NFL Week 7 Picks 2025 (Thursday 16th October-Monday 20th October)

You wait several months for the season to get underway and in the blink of an eye you are almost at the halfway mark of the regular season.

Right now you have to feel the top of the NFL has a vacuum to fill with every team showing signs of vulnerabilities and an opportunity for a surprising team to come through the pack looks to be wide open.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions were amongst the best teams in the NFL last season and both look very capable of making a real run, especially if they can get back up to full health. Out of the two teams, the Chiefs are certainly looking pretty good as right now, while the Lions will be hoping the Secondary will be looking much stronger in December when things really begin to matter.

Teams like the Baltimore Ravens are already in a really difficult situation as injuries have piled up, and the same can be said for the Cincinnati Bengals, while the likes of the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles have suffered consecutive losses since opening 4-0 and have displayed some worrying issues of their own.

If the Playoffs were to begin today, the Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots would be top four Seeds in the AFC, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles would be in the same position in the NFC.

Not many would be rushing out to back any of those teams to win the Super Bowl this weekend, but it just underlines the openness at the very top of the NFL.

Over the coming weeks the best teams should begin to separate as more games, and thus more data, is seen by the fans.

It will be interesting to see how many of those eight teams mentioned are still occupying top four Seeds at the beginning of December with more than half of the games played and Bye Weeks completed.

The hope is that by then we will also see a big improvement in the numbers for the NFL Picks after another difficult week for the selections made.

Everything came down to the final game of the Sunday action, but the Detroit Lions were well beaten by the Kansas City Chiefs and almost meant a losing week was secured.

The last of the London games will be played this Sunday and the reality is the games have been as poor as expected when the announcement was made ahead of the 2025 schedule being released.

Both the Denver Broncos and New York Jets produced a horrific game in Week 6 and it is very hard to justify the pricing that the NFL have placed for the games they are sending over to London.

They will feel they have saved the best for last, but Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, New York Jets, Los Angeles Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars means the teams coming over have largely been selected from the bottom third of the League. If the NFL wants to continue charging a fortune to watch the games, hopefully they will send over better teams in 2026, but there are other international markets that will also be demanding the same.

It has been a tough opening six weeks to the season for the NFL Picks, but we go again and that all begins on Thursday Night Football in a AFC North Divisional game.

Picks will be added to the thread in the next couple of days.

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Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals Pick: There are a number of trends that have to give you pause for though immediately and those are all suggesting that backing the Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1) would be a mistake. The team have just crushed the Cleveland Browns at home to take a firm grip of the AFC North, especially as the main rivals have been decimated by injury, but Pittsburgh have regularly laid an egg in this kind of spot.

Head Coach Mike Tomlin is widely respected, but he has a losing record against the spread when set as the favourite- that is pretty incredible to think about considering he has never overseen a losing season, but you can make a case that the teams considered 'strong' by the public will have to deal with inflated lines.

But how about the fact that the Steelers have a 1-10 record on Thursday Night Football when facing a team that are coming in off a loss? You could suggest that the short week means Pittsburgh overlook some opponents, although a Divisional game should increase the focus.

The last time the Steelers were asked to lay at least this many points on the road was back in 2020 when it happened in three games and they were only 1-2 against the spread.

Face it, the Pittsburgh Steelers are not a team you want to make with this kind of line or on Thursday Night Football having lost three of their last four appearances on the short week outright.

So why do I think the Pittsburgh Steelers will win and cover? They are facing a Cincinnati Bengals (2-4) team ravaged by injury and who are led by Joe Flacco, a Quarter Back who is only getting to grips with what is expected from him and who has had his difficulties facing Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers Head Coach was offering Flacco plenty of praise, while also criticising the Cleveland Browns for dealing the veteran within the Division to a rival that was 'hurting' in that position. Joe Flacco was not able to prevent the Bengals from losing at the Green Bay Packers in Week 6, but he has a few more days to get used to the team and played pretty well in the second to give him some momentum to build on.

Even if Joe Burrow had been healthy, the feeling was that this was going to be a tough season for the Cincinnati Bengals if they could not fix the Defensive problems that had blighted them in 2024. Those have only been magnified with little Offensive output with Jake Browning under Center, but Joe Flacco will find a way to get the ball out to his big time Receivers.

However, the problem in a game like this one is that the Bengals have been incredibly one-dimensional.

Chase Brown has not been able to do much behind this Offensive Line and the Bengals are unlikely to suddenly start ripping off big gains against this Steelers team. After a slow start to the season, the Steelers Defensive Line are looking more like their old selves when it comes to clamping down on the run and they can certainly do enough to make sure Joe Flacco is operating from third and long spots on the field.

The veteran has Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase ready to catch balls and the Pittsburgh Secondary have been vulnerable in the passing game, so you have to expect some positives from the home team. However, the Offensive Line have been struggling in pass protection as much as run blocking and they are going to have to deal with a very strong Pittsburgh pass rushing team that will get to Joe Flacco and stall drives.

And that is ultimately where the feeling is that the Steelers will find a way to win and cover.

