball- the Offensive Line have been key in helping JK Dobbins establish the run and they will have seen the successes that the Dolphins and Cowboys have had when pounding the rock against the New York Jets Defensive Line. Head Coach Sean Payton is always keen to establish the run and the Broncos should be in a position to make Bo Nix's life pretty comfortable when the young Quarter Back is stepping back to throw the ball.

Respect has to be given to some of the personnel that the Jets have on the Defensive unit, but they have had a tough time in the Secondary with the team trying to send more men to the Line of Scrimmage to try and stop the run. The Denver Broncos have a good Receiving corps to find spaces down the field and that should mean Bo Nix is able to make plenty of plays with his arm, especially with what is going to be mainly a clean pocket from which to throw.

In what has been a tough season, one of the positives has to be the way the Jets have been able to run the ball with dual-threat Quarter Back Justin Fields and Breece Hall both performing well on the ground. However, this Broncos Defensive Line have prided themselves on being able to locate runners very quickly and it may be one of the tougher days for the Jets.

Justin Fields will try and extend plays where he can, but his Offensive Line have offered very little time as they have struggled to stop the pass rush. This is an area that the Broncos are expected to have a huge edge and rushing Fields could lead to stalled drives, although credit has to be given to the Quarter Back for not throwing into troubled spots.

However, trying to make plays with the pocket collapsing and pass rushers swiping at the ball can lead to Fumbles and the Broncos should win the turnover battle.

Any extra possessions could see Denver pull clear of the New York Jets- the latter have only lost two of the five games by more than 6 points, but the Jets have simply not seen a Defensive unit as good as the one they are facing in London.

Backing up big wins is not always easy, but the Denver Broncos should have the balance Offensively to do what they like for much of the afternoon.

Dallas Cowboys @ Carolina Panthers Pick: There was a time when the Dallas Cowboys (2-2-1) would have been seen as the top team in the NFC East, but they are chasing the likes of the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders. Credit has to be given to the team for not feeling sorry for themselves as injuries have piled up and the crushing win over the New York Jets in Week 5 keeps the Cowboys in touch with the two leading teams in the Division.

Games against Divisional rivals are going to be tough, but the Dallas Cowboys have other games on the schedule which look winnable and that includes this one in Week 6.

The Carolina Panthers (2-3) found a way to rally a couple of different times in the Fourth Quarter of the win over the Miami Dolphins.

They can thank Rico Dowdle for a monster performance against the Dolphins and the former Dallas Cowboy will be looking to punish the team for allowing him to leave. It has been possible to run the ball against this Dallas Defensive Line and so it could be another very good day for Rico Dowdle as he looks to put the Panthers in a position to have success.

It will mean needing Bryce Young to build on the momentum from the Week 5 win over the Dolphins and he should have a chance to do that when you think of the numbers that this Dallas Secondary have been giving up. They have not been able to generate much pressure and so Carolina are going to be a position to at least keep the scoreboard ticking over, which will give them a chance for the home upset.

However, it may not be enough to keep the scoreboard simply ticking over and the Panthers could be forced to go Touchdown for Touchdown in this one if the Dallas Cowboys continue from where they have left off in each of the last two weeks.

Dak Prescott may not have Ceedee Lamb, but it has not slowed this passing game, while Javonte Williams is playing at an exceptional level and underlying the reason Rico Dowdle was allowed to leave.

In recent games the Panthers Defensive Line have been stronger against the run, but containing Williams behind this Dallas Offensive Line will not be easy.

And if the Quarter Back is playing in front of the chains, the Dallas Cowboys should be able to keep the ball moving and ultimately make this a game where the pressure will be on Bryce Young to put a consistent performance together.

Turnovers are likely to be key in a game where both teams will be confident with the ball in hand, but Dallas have been playing with a bit more confidence and that can show up here.

They have beaten Carolina three times in a row between 2021 and 2024 and Dallas can keep that streak going, while covering this line set.

Seattle Seahawks @ Jacksonville Jaguars Pick: These two were both involved in late plays that determined the outcome of their Week 5 games- the Seattle Seahawks (3-2) made a mistake that saw them lose to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-1) were able to score a Touchdown late in the win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

The home team will be heading over to London for the annual trip next week, but they will be keen to keep up with the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South before travelling.

There have been positives about this Jaguars team, which is not a surprise considering they are 4-1, but the record does feel a little flattering. They are going to be tested by a Seattle team that could easily have the same record as the Jaguars if not for a late turnover that cost them a defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5, and the Seahawks have looked pretty confident on both sides of the ball.

One of the key factors on the Defensive side of the ball is the play of the Linemen and the Seattle Seahawks have been able to shut down the run all season. They will be expected to do the same against a Jacksonville team that have had some issues on the ground in recent games and that will mean the pressure is on the shoulders of Quarter Back Trevor Lawrence.

Some have wondered if Lawrence would ever reach the level that people expected from him, but he is doing what is needed to keep the chains moving. He is averaging less than 200 passing yards per game across the last three games, but Trevor Lawrence may find a few more spaces to exploit against this Seattle Secondary with the connection to Brian Thomas Jr looking stronger as the Wide Receiver gets up to speed.

That should help the Jaguars, but it is tough to continue to throw with success from behind the marker and that may be the case if the run is not something operating with any consistency.

Jacksonville will still feel they can have some success against this Seahawks Defensive unit, but the same will be said when Sam Darnold trots onto the field with the Seattle Offense.

Unlike the Jaguars, the Seahawks should have more success to find some balance in their Offensive game-plan and that is because there have been a few more holes that have opened up against the Jacksonville Defensive Line. Kenneth Walker III had a big day against the Buccaneers impressive Defensive Line last week and he can pick up from that performance against this Jaguars team that have been allowing 5 yards per carry in recent games.

This can only be good news for Sam Darnold who will be attacking a Secondary that has given up plenty of yards.

The Quarter Back is building up a good connection with his Receivers and Sam Darnold has been given plenty of protection by his Offensive Line, which should lead to another big performance. He will have to be aware that this Jaguars Secondary have given up yards by taking risks, but those have also led to the team picking up Interceptions to turn the momentum and Darnold will have to be careful.

If he can, Sam Darnold should be able to put up enough points to help the road team win this pick 'em contest, especially with the Jaguars perhaps thinking about the game in London next week. The Jaguars are also playing on a short week, which is never easy, and Seattle can bounce back from the disappointing defeat in Week 5 by getting back on the horse immediately.

Los Angeles Rams @ Baltimore Ravens Pick: Losing is never fun, but the fans attending the Week 5 game at M&T Bank Stadium made it clear how disappointed they were in the effort of the Baltimore Ravens (1-4). Injuries are a big factor, but the fans will have wanted those coming in to really put in a top effort instead of what they saw as Baltimore were beaten by 34 points against the Houston Texans.

The Defensive unit has been ravaged by injury, but it is the hamstring injury suffered by Lamar Jackson that really feels like a season changing blow. Cooper Rush comes in as the backup Quarter Back, and has experience doing so, but he showed in Week 5 that he is not Lamar Jackson and the team are already chasing in the AFC North.

One positive for the Ravens is that they are playing in what looks a weak Division, while the other is that they are entering the Bye Week after this game.

First off the Ravens do have to deal with the Los Angeles Rams (3-2) who last played on Thursday Night Football and so have had a mini-Bye to prepare for this game before they travel to London for a Week 7 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

In usual circumstances, the Rams Defensive Line would be expecting a tough day in the office as they prepared to face a dual-threat Quarter Back who has a running mate in Derrick Henry to pound the rock. The Baltimore Offensive Line have opened up some decent holes for the ground and pound game, but that task looks very difficult without Jackson and especially not against a Los Angeles Defensive Line that that has been built to stop the run and been doing that pretty effectively this season.

The Rams have also generated a solid pass rush and the pressure is on the Ravens Offensive Line to give Cooper Rush time- the Quarter Back does not have the scrambling ability of Lamar Jackson to move away from the pressure and that will stall the passing game.

Los Angeles have allowed teams to have some success throwing against them, but keeping Baltimore in third and long and then unleashing the pass rush against the backup Quarter Back should stall drives. Avoiding mistakes and giving up short fields has to be a big ambition for Cooper Rush and the entire Baltimore Offense in this game, but it could be tough to put up a lot of points.

It means relying on the Defensive unit to contain the Rams for long enough to give the home team a chance to win.

However, this is a unit that has been hit really hard by injury and it feels like Sean McVay could have a fun day calling the plays.

The Ravens Defensive Line have not been able to stop the run and that is only music to the ears of the Los Angeles Rams as they look to keep the team in front of the chains. A couple of solid Running Backs have been piling up the yards on the ground and the Rams may pick up from where Nick Chubb left off in this one.

Matthew Stafford is likely to be operating in a relatively clean pocket and he can find his Receivers down the field out of the play-action that will be working really well if the Rams are running the ball as expected.

This should all add up to the Rams being very comfortable when they do have the ball in their hands and Los Angeles could come away with a strong win.

Teams travelling across the country to play in an early time slot is never easy, but the Rams should have won in Philadelphia in the same spot. They have won at Tennessee before that and they can continue their move East with a win in Baltimore, a cover of this mark and the momentum to take to London for the game at Wembley Stadium next Sunday.

San Francisco 49ers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pick: All credit has to be given to the San Francisco 49ers (4-1) for overcoming a huge amount of injuries and beating rivals Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football in Week 5. They created a couple of big turnovers at key moments to turn the game in their favour, but this is another tough test for a team missing several key figures on both sides of the ball.

Mac Jones will be under Center for this game at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-1) who had an improbable win over the Seattle Seahawks.

Like the 49ers, the Buccaneers are not allowing injury to let them make excuses and they look the team to beat in the NFC South again. There should not be any reason to be looking past a team with a 4-1 record, even with the Detroit Tigers on deck, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can get the better of another NFC West team.

Mike Evans has been missing, but that has not prevented the Buccaneers from continuing to keep the ball moving with rookie Emeka Egbuka leading the way. He can be very grateful to strong Quarter Back play from Baker Mayfield and this is another game in which the passing game should be working well considering the lack of pressure San Francisco are getting up front without Nick Bosa.

Bucky Irving is out and the Buccaneers have been inconsistent at running the ball, although the 49ers Defensive Line has not been the best at stopping the ground attack in recent games. They will believe they can beat this Offensive Line, but Tampa Bay will not shy away from looking to run the ball and it just keeps teams honest enough to allow Baker Mayfield to work.

Tampa Bay will feel they can dominate the Line of Scrimmage on the other side of the ball and that is where they may have the edge in this game.

Christian McCaffrey is still operating at a decent level, but he has been more of a factor in the passing game of late with the Offensive Line struggling to open up running lanes up front. The 49ers are averaging just 3.1 yards per carry in their last three games and they are not expected to get much change out of this Tampa Bay Defensive Line, which means it will be up to Mac Jones to make the plays needed to keep the chains moving.

To the credit of the 49ers, the passing game has actually been working pretty well with Kyle Shanahan and his Coaching staff finding a way to keep Defensive units off balance.

San Francisco have injuries in key Receiving positions, but players are stepping up and making plays and they should be able to do the same in Week 6. However, the Buccaneers Secondary have been in good form and they will feel they can do enough to take advantage of what may become a one-dimensional game that is being called by the road team and Tampa Bay can force a mistake or two in order to earn the victory.

The Buccaneers have lost four in a row in the series against this NFC rival, including a home loss last season. However, Tampa Bay have covered the spread in the last two against the San Francisco 49ers and this time they can do enough to be the one that comes out on top in this meeting of two 4-1 teams.

Detroit Lions @ Kansas City Chiefs Pick: At the start of the season, this match up would have been right up amongst the leading selections from those predicting Super Bowl teams for next February.

Out of the two teams, the Detroit Lions (4-1) have impressed more than the Kansas City Chiefs (2-3).

Monday Night Football saw Kansas City lose at the Jacksonville Jaguars in dramatic fashion and there is a concern that something is not quite right with this team. The AFC in general still looks wide open and the Chiefs have not lost touch in the AFC West, but this is another tough game and the hosts look a vulnerable favourite.

Patrick Mahomes is Patrick Mahomes and he does have a 16-10 record against the spread following a loss, although just 1-1 this season. He is trying to put the team on his back but Mahomes has some inconsistent Receivers, while injury and suspension has meant his biggest targets have been missing.

The legs have been key for Mahomes, but establishing the run will not be easy considering how well the Detroit Defensive Line have been playing. The Quarter Back can pick up yards on his own and the Kansas City Offensive Line have played well when asked to run block, while the Detroit Secondary are missing Terrion Arnold and so this is an opportunity for the hosts to have success.

It will be hard work though and certainly feels like it will be tougher than what the Detroit Lions will expect when they have the ball themselves.

The Running Back tandem continues to be a big factor for the Lions and they will have noted the huge amount of yards that the Kansas City Chiefs have allowed on the ground. Detroit will want to bully the Chiefs, while keeping Patrick Mahomes and company on the sidelines, and the Lions can certainly make sure Jared Goff is operating from third and manageable spots on the field.

Jared Goff has a few Receivers that are capable of making the plays he needs from them and the Lions should be able to keep things ticking over in this one.

This feels like another game in which turnovers are going to be massively important, but the Lions as the underdog have been strong to back under Dan Campbell. He has already led them to a win as the underdog in Baltimore before the injuries really hit the Ravens hard, and Detroit are 13-5 against the spread when being given points.

Sunday Night Football gives the Lions another chance to remind the nation of their qualities and they look worth backing with the start.

MY PICKS: Philadelphia Eagles - 7 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Denver Broncos - 7 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Dallas Cowboys - 3 Points @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Seattle Seahawks @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Los Angeles Rams - 7.5 Points @ 2.00 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 3.5 Points @ 2.00 William Hill (1 Unit)

Detroit Lions + 2.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Week 5: 3-3, - 0.33 Units (6 Units Staked, - 5.50% Yield)

Week 4: 2-3, - 1.14 Units (5 Units Staked, - 22.80% Yield)

Week 3: 5-3, + 1.56 Units (8 Units Staked, + 19.50% Yield)

Week 2: 3-2, + 0.67 Units (5 Units Staked, + 13.40% Yield)

Week 1: 0-2, - 2 Units (2 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)

2025 Season: 13-13, - 1.24 Units (26 Units Staked, - 4.77% Yield)

College Football Week 6 Picks 2025 (Friday 3rd October-Saturday 4th October)

When you look back at the results and being on the wrong side of four results by a combined nine points, frustration will set in.