The backdoor is always potentially open, especially because we have yet to see the Pittsburgh Offensive Line help establish a consistent running game. They should be able to impose themselves on this Bengals Defensive Line much better than they could against a strong Cleveland Browns team, although there is work to do and Aaron Rodgers is likely going to be key for the road team.

Another veteran at the position, Aaron Rodgers has been pretty well protected in recent games and that has allowed him to keep the chains moving. This week he is facing a team that is expected to be without their best pass rusher and who have struggled to have much of an impact up front anyway, and that should mean Aaron Rodgers has the time to dissect a Secondary that has allowed over 250 passing yards per game.

Recent games have seen the Bengals Secondary declining further and Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers should be in a position where they are moving the chains with a lot more consistency than this Divisional rival.

The Bengals have failed to cover in each of their last three games when set as the home underdog, while a stronger Cincinnati team have lost three home games in succession against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A final drive is likely going to decide whether the road team covers or not, but they are going into the mini-bye and the hope is that Aaron Rodgers is not thinking ahead to a game with the Green Bay Packers coming up in Week 8.

A late Interception may just secure the cover for the Steelers and they can cover this mark set, even if that means overcoming a number of trends that are going against them in this spot.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs Los Angeles Rams Pick: The last of the London games in 2025 will be played at Wembley Stadium in Week 7 and it features what has become something of a 'home' team for British fans. The Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2) will continue the partnership with London in the next couple of years too and the familiarity of playing overseas should mean the team are prepared for the contest.

Most of the teams playing in London will come over a few days early to acclimatise, but the Los Angeles Rams (4-2) have decided on a completely unique plan.

They beat the Baltimore Ravens on the road in Week 6 and decided to stay in the area rather than heading back to the West Coast- this means being 'only' five hours behind London time, but Sean McVay and the team have decided they will not fly over to England until Saturday morning, just twenty-four hours before kick off and that is something that has not been done before.

Of course it is a 'business trip' as far as the Rams are concerned, but the conditions in Baltimore have been much warmer than London and there will be plenty of people taking notes as to how the NFC West team performs.

On paper this looks a winnable game and the Rams are favourites after the Jacksonville Jaguars suffered a home loss to the Seattle Seahawks last week. However, Los Angeles will be without their top Receiving option in Puka Nacua and that is a big blow considering he has picked up over 35% of the yards thrown by Matthew Stafford this season.

Throwing is going to be tough anyway if the weather forecast is correct- Wembley Stadium does not have a roof and it is expected to be a day of consistent rain, which is going to make things tough right through the game. And so while the Rams will obviously miss Puka Nacua and his production, the game plan may have been one that looks to keep the ball grounded for long periods and rely on a much shorter passing day.

Fumbles from both Running Backs cost the Los Angeles Rams against the San Francisco 49ers and so there will be pressure on Kyren Williams and Blake Corum. But if they can do that, they should give the Rams a chance to at least keep their veteran Quarter Back in front of the chains, while Matthew Stafford's experience of facing all conditions should also be a big help.

In saying that, Stafford will know it is much harder to throw in the rain and if it is a really wet day, he may not expose this Jaguars Secondary as much as would usually be the case. Even without Nacua, the Rams do have players capable of making plays against a team that has been giving up a huge amount of yardage through the air and so the expectation is that Los Angeles will find a way to keep things ticking over.

Jacksonville have made a strong start to the season, but the conditions could make this a tougher day for them Offensively compared with the Los Angeles Rams. Earlier in the season the Offensive Line had been opening up some big running lanes, but some of that momentum has been lost more recently and this Los Angeles Defensive Line has been built to clamp down on the run with a potential Playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles in mind.

They have largely been successful at doing that and the Rams do get a pass rush push up front that is likely to rattle Trevor Lawrence if he is stuck in third and long spots. With the expected rain, it would be a really tough spot from which to keep converting, even with the improving chemistry with Brian Thomas Jr, and the Rams Secondary may be looking for a turnover or two in order to swing this game firmly onto their side.

You have to respect the fact that the Jacksonville Jaguars are 4-2 against the spread in their last six games played in London, while there has to be some uncertainty about the approach taken by Los Angeles to fly in as late as they for this Week 7 game.

Being without one of the top Receivers in the NFL is an obvious blow, but the Rams do match up well with the Jaguars and the rainy conditions gives Los Angeles an edge. They are the stronger team at the Line of Scrimmage on both sides of the ball, while Matthew Stafford is going to be throwing against a Secondary that has been having more issues than the Rams Secondary in recent games.

The lean has to be with the Rams in this opening game on Sunday in Week 7 of the NFL season.

Miami Dolphins @ Cleveland Browns Pick: These two AFC teams may already be thinking about the end of the season and how high they can finish in the Draft Order after miserable starts to the 2025 year. They have a combined two wins between them through six weeks and the Cleveland Browns (1-5) and Miami Dolphins (1-5) are about as where so many believed they would be in the pre-season.

Out of the two teams, the Dolphins will be most disappointed having looked like a team on the up a couple of years ago, but the franchise Quarter Back has not really reached the level hoped. Some of that is down to the injuries suffered by Tua Tagovailoa, and the team had begun to lose key pieces on the Defensive side of the ball heading into the new year.