That was the way things worked out in Week 5 and it could have been a much different story if not for a few breaks going the wrong way.

There is still a number of weeks to negotiate between now and the National Championship Game in January and so time to turn things back around, but it would be good to snap a poor run with a solid week.

West Virginia Mountaineers @ BYU Cougars Pick: They opened the 2025 Big 12 schedule play with a road win and the BYU Cougars (4-0) have to feel very confident about their chances of going a little better than last season. Missing out on the tie-breaker for the Championship Game will have stung, but this is a team that looks like it is playing with a real ambition in mind and they are continuing to roll even as injuries have been piling up.

It is the depth that looks like being a potential issue for the Cougars with the Running Back position causing most concern, but starter LJ Marin is available on this short week.

The Cougars are perhaps fortunate to be facing the West Virginia Mountaineers (2-3) who have lost both Big 12 Conference games without offering much resistance at all. Those defeats to the Kansas Jayhawks and Utah Utes have been by 31 points and 34 points respectively and the upset over the Pittsburgh Panthers feels like a long time ago for the team.

Much like the hosts, the West Virginia Mountaineers are a little banged up, although they are down more important players.

In Week 6, the Mountaineers are set to be without starting Quarter Back Nicco Marchial again having seen him miss the thumping loss to the Utah Utes. Backup Jaylen Hendersen did not impress at all and was benched before the second half began, and it will be a real test for him if he is called to start again or for Khalil Wilkins, despite the solid enough performance in the second half against the Utes.

This Cougars Defensive Line is stout up front and they will look to clamp down on the Mountaineers running game and force the Quarter Back to beat them, no matter whether that is Hendersen or Wilkins.

Playing from behind the chains will mean having to deal with a real pass rush pressure and trying to attack a Cougars Secondary that have continued to produce at a high level.

Turnovers are a potential problem for the Mountaineers and those extra possessions would give the home favourite a huge chance to cover what is a big line.

The difference between the teams Offensively is that the BYU Offensive Line is likely to establish the run and give LJ Martin plenty of room to keep his personal numbers ticking over nicely. An extra wrinkle was seen last week with Quarter Back Bear Bachmeier picking up almost 100 yards on the ground and it should mean the Cougars are playing in front of the chains for much of the evening.

It only makes life easier for Bachmeier if he steps back to throw the ball down the field against a Mountaineers Secondary that have allowed Quarter Backs to have success against them. There should be time given to the Bear Bachmeier if the BYU Cougars are running the ball as expected, and it should mean BYU are able to keep the ball moving effectively and efficiently for much of the contest.

Covering this big number is not going to be easy for a Cougars team that have not been that accustomed to being set as a home favourite, but they have been playing with real confidence.

At the same time, West Virginia have struggled massively since stepping up into Big 12 play and the backup Quarter Backs could have real issues making play against a good looking Cougars Defensive unit. A turnover or two may be needed to get over this line, but the Cougars can give the Offensive a couple of short fields with three and outs and that should help the BYU at least get up to a 20 point win.

Kentucky Wildcats @ Georgia Bulldogs Pick: In previous years, one defeat in the regular season would have been enough to cost a team the opportunity to finish as National Champions, but that is not the case in 2025.

With that in mind, it is important for the Georgia Bulldogs (3-1) to get back on track after losing to the Alabama Crimson Tide in Week 5. The schedule will still pit them against the likes of Ole Miss and Texas to show the Playoff Committee what they are all about, while the SEC is a tough Conference and it would be a really big surprise if two unbeaten teams were to compete in the Championship Game in a couple of months time.

The Bulldogs have had some difficult tests against the Kentucky Wildcats (2-2) in recent years, despite continuing to find a way to earn the win- last season the Wildcats came incredibly close to a home upset, but were beaten 13-12, while they have given the Mississippi Rebels something to think about earlier this season.

A second SEC defeat was more worrying for Kentucky having been crushed by the South Carolina Gamecocks, and the team may be arriving in a tough scheduling spot as well as being banged up at the wrong time.

Kentucky are set to have veteran Quarter Back Zach Calzada back behind Center having missed out with an injury following the defeat to the Mississippi Rebels. Without him, the Wildcats were much more experienced at this important position and they should be much the stronger with Calzada, although there are going to be questions about his overall health.

The match up against this Georgia Defensive unit looks a tough one- the Wildcats want to get behind the Offensive Line and establish the run, while the passing game has been a touch erratic. However, stopping the run has been something that the Georgia Defensive Line pride themselves in doing, and it is actually the Secondary which has been exposed by Tennessee and Alabama.

This time the Bulldogs may feel that their superior talent can come out on top, especially if Zach Calzada's shoulder is still not at 100%. The Bulldogs may also get a little more out of the pass rush against an Offensive Line that has not been as good in pass protection as they have been in run blocking and that should mean Georgia control this game.

There will be some envious eyes in Athens who have one eye on Carson Beck and his performances at Quarter Back for the Miami Hurricanes and so there is some pressure on Gunnar Stockton after a relatively poor performance against Alabama.

It is unlikely to be all on Stockton's arm though with the Bulldogs Offensive Line expected to help establish the run and that should allow the Quarter Back to find a bit more time in the pocket. He is also going to be throwing against a Kentucky Secondary that has struggled to make stops at times and the balance Offensively gives the Bulldogs the platform from which to bounce back from the loss last weekend.

This is a big line, but Head Coach Kirby Smart has led the Bulldogs to a 10-6 record against the spread after a loss.

Last year was a close, competitive battle between these SEC teams, but two years ago Georgia crushed Kentucky by 38 points here and an angry home team may be able to create a couple of turnovers to pull clear in this one.

Clemson Tigers @ North Carolina Tar Heels Pick: The move from the NFL to Head Coach in College for the first time was always going to be a challenge, but the North Carolina Tar Heels (2-2) may have surprised Bill Belichick. The transfer portal can perhaps help turn things around quicker these days than in the past, but the Tar Heels finished 6-7 in 2024 and there will have been a lot of changes for the players to have to take in.

The disappointment is that the Tar Heels have been so uncompetitive when facing the Power 4 teams on the schedule, and they have been outscored 23-82 in those two games.

It makes the wins over outmatched opponents feel a little more than bullying, but the Tar Heels have an opportunity to change the narrative when hosting the Clemson Tigers (1-3).

There have been one or two murmurings of discontent about the job Head Coach Dabo Swinney is doing with the Tigers in recent years, but they were back in the Playoffs in 2024 and won at least ten games again. That helped quiet some of those voices, but it will have been very loud around Swinney over the last couple of weeks after Clemson were blown out by Syracuse and already 0-2 within the Conference.

It is a long path back towards relevancy, and Clemson are clinging on by their fingernails as far as a return to the Playoff is concerned. Winning out is all they can control and the hope is that the two week break will have given the team a chance to reset and get back on the horse.