With Tyreek Hill out and perhaps leaving Miami at the end of the season, rumours suggest that the Dolphins will be willing to listen to offers for personnel on both sides of the ball. Jayden Waddle, Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips have all been involved in trade rumours, while Tagovailoa's comments about some of his team-mates after the latest loss will not have gone down very well at all.

There will be more patience in the Cleveland Browns locker room, especially with a rookie Quarter Back leading the team.

However, this is a team that have a very good Defensive unit and that may be the key difference in the game.

Tua Tagovailoa has apologised to his peers for his comments, but he is going to need some of those to step up and make plays for him. De'Von Achane has been an important figure in the Offensive game plan, but he figures to have a tough time running the ball against this Browns Defensive Line and that will shift the pressure onto a Quarter Back who may be playing the rest of the way to prove he is someone the Dolphins should be keeping faith with to lead them in the years ahead.

He should have some success in this game- the pocket has been kept relatively clean in recent games to afford Tagovailoa some time, although throwing out of third and long spots is always difficult. Using De'Von Achane leaking out of the backfield will be important and there have been some areas of this Browns Secondary that can be exploited, which will give Miami a chance.

The reality is the size of that chance depends on how this Defensive unit plays.

It has been bad for much of the season and even when needing a late Fourth Quarter stop against Carolina and the Los Angeles Chargers, breakdowns have allowed those opponents to score points to win games.

They are facing a rookie Quarter Back in Dillon Gabriel who hasn't exactly been lighting things up for Cleveland, although he does have 3 Touchdown passes without throwing an Interception.

This week Gabriel could be helped out by being given a strong running game to lean on- the Cleveland Offensive Line have not been opening up big lanes, but they are up against a Miami Defensive Line that have not been able to stop anyone on the ground. Quinshon Judkins should be able to get things going and putting the rookie Quarter Back in third and manageable is going to make life that much easier for Dillon Gabriel to show what he can do.

We saw against the New York Jets that the Miami Dolphins can get to the Quarter Back and the Cleveland pass protection has not really been as good as the Browns would have wanted. However, Dillon Gabriel may not have to hold onto the ball for too long if they have established the run as they should and there are Receivers capable of making plays against this Dolphins Secondary to keep the chains moving.

Neither team is particularly good, but you have to believe the Cleveland Defensive unit are the one most likely to stall some drives.

The Dolphins are just 4-10 against the spread since 2023 when set as the road underdog and they look to be a team that is preparing to blow it all up and start again.

A Quarter Back who failed to show much leadership skill and key players being linked with trades are distractions and even this Cleveland Browns team may have too much for Miami right now.

Carolina Panthers @ New York Jets Pick: Aaron Glenn will not have been moving to New York and expecting the Jets (0-6) to be ready to go, but the new Head Coach has to be extremely frustrated with how things have developed early in 2025. They have come close to a win or two, but the Jets have also had some really terrible performances and the loss in London to the Denver Broncos might have been the lowest.

It was an ugly game from both teams, but the Jets Offensive unit could not get anything going and they were fortunate to even pick up 9 points considering 6 of those were given away by the Denver Broncos.

Questions have been raised about a Quarter Back change- Justin Fields is clearly a great athlete, but he looks like he will be a career backup at best and Tyrod Taylor is an experienced leader at the position, even if not the long term answer. For now the decision has been to stick with Justin Fields as the Jets look to join the rest of the League in having a win on the board.

They are narrow underdogs against the Carolina Panthers (3-3) who have won three of their last four games, but have been something of a Jekyll and Hyde team depending where they are playing.

All three Carolina wins have been at home, but all three defeats on the road and something will have to change when these two teams face off in the Meadowlands.

Rico Dowdle will be looking to continue his huge surge of form having compiled over 200 all purpose yards in back to back games to lead the Panthers to wins over Miami and Dallas. The Offensive Line deserve credit for opening up some solid running lanes for Dowdle and he is facing a Jets Defensive Line that have had issues stopping the run all season.

However, the home and road rushing numbers are significantly different for the Panthers and that will raise some doubts about their abilities here.

It is very important for Carolina to establish the run and put Quarter Back Bryce Young in the best position to succeed- Young has been chalk and cheese depending on where he has been playing and the one positive for this Jets team is the play of the Secondary with some strong players to call upon.

You have to believe Bryce Young will continue to lean on Rico Dowdle and the Offensive Line though and they should have success moving the ball.

After that miserable performance last week, the New York Jets will be looking to get things going on the ground and see if that can open up the passing lanes. Justin Fields is capable of moving the ball with his legs and Breece Hall is playing well, although the latter is surrounded by trade rumours which can be a distraction.

The recent performances of the Carolina Defensive Line will pose a challenge for New York, assuming the Panthers can take that strength up front onto the road. Clamping down on the run would make things very difficult for the Jets who are without Garrett Wilson and have had erratic displays out of the Fields arm.

Indecision from Justin Fields has led to Sacks, but he should have a cleaner pocket in this one when he does step back to throw.

However, without Wilson, the targets are going to be a little more inconsistent in their own ability and it could be another tough day in the office for Quarter Back and team.