Cade Klubnik has been one of the leading disappointments early in the 2025 season, but the Quarter Back will feel he is up against a team that will allow him to at least showcase some of his talent.

The help will come from the Offensive Line as they look to establish the run and at least put their Quarter Back in a position where he can throw from in front of the chains. Clemson still have talent and running the ball would also mean Cade Klubnik has time to attack this Secondary, although the lack of a North Carolina pass rush early in the season is a real concern for the Tar Heels.

Like the Tigers, North Carolina are playing after a Bye Week following a crushing defeat to the UCF Knights, while they were battered at home by the TCU Horned Frogs to open the season.

Quarter Back play has been inconsistent and North Carolina may have to start with a backup in Max Johnson if Gio Lopez is still struggling.

Regardless of who plays, the pressure will likely be on their shoulder with the North Carolina Offensive Line yet to find a groove up front to get the run game firing. They are not expected to have a lot of joy against this Clemson Defensive Line, while the Quarter Back, whether that is Lopez or Johnson, have been inconsistent.

This makes it tough to believe the Tar Heels can become the latest to try and exploit the gaps in the Clemson Secondary, while turnovers in the passing game have been costly too.

North Carolina may have some successes having seen the Clemson Defensive unit struggling, but those turnovers could ultimately lean this game in favour of the road team and they can come out on top.

Bill Belichick has a strong record when his team have been set as double digit underdogs, but that is in the NFL and he is facing a Coach who has led his team to an 8-3 record against the spread in the last eleven following a loss. Dabo Swinney has yet to find that Midas touch in 2025, but he has had two weeks to prepare and the Clemson Tigers can produce a win that reminds the rest of the ACC that they are not quite done yet.

Wisconsin Badgers @ Michigan Wolverines Pick: Back to back blowout losses will have sent the Wisconsin Badgers (2-2) into the Bye Week with a lot of soul-searching to do.

A loss by 21 points to the Alabama Crimson Tide can be put to the back of the mind, but the Badgers opened Big Ten play with a 17 point home loss to the Maryland Terrapins.

The Head Coach, Luke Fickell, has to be feeling some of the heat having put together a 14-15 record so far in his time in Madison, while the next month will see his Wisconsin team take on Ohio State, Oregon and, first, the Michigan Wolverines (3-1).

Two weeks ago, the Wolverines won an important game in Nebraska to move to 1-0 in Big Ten play and they are set as a considerable favourite to win this one in the home Conference opener. You cannot really argue with that considering what has been seen from the visiting team, and especially not with a Michigan Defensive unit that has looked in good shape for much of the season.

Stopping the run is where the Badgers strength lies, but they are about to be given another significant test when up against this Michigan Offensive Line that wants to bully teams up front. They have opened up some big lanes early in this season and Michigan could have more room if the Badgers are trying to find the answers to protect a Secondary that has given up huge yardage.

Bryce Underwood has perhaps not played at a level where he would be expected to exploit those gaps, but he should be given time and there will perhaps be more opportunities for him. He has at least avoided making big mistakes and the field battle is just as important when it comes to the Michigan Wolverines being in a position to win and perhaps cover this line set.

Through the first four games, Wisconsin have struggled to run the ball and now they are going up against a ferocious Wolverines Defensive Line that have clamped down on the run really well. Keeping the Badgers behind the chains will be seen as a big win and especially with the erratic Quarter Back play that Wisconsin have been getting all season, regardless of who has begun behind Center.

Wisconsin's Offensive Line have not only struggled in run blocking, but have not been able to keep the Quarter Back upright and this Wolverines pass rush could create havoc in the backfield. Forcing the ball to leave the hands quicker than hoped and from third and long spots can lead to big mistakes with the pass rush closing around the Quarter Back and Michigan's Secondary have been able to force turnovers.

That could be key to moving into a position to cover even against this big number and Michigan fans will also not have forgotten the humiliating 38 point home loss to the Badgers in November 2020.

This time it is the Wolverines who can put up some big points and they can take advantage of a Wisconsin team that are 1-6 against the spread when playing a team with rest having also lost their last game.

Texas Longhorns @ Florida Gators Pick: SEC Conference play has begun for all but one school in 2025, but that changes in Week 6 when the Texas Longhorns (3-1) return from a Bye Week to head to Gainesville. The one loss on the resume to the Ohio State Buckeyes is unlikely to be one that forces the Committee to overlook the Longhorns at the end of the season, but Texas fans do know that the team have to improve out of the Bye Week to come through the gauntlet of the SEC schedule.

Revenge will be on the mind of the Florida Gators (1-3) having been blown out by the Longhorns in 2024, but the bigger ambition has to be snapping the three game losing run.

The road losses to the LSU Tigers and Miami Hurricanes have underlined the Offensive issues that the Florida Gators have had all season, while the defeat to the South Florida Bulls is likely going to mean changes at the end of the 2025 campaign.

Simply put, it is difficult to work out how the Gators can have much more success in this one against the Texas Defensive unit that have been pretty well balanced.

As the competition has ramped up, the Gators Offensive Line have simply not been able to find a way to open up the running lanes and they are not expected to get much change out of this Longhorns Defensive Line. A two week preparation may see them look for other ways to get the ground game going, but this is a Longhorns team that will pride themselves on making teams try and beat them from behind the chains and they can certainly do that here.

All of the pressure may be on DJ Lagway, who has not really gotten on track at the Quarter Back position early in 2025.

He is likely to be faced with significant pass rush pressure, while also trying to throw with consistency against this Texas Secondary, and it could be another long day for a Quarter Back who has 61 passing yards in the big loss to the Miami Hurricanes. DJ Lagway did have almost 300 passing yards against the LSU Tigers, but that was a day in which he threw 5 Interceptions and the Gators may be stuck in the mud in The Swamp when trying to put consistent Offensive plays on the board.

If it wasn't for the Florida Gators Defensive unit, games might have seriously got out of hand for the struggling team.

However, it can become a big ask for a team to spend a lot of time on the field and maintain high levels and in the three game losing run, there has been some opportunity for teams to run the ball against the Gators Defensive Line. This is something the Longhorns will look to do and make sure their own Quarter Back is in the best position to succeed.

Arch Manning has not really played to the level that some may have expected, but he is still learning and there are signs he is improving.

He should be faced with limited pass rush pressure and that should give Arch Manning the time to make plays from third and manageable spots on the field and that should keep the Longhorns in decent shape to win on the road.

There are reasons that the Gators should be respected- they have been very good at home when playing with rest (5-0 against the spread), and the Gators are also 6-3 against the spread as the home underdog with Head Coach Billy Napier at the helm.

Florida have revenge on the mind after being humiliated by the Longhorns eleven months ago, and the Texas Longhorns have a poor record when favoured by less than 17 points in the SEC.

These have to give pause for thought, but there is a talent differential on the Offensive side of the ball and Texas may create a turnover or two that allows them to win this one by around 10 points on the road.

Michigan State Spartans @ Nebraska Cornhuskers Pick: Two Big Ten teams with the same record are hoping to bounce back from Conference losses.

The Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-1) will be hosting the Michigan State Spartans (3-1) and both have fallen to 0-1 in the loaded Big Ten, which means the losing team can already accept that they are not going to be invited into the Playoff.

Both have a decent win on the board against a Power 4 opponent, while the Cornhuskers at least offered some resistance to the Michigan Wolverines in Week 4.

The same cannot really be said for the Michigan State Spartans who were blown out by the USC Trojans on the same weekend and so it does feel there are more questions for the road team to answer.

Michigan State have to lean on the run against this Cornhuskers Defensive Line and try and keep themselves in third and manageable spots on the field. Doing that will control the tempo of the game, but also take away some of the pressure that is perhaps being felt by Quarter Back Aidan Chiles.

In the main, the Quarter Back has handled that really well, although this is another tough challenge against a Nebraska Secondary that have handled the pass exceptionally.

Out of the two teams, Nebraska should have the greater balance when they have the ball and that could make the difference in this important game for two schools still searching for a way to get back amongst the elite of the Conference and the nation.

The Offensive Line should be able to open up enough holes to ensure the Cornhuskers are in third and manageable spots, while Quarter Back Dylan Raiola is producing at a high level.

He will be encouraged by the spaces that the Spartans Secondary have shown all season and it should mean the home team are able to move the chains with some efficiency. Dylan Raiola has 11 Touchdown passes with just a single Interception so far this season and he should be able to put the Cornhuskers in a position to win the game.

Covering will not be easy if the Spartans establish the run, but Michigan State were well beaten when travelling to USC and this Nebraska team could score every time they have the ball.

One or two stalled drives could put Michigan State under pressure and throwing against this Nebraska Secondary has proven to be tough enough to imagine the home team will do enough to win and cover.

MY PICKS: BYU Cougars - 19.5 Points @ 1.83 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Georgia Bulldogs - 20.5 Points @ 1.95 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Clemson Tigers - 13.5 Points @ 1.83 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Michigan Wolverines - 17.5 Points @ 1.95 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Texas Longhorns - 4.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Nebraska Cornhuskers - 11.5 Points @ 1.85 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Week 5: 1-5, - 4.20 Units (6 Units Staked, - 70% Yield)

Week 4: 2-4, - 2.14 Units (6 Units Staked, - 35.67% Yield)

Week 3: 4-4, - 0.36 (8 Units Staked, - 4.50% Yield)

Week 1: 1-4, - 3.14 Units (5 Units Staked, - 62.80% Yield)

Week 0: 2-1, + 0.75 Units (3 Units Staked, + 25% Yield)

NFL Week 6 Picks 2024 (Thursday 10th October-Monday 14th October)

You wait for several months for the season to begin and when you blink, we are already fast approaching the middle of the regular season.

It is the time of the year when teams and fans do begin to worry a little more about the record as the Divisions begin to take shape and so it was perhaps not a massive surprise that the New York Jets made a significant change after dropping to 2-3 with a Week 5 loss in London.

Head Coach Robert Saleh being let go was still a surprise when the news broke as the Jets owner Woody Johnson had made an in-season Head Coaching change for the first time since he owned the team. There have been rumours that Saleh and star Quarter Back Aaron Rodgers have not been on the same page, although denied by Rodgers, but even then the Head Coach must have been as surprised as the fans when the decision was made.

This does feel harsh on Robert Saleh considering it is the New York Jets Offensive unit that has really let the team down, which is not the focus for this Head Coach whose Defensive strengths have shown up on that side of the ball.

Ultimately the Jets felt something had to change, which was also mentioned by Aaron Rodgers when he spoke on Wednesday, and the Bye Week is still some way down the line so the feeling around the team was they could not wait.

In the cold light of day, the Jets are still firmly in the mix in the weak AFC East and this Head Coaching change may change the narrative around this team and get them moving in the right direction. Aaron Rodgers will have to play better than he has, while New York may end up going 'all in' and make some active moves ahead of the trade deadline to strengthen the team.

Woody Johnson has also reached out to Hassan Reddick to return, which would be huge on the Defensive side of the ball and Week 6 is a big chance for the Jets to turn things back around and get going with plenty of eyes on this team already and even more so after a big Coaching decision was made.

There are issues to resolve for the New York Jets, but there will be a few other teams feeling the pressure after rough starts to the season.

Bengals fans would have certainly been expecting Cincinnati to be back challenging with the elite of the AFC, but they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in Week 5 to drop to 1-4 and the margin for error has really narrowed. The team are still competing in a very tough looking Division, but the schedule may just offer Cincinnati some relief, although they cannot afford to keep finding a way to lose games.

One or two will be concerned with the San Francisco 49ers at 2-3, but injuries will clear up and the NFC West still looks their Division to lose- if they can win on Thursday Night Football in Week 6, that will certainly be the narrative and the 49ers have an experience that should keep them competitive.

Underperforming teams are one story, but there are also those overachieving early in the season and the NFC North having all four teams above 0.500 through five weeks is impressive.

The Minnesota Vikings are the last remaining unbeaten team in the Conference and, along with the Kansas City Chiefs, one of two teams that remain unbeaten in the NFL, which really has come as a surprise with Sam Darnold at Quarter Back, and early credit should also be given to Sean Payton for bringing the Denver Broncos up to 3-2 in a season in which they are starting a rookie Quarter Back.

Things can change very quickly in the NFL as injuries pile up and there are a number of key players that will be missing time after picking up issues over the last couple of weeks. These can have a huge impact on the overall outlook for any team, as I would know from what has happened to the Miami Dolphins in 2024, and so you do have to take things week by week, while also trying not to overreact to results from the previous Week.

Avoiding overreactions is also important when it comes to the NFL Picks- it has been a good start to the season, but staying focused and keeping things ticking over is the plan and hopefully the winning weeks can be strung together and the big losing runs can be avoided.

There will not be a selection from Thursday Night Football in Week 6- it looks a competitive game with both Seattle and San Francisco being beaten in home upsets in Week 5 and the line looks a tough one from which to select a side.

The 49ers have dominated this Divisional rival of late, but Seattle are now under a new Coaching Staff and the injuries on the Defensive side of the ball for the road team gives the Seahawks a chance to turn things around. However, San Francisco should also be confident in what they can do with the ball in their hands and perhaps the best approach would be to back the teams to cover the total points line set, although it won't be a selection made.

Picks from Sunday and Monday will be added to this thread over the next few days.

Chicago Bears vs Jacksonville Jaguars Pick: The second of the three London games takes place in Week 6 of the NFL season and both the Chicago Bears (3-2) and Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4) may feel they have something to build upon. The Bears have won two in a row to move back above 0.500 in the loaded NFC North, while the Jacksonville Jaguars snapped their losing run ahead of two games to be played in the Capital of the United Kingdom.

Out of the two teams, there is little doubt that there is far less room for error for the Jaguars who had also come into the season with bigger expectations than the Chicago Bears and their rookie Quarter Back.

An experience edge is with the Jaguars who have regularly played in London, but they have arrived a little later than the Chicago Bears knowing they are here for consecutive games. It should not be a factor, but you just never know, while the Bears will feel they have the strongest unit of the four that play the majority of the game and that is the Defense which has powered Chicago.