The Jets are two weeks away from the Bye Week, which is when they may be able to make bigger changes, but this is a team that looks lost right now. Players have to be wondering if the Head Coach has given up on things with the decision to stick with a struggling Justin Fields at Quarter Back and they are facing a Carolina Panthers team that have won two in a row.

Playing on the road has been a real chore for Carolina, but this is as good a chance as they will have to end that poor run and the Panthers may edge this one with what could develop into the superior rushing outcomes.

New York Giants @ Denver Broncos Pick: This has to be seen as an incredibly difficult scheduling spot for the Denver Broncos (4-2) who have travelled back from London in Week 6 after getting the better of the New York team that plays in the same Conference. It was an ugly win, but a win, although now the Broncos have to host the New York Giants (2-4) who have enjoyed something of a mini-Bye after upsetting Divisional rivals the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday Night Football to open Week 6.

One issue for the Giants is that they are playing a non-Conference opponent in between an Eagles sandwich, but New York have a couple of rookies on the Offensive unit who will offer intensity and enthusiasm.

Both Jaxson Dart at Quarter Back and Cam Skattebo had huge impacts in the win over the Eagles- Dart had 195 passing yards with a Touchdown and added 58 yards on the ground with another Touchdown, while Skattebo had 98 rushing yards and three Touchdowns.

That is obviously hugely positive news, but this week the Giants are facing a tough Defensive unit that has allowed an average of just 254 total Offensive yards per game and who have been even better at Mile High.

Establishing the run against this Denver Defensive Line is going to be a huge test for the New York Giants, even with a dual-threat like Jaxson Dart behind Center. Daniel Jones and Justin Fields both have that capability too, so Denver should be pretty well prepared to face this rookie Giants Quarter Back if he does decide he wants to tuck the ball and run.

Making that all the tougher is going to be the fact that the Broncos pass rush has really been dialled up to eleven of late and they have been rampaging into the backfield. It is going to be a huge challenge for the Giants Offensive Line to not only prevent them collapsing the pocket and limiting places for Dart to run, but to give the Quarter Back any significant time for routes to develop down the field, especially with no Malik Nabers in the lineup.

Jaxson Dart has been able to look after the ball, but keeping the chains moving with consistency against this Broncos Secondary will be incredibly tough and the home team have to feel pretty confident about their chances.

In regards to the spread, the question really becomes whether the Broncos can produce the consistency needed with a significant line in front of them.

They were really poor in the second half against the New York Jets in Week 6, but this is a chance for JK Dobbins and company to bounce back. Sean Payton wants his team to run the ball and this Broncos Offensive Line have been very capable of opening up lanes for Dobbins and Bo Nix, while the Giants are not really a team that have shown they can hold up when the rock is being pounded at them.

All things being equal, it should mean Bo Nix is in a position to have a bounce back game of his own against this Giants Secondary that has been torched at times.

The Quarter Back will be protected and there are some experienced Receivers who can make plays for him down the field, while the likes of Troy Franklin can take the top off the Secondary. Being back at home should help Denver and they should be the team having the most consistent success and it could lead to a solid home win.

The Broncos have been productive at home in wins over Tennessee and Cincinnati- the Giants will feel their own Defensive unit is better than those two, but that does not feel like a significantly tougher challenge for Bo Nix and the rest of the team on this side of the ball.

Penalties have actually been a bigger problem for the Broncos and they need to clean those up if they are going to challenge in the loaded AFC West. If they can produce a cleaner game, the Broncos should have too much for a New York team that may already be thinking about a rematch against the Philadelphia Eagles.

MY PICKS: Pittsburgh Steelers - 5.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Los Angeles Rams - 3 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Cleveland Browns - 2.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Carolina Panthers - 1.5 Points @ 1.92 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

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

Week 6: 3-4, - 1.09 Units (7 Units Staked, - 15.57% Yield)

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: 16-17, - 2.33 Units (33 Units Staked, - 7.06% Yield)

College Football Week 7 Picks 2025 (Saturday 11th October)

It has been a season of backdoor covers going against the selections and there were a couple more last week to turn things in a negative direction again.

This has been a poor run, but we are only just reaching the halfway mark of the regular season and so the turnaround can hopefully begin in Week 7 and then build momentum over the coming weeks.

Ohio State Buckeyes @ Illinois Fighting Illini Pick: Things can change so quickly and so dramatically in the world of College Football and that is evidenced by the losses picked up by the Texas Longhorns and Penn State Nittany Lions. The top two pre-season Ranked teams are already unranked, just weeks into the 2025 season, and the plight of both will be a warning to the other top teams around the nation.

Defending Champions Ohio State Buckeyes (5-0) earned an opening week win over the Longhorns, although that victory does not look nearly as good now as it felt back in Week 1. Remaining undefeated has pushed the Buckeyes along and they are 2-0 in Big Ten Conference play after securing comfortable wins over the Washington Huskies and Minnesota Golden Gophers.

However, this game in Week 7 might be the toughest the Buckeyes have faced to this point of the campaign as they prepare to travel to the Illinois Fighting Illini (5-1) who are also 2-1 in the Big Ten.

A loss like the one suffered at the Indiana Hoosiers might have irreparably damaged the Illinois season- they were not just beaten in that opening Big Ten game, but they were embarrassed. However, credit has to be given to the players and the Coaching staff that Illinois have been able to bounce back with a home win over the USC Trojans and a road win over Purdue, the former being unbeaten when they faced the Fighting Illini, and another win in Week 7 will certainly have Illinois competing for a place in the College Football Playoff.

You would make the Fighting Illini favourites to win out if they are able to beat Ohio State this week, although the case for the team making the Playoff will be much harder to make if they were to lose to the Buckeyes having already been beaten by Illinois.

That means there is some pressure on Illinois as they look to become the first team to give this Buckeyes Defensive unit some questions to answer.

Through five games, the Ohio State Buckeyes are allowing an average of 5 points per game, while they have held teams to an average of just 215 total Offensive yards.

A couple of key players could be returning for the Fighting Illini on this side of the ball, but it is going to be very tough for the home team to produce consistently with the ball in their hands. The problems begin up front with the Buckeyes Defensive Line clamping down on the run and Illinois have been having issues establishing the run anyway, which suggests all of the pressure will be on Luke Altmyer at Quarter Back.

Luke Altmyer will take confidence from the performances he has put on the board, but throwing against this Buckeyes Secondary has proven to be a real difficulty for anyone attempting to do so. He is likely going to be in third and long spots, which is going to be a problem for an Offensive Line that has struggled in pass protection, and Altmyer is going to be attempting to make plays with said protection breaking down around him against this fierce Ohio State pass rush.

And as mentioned, Altmyer will still be trying to find spaces to exploit against the Ohio State Secondary that have been producing at a high level. Interceptions have not really been racked up by the Buckeyes, but they have stopped drives and that has allowed the team to pull clear for comfortable wins through the five games played.

Minnesota Head Coach PJ Fleck stated you have to 'pick your poison' when facing this Buckeyes team with the ball in hand and it is very difficult to see how Illinois are going to find consistent stops of their own.

Since the Big Ten play started, the Fighting Illini Defensive Line has allowed some huge chunks of yardage to be picked up on the ground and they are going to have issues against the Buckeyes Offensive Line that have opened up huge holes up front. With the team likely to be doing the same on Saturday, Julian Sayin will be kept in a comfortable position to make plays at Quarter Back and he is also targeting elite Receivers.

Over the last three games, teams are averaging over 300 passing yards per game against the Fighting Illini Secondary and so this feels like another comfortable day for Ohio State.

Julian Sayin has thrown 3 Interceptions, but also has 13 Touchdown passes and the Buckeyes should be really well balanced Offensively, which ultimately should lead to a solid win on the day.

These two Big Ten teams have not met since 2017, but the last five Ohio State wins have been by margins of 38, 25, 41, 25 and 30 point margins and the 2025 Buckeyes look capable of taking care of the spread set.

Illinois have been a really good underdog to back under Head Coach Bret Bielema, but they are 1-1 against the spread in that spot this season and the 53 point defeat to the Indiana Hoosiers is the one result that stands out the most.

Being blown out to that level at home is unlikely, but the Fighting Illini may struggle to stop Ohio State whenever the Buckeyes have the ball and that could lead to a big enough win to cover this mark.

Arkansas Razorbacks @ Tennessee Volunteers Pick: They have bounced back in the manner that would have been expected after suffering an opening loss of the season, but the Tennessee Volunteers (4-1) cannot afford to look past any opponent right now. There is a huge game on deck against the Alabama Crimson Tide, but this is an incredibly tough Conference and another SEC defeat to the Arkansas Razorbacks (2-3) will be difficult to shake off as far as the Playoff Committee are concerned.

Once again the Georgia Bulldogs have gotten the better of the Volunteers, but they have won two games in a row as favourites and they are set as a solid home favourite ahead of Week 7.

They are facing an Arkansas team coming out of a Bye Week, but Head Coach Sam Pittman has been fired and it is Bobby Petrino who will be Interim Head Coach this week. It has meant a change in the way the Razorbacks prepare, while the team were absolutely embarrassed in a crushing loss to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in Week 5, which is also a third straight defeat for Arkansas.

Encouragement has to be taken from the fact the Razorbacks had a competitive loss at the Mississippi Rebels in the sole SEC game played, while the Interim Head Coach is very experienced and has made a positive impact with the players.

Bobby Petrino had led Arkansas to back to back double digit seasons before being fired for inappropriate personal conduct back in 2012, and he may see this as an opportunity for redemption having made it clear that he was at fault for mistakes made over a decade ago. His players will also want to back up the Interim and bounce back from a really poor performance against Notre Dame and they could have some Offensive success in this game.

Running the ball effecitvely has been a feature of the Razorbacks all season, although pounding the rock against this Volunteers Defensive Line is a tough challenge. There will still be a feeling that the Razorbacks can have enough success on the ground to at least keep Quarter Back Taylen Green in a position to keep the chains moving and put Tennessee under some pressure.

Taylen Green has been well protected by the Offensive Line, although they will be dealing with a strong Tennessee pass rush, and he will be encouraged by the successes teams have had throwing the ball against this Secondary. Avoiding Interceptions may be challenging, but Green should have strong passing numbers and that at least gives Arkansas a chance to put a competitive performance on the board.