However, it is a Defensive unit that have suffered a couple of key injuries in the Secondary and that may leave Chicago a bit more vulnerable in their last game before the Bye Week. Jaquan Brisker was already ruled out, but the Bears suffered a big injury on Thursday when Tyrique Stevenson hurt his calf and he is almost certainly going to miss out.

The problem is that the Bears will not have Stevenson's backup available and so a third string Defensive Back will take to the field, which is obviously going to be an area that the Jacksonville Jaguars look to exploit. You might not be completely convinced about Trevor Lawrence being back just because he exploited an injury hit Colts team in Week 5, but the fact he can exploit those holes is important with this being a big problem for the Chicago Bears.

Jacksonville's Offensive Line have shown they can establish the run when the team are not too far behind on the scoreboard and this has perhaps been the Bears one real weakness early in the season. It could mean another big game for Tank Bigsby who along with Travis Etienne offers the Jaguars the chance to get the ground game going and then open things up for Trevor Lawrence to ramp up the pass.

If they are behind the chains, Jacksonville will be aware that the Chicago pass rush may reduce the time for Lawrence to attack the obvious holes without Brisker and Stevenson in the lineup, but the Jaguars should have considerable success if they can establish the run.

More pressure will be on that Chicago pass rush without some key Defensive Backs, but there will also be some pressure on Caleb Williams to continue the strong form he has shown over the last two weeks. The win over Carolina Panthers was Williams at his best at Quarter Back and he could pick up from where he left off considering the problems that the Jaguars have had defending the pass.

Caleb Williams has shown improvement and the schedule has helped with the teams he has faced, but he would love to see the Chicago Bears have more success running the ball. After early struggles, D'Andre Swift has been a little better in the last couple of weeks, but big holes have not really been created by this Chicago Offensive Line and it could be an issue again this week.

For all of their issues, the Jaguars have largely played the run pretty well and they will certainly be looking to force the rookie to beat them. Even the improved play has not overly concerned the Jaguars and they will feel the pass rush can just rattle Williams if he needs time to allow routes to develop in front of him.

However, in place of a running game, the Bears have used the screen to keep the team moving and that may be the game plan here before attacking a Secondary that has given up some big yardage. Caleb Williams will be well aware of that and he does have some Receiving options in DJ Moore and Keenan Allen that can make significant plays for the team.

The Bears look the right favourite, but it is no surprise to see the line get a little tigher after some of the injuries picked up in the Secondary.

Jacksonville's experience playing in London and the performance in Week 5 will definitely lift the team, but the Chicago pass rush may yet have the impact on the game to turn things in the favour of the Bears.

The Jaguars have won three of their last four games in London and will be strong favourites to beat the New England Patriots at Wembley Stadium next week. However, there are still some questions for this team to answer and the Defensive issues may just give the Chicago Bears the edge to come away with a victory before heading home for the Bye Week.

Games in London have not been the most high-scoring in recent years, but there could be some big plays made in this one with issues in the Secondary for both teams. Ultimately it may come down to a big Sack or a turnover to make the difference and the feeling is that the Chicago Bears pass rush makes the deciding play in this one.

Washington Commanders @ Baltimore Ravens Pick: They are non-Conference opponents so a natural rivalry has not really developed between the Washington Commanders (4-1) and Baltimore Ravens (3-2) even with the short distance between the two NFL teams.

Successful runs will build the fanbase, which both teams are competing to bring in, but overall this cannot be considered a rivalry.

Things may change if both end up meeting in the Super Bowl after strong starts, but even that feels unlikely just yet and despite the very good start made by the Washington Commanders. They were blown out in Week 1 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but four straight wins makes the Commanders the surprising leaders of the NFC East through five weeks of the season.

However, it will be noted that the teams beaten have a combined 6-14 record, even if the Washington Commanders will point out that they have already beaten two AFC North teams. Unfortunately those teams are both struggling and now they have to face the Baltimore Ravens, a team that has won three in a row since opening with a 0-2 record and who look to be one of the leading contenders to represent their Conference in the Super Bowl.

There is the obvious letdown spot for the Ravens having somehow won in Cinncinati in Overtime last week, but they do look a team that could match up pretty well with the Commanders. It also should be noted that Lamar Jackson has been a dominant Quarter Back when it comes to these non-Conference games and that includes beating the Dallas Cowboys on the road this season.

A bit of fortune helped Baltimore win last weekend, but fans will say they were due considering they should have perhaps found a way to beat Kansas City and Las Vegas earlier in the season.

Lamar Jackson is the leader of the team, but he will be extremely grateful to the team for signing Derrick Henry and you have to like the Baltimore Ravens ability to put up some big yards on the ground again. The Offensive Line have really enjoyed blocking for Jackson and Henry and they have punished teams on the ground, which really does not bode well for this Commanders Defensive Line allowing 5.1 yards per carry through the course of the season.

Building a big lead has forced teams to move away from the run, but this Ravens team is unlikely to lose focus on the game plan and there is every reason to believe Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry keep the team moving on the ground. This should negate some of the pressure that the Commanders pass rush have brought onto the field, while Jackson will be able to make some big passing gains if Washington do try and play closer to the Line of Scrimmage.

The expectation is that this Ravens Offensive unit will have a strong day, while the Defense has seen what a dual-threat Quarter Back brings to the table every day in practice. Playing against Jackson will certainly give them an idea of what to expect from rookie Jayden Daniels, as impressive as he has been in his first five games leading the Washington Commanders.

Jayden Daniels is a strong threat when it comes to tucking the ball in and making plays with his legs and the Commanders have a couple of solid Running Back options in Brian Robinson Jr and Austin Ekeler. Those change of pace Backs can cause problems, although it will be interesting to see how the Commanders look to attack this Baltimore Defensive Line that has clamped down on the run.

Instead the weakness has been in the Secondary, as Joe Burrow highlighted last week, but this could be a tough match up for Jayden Daniels. He has shown his passing ability against weaker Secondaries like the Bengals and Cardinals, but it was tougher work for him against the Cleveland Browns and the challenge this week will be dealing with the Baltimore pass rush.

When given time, Jayden Daniels has shown he can make those big plays with his arm, but that is likely to be more difficult if the Commanders are not able to rely on the run. The Offensive Line has been better at run blocking than pass protection and you have to think this Baltimore team will be well aware of how to deal with a Quarter Back that has had massive comparisons to Lamar Jackson early in his NFL career.

With a spread like this, the backdoor cover is absolutely going to be a concern.

We have seen the Ravens blow big leads against the Raiders and Cowboys, while Joe Burrow was lighting them up last week, but a rookie Quarter Back may just have a few more difficulties if Washington are playing from behind the chains. The Ravens should be able to do much of what they want Offensively and there will be enough respect for the early Washington successes to keep them focused before playing on Monday Night Football in Week 7.

The spread will likely come down to a late drive, but that is where the Ravens pass rush can make their presence known and help Baltimore to a fourth win in a row, as well as a fourth cover.

Cleveland Browns @ Philadelphia Eagles Pick: The shock news out of New York will have reverberated around the NFL and there are plenty of other Head Coaches that could be concerned about their futures after Robert Saleh was dismissed.

Most teams will tend to wait until the end of the season and that is the feeling for Nick Sirianni as the Head Coach of the Philadelphia Eagles (2-2). An early Bye Week has perhaps given the team time to get healthier after the blowout loss in Week 4 and also means the Eagles are unlikely to want to make any big decisions until the season is perhaps getting away from them.