However, the problem has been the other side of the ball with the Razorbacks struggling to stop opponents thanks to an inability to avoid teams finding plenty of Offensive balance.

Simply put, the Razorbacks neither stop the run nor the pass and that has allowed the better opponents faced to rack up the numbers and ultimately score plenty of points against this team. Arkansas can blame the defeat to the Memphis Tigers in Week 4 because of that inability to stop a team doing what they want and they are unlikely to have much success against this strong Tennessee Offensive unit.

You have to expect the Volunteers Offensive Line to establish the run and they could rip off some big gains on the ground, which only makes life very comfortable for Joey Aguilar when he is asked to drop back to throw. With very little push up front, Aguilar is likely to have a clean pocket and he should be able to make this Arkansas Secondary pay whenever he wants.

That balance is going to make it very tough to stop Tennessee from piling up the yards and ultimately the points and the home team may be able to create a turnover or two in order to cover this spread. They do have Alabama on deck, which could allow a backdoor cover, but Tennessee were upset by Arkansas in 2024 and that will not be far from the mind of the players or the Coaching staff.

Respect has to be given to Arkansas for pushing Ole Miss in a road loss and they have the capabilities of scoring plenty of points too, but those potential extra possessions is where Tennessee can eventually pull away for a win by a couple of Touchdowns.

Florida Gators @ Texas A&M Aggies Pick: Two weeks ago, the Texas A&M Aggies (5-0) may have allowed the Auburn Tigers to hang around, but ultimately the Aggies picked up another SEC win. They are now 2-0 in the Conference and it was a game that was dominated by Texas A&M with the scoreline nowhere near a reflection of the performance.

They will need to do a bit more in College Station in Week 7 as the Aggies look to remain unbeaten against a Florida Gators (2-3) team that just upset the Texas Longhorns. That has pulled the Gators back up to 1-1 in the SEC and cooled the increasingly hot seat upon which Head Coach Billy Napier has been sitting, although fans may still be demanding something changes at the end of this season.

There are big expectations to be met by the Aggies who have an experienced team, but this is a tough Gators Defensive unit as Arch Manning found out in Week 6.

However, there is a bit more confidence around the Aggies Offensive unit and having a week to prepare for this game will help. Running the ball against the Gators is goign to be challenging, but Quarter Back Marcel Reed will feel that his Offensive Line can offer him the time to throw successfully against this Florida Secondary.

Perhaps more important is the improved performances of this Aggies Defensive unit and they will certainly feel they have the edge over the Gators, even if the road team played better than expected against the Texas Longhorns.

Texas A&M have a Defensive Line that will clamp down on the run and they will feel they can win up front and force DJ Lagway to beat them with his arm.

The Quarter Back showed he can do that in the Week 6 upset, but that was at home and DJ Lagway has been far from consistent when dropping back to throw the ball down the field. He will also likely have to deal with what has been a productive Aggies pass rush and that will make it tough for Lagway to see routes develop to try and exploit what has been a very good Aggies Secondary.

Once that pressure has ramped up, DJ Lagway has been guilty of making some back-breaking turnovers and that could be the case to not only allow Texas A&M to win, but to also cover this mark.

The Aggies were embarrassed when last hosting Florida, but they won by double digits in Gainesville in 2024 and they can earn a redemption for the home loss of 2022 by winning this one by double digits too.

Clemson Tigers @ Boston College Eagles Pick: It is going to take a special set of results over the next few weeks to give the Clemson Tigers (2-3) any chance of returning to the College Football Playoff. The team have to put that aside and instead focus on making sure they are 1-0 every week and see where they land after a miserable start to the season.

They are 1-2 in the ACC, but Clemson won very well at the North Carolina Tar Heels last week, which should give them some momentum.

Next up is another road game when travelling to the Boston College Eagles (1-4) who have a lost all three Conference games. In the main the Eagles have been competitive, but they were blown out by the Pittsburgh Panthers in Week 6 and picking themselves up will not be easy.

Boston College have struggled to run the ball all season and in recent games it has been a big problem.

They are not expected to have a lot of success on the ground and inconsistency in the Quarter Back position has really held the Eagles back. They used three different players in the position in the thumping to the Panthers, but this Clemson Secondary has given up some yards through the air and so Boston College may at least put up a few more points than they managed in Week 6.

Clemson are expected to have a balanced approach to their Offensive play and that is why they have been set as a significant favourite. They should be able to establish the run and Cade Klubnik can impress out of the Quarter Back position with some of the limelight moving away from the Tigers and onto other teams.

This may allow Klubnik to shine a bit more and he should be comfortable in third and manageable spots on the field.

The Tigers are also going up against a Boston College Secondary that have allowed the opposition passing game to thrive and it should give the road team an opportunity to clear this big spread for a second week in a row on the road.

These teams last met here three years ago and Clemson produced a big win.

It is clear that the Tigers are not as good as previous teams that have represented the school, but they should be good enough to beat this struggling Boston College team.

Georgia Bulldogs @ Auburn Tigers Pick: The season opened with three straight wins, but the Auburn Tigers (3-2) return from a Bye Week having suffered consecutive losses and both to SEC rivals. Those losses on the road to Oklahoma Sooners and Texas A&M Aggies have already made the pathway towards the College Football Playoff look unlikely, but Auburn's lingering hopes will be erased completely if they are to drop this game at home.

They are well rested, although Auburn are 1-3 against the spread coming out of a Bye, and the Tigers do have home advantage.

However, they are facing a Georgia Bulldogs (4-1) team who are looking to continue their recovery after the defeat to the Alabama Crimson Tide by securing a second consecutive SEC victory. Last week the Bulldogs beat the Kentucky Wildcats at home and Georgia could be very much back on track to make their way into the College Football Playoff if they can win this game and then beat the currently unbeaten Mississippi Rebels in Week 8.

Playing on the road is never easy, but the Bulldogs outlasted Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville earlier this season and Auburn have not looked very good in the previous two SEC defeats.

As the competition has ramped up, Auburn's Offensive Line have struggled to make an impact in the run game and that has put the team in a difficult position. The Tigers will not be expected to have a lot more success trying to pound the rock against this Georgia Defensive Line and so it will be up to Jackson Arnold to perhaps step up for the home team.

The Quarter Back has looked after the ball, which is all well and good, but Head Coach Hugh Freeze may be looking for Jackson Arnold to perhaps take a few more risks. No one wants to turn the ball over, but Arnold has been pretty safe with his decisions, although that may also be partly down to the pass blocking problems that the Auburn Offensive Line have had.

He should have a bit more time in this one, and the Georgia Secondary have given up some big yards so there is an opportunity for Jackson Arnold. However, the Quarter Back will have to do something he has yet to prove this season and the Bulldogs may still be relatively comfortable with having Arnold try and make plays from third and long spots on the field.

Georgia are not going to be marching up and down the field themselves so playing the field position battle is important.

Much like Auburn, it is going to be a real challenge for the Bulldogs Offensive Line to establish the run and try and take the pressure away from Quarter Back Gunner Stockton. He has shown he can be a dual-threat with five rushing Touchdowns scored, but Stockton has been inconsistent as a passer and that will give Auburn a real feeling of finding a way to earn the upset.

Gunner Stockton has made a few more mistakes in the passing game and turnovers could be crucial in this game- he should have time to make his throws in the pocket though and that will give Stockton a chance to help the Bulldogs move the chains, although doing so with consistency is much harder to believe in.

Despite that, the Bulldogs should still have too much for the hosts who have been dominated by this SEC rival in recent years.

Eight straight wins have been produced by Georgia over Auburn and most have been relatively one-sided.

This one should be more competitive, but the Bulldogs have the talent edge and Auburn have already found Oklahoma and Texas A&M too good for them. The Bulldogs look about as strong as those two SEC teams and Jackson Arnold may not have the confidence to make the plays that Auburn expects from him at crucial moments, which may in turn mean another Touchdown margin of victory for the Georgia Bulldogs in this big Conference game.

MY PICKS: Ohio State Buckeyes - 14.5 Points @ 1.95 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Tennessee Volunteers - 10.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Texas A&M Aggies - 7.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Clemson Tigers - 14 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Georgia Bulldogs - 3.5 Points @ 1.85 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Week 6: 2-4, - 2.22 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37% Yield)

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 7 Picks 2024 (Thursday 17th October-Monday 21st October)

Another NFL week is in the books and the NFC North continues to impress with each of the four teams now two games above 0.500.

Can all four teams really make the Playoffs later this year? It still looks incredibly unlikely when you think that there have been a lack of Divisional games played between the four teams and that naturally will begin to thin out the chances of all making history and reaching the post-season.

This weekend there is a big game between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings which begins that process, but all four NFC North teams have to be very happy with the form shown.

Three are most likely going to make the post-season and you would still lean towards the Lions, Vikings and Green Bay Packers being those three teams rather than the Chicago Bears. Beating up on bad teams has pushed the Bears to 4-2, but they have to face all three Divisional rivals and that is when we will learn a lot more about Caleb Williams and the whole Chicago team.

The Bears enjoy a Bye Week, as do the Dallas Cowboys after the capitulation against the aforementioned Lions in Week 6.

Jerry Jones was not happy that journalists are even questioning where the Cowboys are heading, but there will be questions when continuing to be dominated at home. At least they are playing in a Division where they are far from out of things at 3-3, especially if Dallas can use the Bye Week to get healthier.

The trade deadline is now fast approaching and some of the pieces are beginning to be moved on the board.

Dsvante Adams has gotten his wish to not only be traded from the Las Vegas Raiders, but to join old friend Aaron Rodgers at the New York Jets. He has been missing with a hamstring issue in recent games for the Raiders, but unsurprisingly is expected to suit up on Sunday as the Jets look to get their season turned back around.

Soon after the news broke, the Jets main AFC East rivals, the Buffalo Bills traded for Amari Cooper and that could be a huge boost for Josh Allen and the passing game.

Moves will be made in the coming days and we are already beginning to see a separation of those who believe they can contend, and those that may already be thinking about 2025.

Another week of NFL Picks have returned with a positive number and that makes this a strong start to the season.