Despite taking the Eagles to the Super Bowl, Sirianni is sitting on a hot seat even with the team very much in touch with those around them in the NFC East. There are big expectations from the fanbase though and the Philadelphia Super Bowl window for this current team looks to be closing rapidly, which could lead to big changes all around.

For now they are sticking with the Head Coach as the Eagles come out of the Bye Week and Nick Sirianni has tended to extract a big performance from his team with time to prepare. The likes of Lane Johnson, DeVonta Smith and AJ Brown all missed out in the defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but all have made good use of the Bye Week and the Eagles will be much stronger Offensively.

It also helps that they are facing a Cleveland Browns (1-4) team that are already under the cosh and with a Head Coach who may be even closer to the exit door than his peer across the field. Kevin Stefanski will be trying to focus on the job at hand, but his future looks tied in with Deshaun Watson having refused to make a change at Quarter Back and that looks to be sinking the Head Coach.

Deshaun Watson is playing like a busted flush and there is every chance that people will look back at the trade that Cleveland made to bring him in as the worst in the history of the NFL. The Week 10 Bye could be the moment that massive changes are made by the Browns, by when it could be too late to salvage the 2024 season, and the fans will likely be increasingly frustrated having seen Joe Flacco get off his couch to produce much better than anything seen from Watson.

Instead of keeping Flacco around, the Browns went all in with their Quarter Back and it has been a disaster with the team struggling on this side of the ball. The only win this season has been against the Jacksonville Jaguars, while Cleveland have been downed by opponents like the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders, neither of which have been in dominant form.

The only sympathy you can have for Deshaun Watson is that he has been operating behind a terrible Offensive Line which has really missed having both Tackles at full health. Jedrick Wills and Jack Conklin both suffered big injuries last season and they have clearly not been at full strength, which has kept Watson running for his life behind Center and ultimately taking far too many Sacks.

Some of those have been the fault of the Quarter Back too for holding onto the ball for too long, but it simply has not been good enough.

The Browns may choose to lean on the run to try and put themselves in a much better spot, but the continued absence of Nick Chubb has really been felt too. We have seen teams being able to pound the Eagles on the ground, although it is going to be tougher to do that if Philadelphia choose to dare Watson to beat them through the air and it could be another tough afternoon for Cleveland on this side of the ball.

If not for the Defensive unit, Cleveland might have been on the wrong end of a lot of blowouts this season, rather than just the two. Both have been against teams from the NFC East though and that does not bode well for the Browns who have a number of players trying to play through the pain on this side of the ball.

Philadelphia looking to be close to full strength on the Offensive side of the ball does not bode well for the Browns and especially as they have struggled to stop the run. Saquon Barkley should be able to punish Cleveland when being handed the ball and that can only open up the playbook for Jalen Hurts, who still has to answer some questions about being the long-term solution at Quarter Back for the Eagles.

His Offensive Line will help Barkley produce some big gains on the ground and it is key for Jalen Hurts to have both DeVonta Smith and AJ Brown back. Lane Johnson should help offer better protection to the Quarter Back when he does drop back to throw the ball, while being in third and manageable just makes everything that much more comfortable.

Jalen Hurts has had inconsistent performances at Quarter Back and he really needs to clean up the turnovers, but this is a good opportunity for him. As good as the Browns Secondary have been, they have not really created the turnovers and it will be that much harder to make plays if Hurts is playing in a cleaner pocket and not having to push the ball from third and long spots.

A Divisional game is next on deck for the Eagles, which is a potential distraction, but coming out of the Bye Week should help, especially with Nick Sirianni's record. Over the coming weeks, the Eagles have a schedule that looks incredibly kind on paper and this is a chance to get some momentum going.

There is no doubt this is a big spread, one that offers the backdoor cover even if Watson is replaced by Jameis Winston in the game. However, the Browns have struggled Offensively to have a lot of faith in them and a healthier Philadelphia team could follow Dallas and Washington in crushing this AFC North opponent.

Arizona Cardinals @ Green Bay Packers Pick: The record could have been a lot worse and had the Arizona Cardinals (2-3) under real pressure early in the season if they had been beaten by San Francisco in Week 5. They rallied late and snapped a two game losing run to remain competitive in the early standings of the NFC West, but the Cardinals have to back it up.

This week they are travelling to the Green Bay Packers (3-2) who moved back above 0.500 after seeing off another team from the NFC West, the Los Angeles Rams.

Jordan Love is back for the Packers, although the Quarter Back is hoping to pick up his own level having had some inconsistent moments since his return. That is perhaps to be expected having returned from injury quicker than anticipated, while Love has shown plenty of character by having the Packers get very close to rallying to beat the Minnesota Vikings before the win over the Los Angeles Rams to stay in touch with the early NFC North leaders.

After that victory, the Green Bay Packers could really put some momentum behind themselves before the next big Divisional game against the Detroit Lions in early November.

There is so much to like about this young Green Bay team and they will feel confident they can score most times when they have the ball in their hands. The Offensive Line looks healthy and that has seen them open up plenty of holes up front for Josh Jacobs to show why he was signed to replace Aaron Jones as the main Running Back.

It is going to be tough for the Cardinals Defensive Line to slow down the Packers on the ground as it is, but even more so if both Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson are back on the field. Romeo Doubs was suspended last week for 'activities detrimental to the team', but he has been welcomed back, while Watson looks to have avoided a serious injury and could be used.

Respecting the passing game means Arizona cannot sell out to stop the run so the Green Bay Offensive Line should win out up front and that should put Jordan Love in a strong position to start quicker than he has in each of the last two games. The Quarter Back is not expected to be harassed when he does drop back to throw and that should give Jordan Love the opportunity to have another big passing game.

One concern has to be the Interceptions that Jordan Love has thrown, especially against this ball-hawking Secondary, but being in third and manageable should help and Green Bay should be able to follow the likes of Buffalo and Washington in putting up strong Offensive numbers against the Cardinals.

Running the ball to set up the pass will be the plan as far as the Arizona Cardinals are concerned too, but it may not be as easy for them to do that. Kyle Murray can move the ball with his legs from the Quarter Back position and James Connor continues to impress, but the Packers Defensive Line have just knuckled down and began to have some success when it comes to stopping the run.

Kyren Williams had a decent game against the Packers last week, but the recent performances have been solid enough and that will be important considering some of the erratic play from Kyler Murray when he has to throw.

Any time the Packers can put the Cardinals in obvious passing situations, the Green Bay pass rush is likely to have a big impact on the game and rushing Kyler Murray can lead to positive things happening. Turning the ball over is something this Green Bay Secondary will pride itself on, and Xavier McKinney has had an Interception in each of the first five games, which is a joint franchise record set back in 1943.

There is a bend, don't break mentality to this Packers passing Defense, which should give Kyler Murray and the Cardinals a chance to have some successes. There are some solid Receiving options for Murray to target, but the feeling is that the Green Bay Packers will make a couple of big plays on this side of the ball, which gives them control of the Week 6 contest.

Back in 2018, Arizona upset Green Bay here at Lambeau Field as an almost two Touchdown underdog, but the Packers look to have the Offensive firepower to get the better of the Cardinals by around a Touchdown score this time around.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints Pick: This is one of those selections where you may end up disliking it within the opening couple of drives.

If it was a non-Conference game for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2), the likelihood is that other selections would have appealed more, but this is a Divisional game after a mini-Bye and playing after a loss, which should all add up to a motivated and focused effort.

The Overtime loss on Thursday Night Football has prevented the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from taking an early grip of the NFC South. It is a game where they could have built a bigger first half lead, which would have made it very tough for the Atlanta Falcons to fight back, but that is in the past and the Buccaneers have to only be looking ahead.

In Week 6 they travel to the New Orleans Saints (2-3) who have lost three in a row after blitzing through the first two weeks and looking extremely strong on both sides of the ball. Since then, it has been much more of a struggle in all aspects of their Football and Dennis Allen is back on the hot seat as Head Coach.

The heat will only strengthen if the Saints cannot turn things around, but they are going to have to try and do that without Derek Carr at Quarter Back.

It means Spencer Rattler has to step up, but this is a tough spot for the rookie who will have been expecting to play behind the veteran and learn the nuances of the NFL from the sidelines. Some will suggest he is getting the opportunity to play the right Defensive unit, but Todd Bowles will have something to say about that and the Saints have not exactly been motoring even with Carr behind Center.

New Orleans scored 47 points in Week 1 and 44 points in Week 2, but have combined for just 48 points in their last three games. The Offensive Line has been banged up and that has made it much more difficult for the Saints to establish the run and there is no guarantee they can take advantage of some of the issues the Tampa Bay Defensive Line have had when it comes to clamping down on the run.

The rookie Quarter Back may be able to make a few more plays with his legs compared with Derek Carr, but Spencer Rattler would really prefer if the situations are in third and manageable, rather than what could be third and long spots. Todd Bowles will likely give Spencer Rattler some looks to confuse the young Quarter Back, while the Buccaneers are able to generate plenty of pass rush pressure.

As Kirk Cousins showed, it has been possible to have success throwing into this Buccaneers Secondary, but the New Orleans Receivers have been banged up and playing on a short week is far from ideal.

Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Offensive unit have been a little inconsistent this season- there have been some solid performances, but also some underwhelming ones. However, this Saints Defensive unit has not looked the same over the last three weeks and there is every chance we are going to see a solid performance from the Quarter Back and the plethora of playmakers the Buccaneers have on this side of the ball.

The expectation is that the Buccaneers can pick up from where they left off against the Atlanta Falcons and that is by establishing the run effectively. Both Rachaad White and Bucky Irving picked up some big gains on the ground in the loss to the Falcons, and they should be able to punish the Saints on the ground after New Orleans just allowed Kareem Hunt to put up 102 yards against them.

This should benefit Baker Mayfield in two ways- it should negate the New Orleans pass rush, which would be a problem if Tampa Bay were playing behind the chains, while opening up the Saints Secondary that has struggled during this losing run. With Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, Mayfield has the Receivers that can put up some big numbers in this game if they choose to air it out and you have to like the chances of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win this important Divisional game on the road.

Nothing will come easy with the rivalry in mind, while the spread is above the key number 3 and that can be problematic.

However, the Buccaneers have the time to prepare and facing a New Orleans team playing with a rookie Quarter Back on a short week looks an ideal situation as Tampa Bay look to bounce back from a Week 6 loss. Hurricane Milton did cause a lot of problems for people back home, but Tampa Bay's players have been able to bring their families with them on what has been a longer trip than usual for a road game and that should also mean the full focus is to give their home town fans something to feel good about.

Tampa Bay have won by double digits in three of their last four visits to New Orleans and should have enough to avoid any backdoor cover in this one.

Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets Pick: The decision to fire Robert Saleh as Head Coach might have been a surprise, but it is one that will be judged in January and the final analysis will depend on whether or not the New York Jets (2-3) made the Playoffs. They are far from out of contention even after losing in London in Week 5, but there is a belief that changes were needed to just freshen things up.

It all feels harsh on Saleh considering the Defensive unit have continued to be the best of the three separate units that make up a Football team, but the Jets have made the decision and now have to live with it.

A change at Offensive Co-Ordinator has also been made, but most fans will know that Quarter Back Aaron Rodgers has to be a lot better if the Jets are going to have the kind of season that would have been expected after the veteran returned from missing all but four snaps of the 2023 season.

First up under the new regime is a Monday Night Football game against the Buffalo Bills (3-2) who have lost two in a row- the winner in this one will be leading the AFC East through six weeks so there is plenty on the line for both the Bills and Jets.

Josh Allen has played well enough, but he has lost a key Receiver in Stefon Diggs and someone has yet to step up and fill that hole on the Offense. Poor game management cost the Bills in their loss to the Houston Texans, but Allen has been cleared to play having looked to have suffered a concussion and he is going to be key for the Bills.

However, this is a tough test for Josh Allen and the entire Offensive unit considering how well the New York Jets have played against them. The Jets have won their last two home games against Buffalo, while the current team has the kind of Defensive unit that will make it tough all around on the visiting team.

The Bills will not have an easy day establishing the run, while the Jets have produced plenty of big plays in the passing game to believe they can limit what Buffalo can achieve Offensively. Containing them to less than 22 points will be very possible and it is then up to the Jets to show that they can rally even in the face of controversy.

Aaron Rodgers is the first to admit he needs to play better at Quarter Back, but the Offensive Line will also have something to prove having struggled to help the team establish the run. This is a good chance to turn things around considering the Bills Defensive Line struggles against the run, while the likes of Breece Hall and Braelon Allen should also prove to be a good safety blanket for their Quarter Back.

Much like Josh Allen, Aaron Rodgers has not exactly gotten on the same page with some of his Receivers, but there was a real effort to get Garrett Wilson into things last week and they may be able to build on that. Running the ball should open up the playbook for Aaron Rodgers, and negate some of the pressure that has been all around him, and that should see him expose the Buffalo Secondary that was in the midst of allowing Nico Collins to have a huge game before a hamstring injury knocked him out of the game.

This should give the Jets a chance to spring the upset, while there has been a recent trend of in-season firings leading to a positive reaction from the players as they look to prove it was the Coaching, not their ability, that has led to a difficult decision being made.

For all of the early successes Buffalo have had, the last two weeks have been a reminder that they are still a work in progress without Stefon Diggs. The Defensive unit have not been as strong as they would have liked either and the Jets could easily win this one outright for a third straight home win over this Divisional rival.

MY PICKS: Chicago Bears - 1.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Baltimore Ravens - 6.5 Points @ 1.90 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Philadelphia Eagles - 8.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Green Bay Packers - 5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 3.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)

New York Jets + 2.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Week 5: 4-2, + 1.64 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.33% Yield)

Week 4: 6-2, + 3.45 Units (8 Units Staked, + 43.13% Yield)

Week 3: 3-3, - 0.23 Units (6 Units Staked, - 3.83% Yield)

Week 2: 4-2, + 1.62 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27% Yield)

Week 1: 5-2, + 2.67 Units (7 Units Staked, + 38.14% Yield)