There is still too much of a road to run to get carried away, but the selections have been managed well and Week 7 will hopefully keep the positive momentum going.

It is the last weekend of London hosting a game, although that looks a poor game on paper, while there are some big games to be played throughout Week 7 and that can only be good news for fans of the League.

Putting some winners down alongside those big games will just be the icing on the cake.

Denver Broncos @ New Orleans Saints Pick: This is a non-Conference game, but there is little doubt that the New Orleans Saints (2-4) hosting the Denver Broncos (3-3) was picked for Thursday Night Football in Week 7 for one reason.

The return of Sean Payton.

Despite leading the New Orleans Saints to their sole Super Bowl win and turning around a franchise that had been more associated with losing, Sean Payton's departure in 2022 has not been received very well inside the building by those in management nor in the stands. Some have even indicated that the ceremony to mark Drew Brees' time as Quarter Back of the Saints should not have been held on this night, even though it was the Head Coach-Quarter Back partnership that proved so successful for the Saints.

Sean Payton is not concerning himself too much about the reception he is likely to face having seen his Denver Broncos team lose last time out to snap a three game winning run. There is still work to do in order to get Denver back onto a path of consistent winning, and that is the focus for Payton.

The storyline about the return might have been huge if New Orleans had been able to sustain the form they showed in recording back to back blowouts to open the season at 2-0. Injuries have piled up since then and the Saints were just embarrassed by Divisional rivals Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6 as they fell to a fourth consecutive defeat.

Spencer Rattler made the start at Quarter Back and had some ups and downs, but that was to be expected. The Saints will need Derek Carr back quickly and Head Coach Dennis Allen has to be fearing for his long-term prospects without his starting Quarter Back, especially if the team do not show a lot more effort than they did against the Buccaneers.

At least they are not facing an Offensive powerhouse on Thursday Night Football with Denver still learning how to get the best out of their own rookie Quarter Back, Bo Nix.

There were some positives from Bo Nix during the three game winning run- he did not throw an Interception in that time- but the Broncos know that you need more from the Quarter Back position in the modern era. That does not mean you want to put a rookie in a tough spot, but the defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers to fall back to 0.500 underlined the point about needing more when the chips are down.

On Thursday night, Denver may actually have more success Offensively than they have for much of the season and that is very much down to the injuries the Saints have on this side of the ball. Motivation will be found by wanting to shut down their former Head Coach who is known for his Offensive mind, but the Saints Defensive Line will have to be a lot better than what they have shown during this losing run.

Limited pass rush pressure has been produced and this Broncos Offensive Line have kept Bo Nix pretty well protected, while Denver have to believe they will be able to effectively establish the run. Stopping the run has been a season-long problem for the Saints, but it has really been highlighted when they have not been playing with a big lead and the Denver Broncos have to believe they can keep Bo Nix in favourable field positions.

Bo Nix has yet to really have the passing numbers that the likes of Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels have produced, but he should be in a good position to keep the chains moving. This Saints Secondary have struggled to make plays with little pass rush pressure on the opponent Quarter Back and even Nix should be able to exploit the holes that have opened up.

This can only be a positive for the Denver Broncos who can then turn the game over to the Defensive unit that has powered the 3-3 record.

It all starts up front for the Broncos and the Defensive Line have proved themselves to be pretty stout against the run. That may have been tested if this was Week 2, but the Broncos have to be a big favourite at the Line of Scrimmage considering the injuries that have slowed down the New Orleans run blocking capablities.

Even Alvin Kamara has been banged up and the Saints are struggling to get in front of the chains, something that may be even more difficult with Spencer Rattler at Quarter Back rather than Derek Carr. There is a feeling that the Broncos won't need to load the box to contain the run anyway, but the option may be there if they don't believe Rattler can do enough to keep them honest through the air.

One positive for Spencer Rattler is that Patrick Surtain II is unlikely to suit up, although the Quarter Back will need his Offensive Line to give him time to hit the Receivers down the field if he is stuck in third and long spots. That time is unlikely considering the pressure that the Denver Broncos have gotten up front and it could lead to further Interceptions thrown by a rookie that is perhaps not ready for this stage.

Again, it should be noted that the New Orleans Saints could be playing with a lot more energy and motivation against their former Head Coach. The fans will certainly be a little more pumped, despite the four losses in a row, but all of that may not be enough to get the better of Sean Payton, who will have plenty of motivation of his own.

His Defensive unit can step up and make the big plays to give the Broncos the edge and even the Denver Offense may be able to do more than usual against an injury hit opponent.

Being set as the road favourite is not something the Denver Broncos have been used to in recent times, but they do look to have a real advantage at the Line of Scrimmage on both sides of the ball and that should put the AFC West representatives in a position to win and cover.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs New England Patriots Pick: The last of the three games to be played in London takes place in Week 7 of the 2024 season and this does look the weakest of the three that were sent over the pond.

The Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5) have been a regular feature of the London games and they have stayed for consecutive games after being crushed by the Chicago Bears in Week 6. It was a really poor outing and Head Coach Doug Pederson is under real pressure with changes potentially being made before the team heads back to the United States.

After the stunning capitulation at the end of the 2023 season, the Jaguars could not have asked for a worse start this time around and they are already firmly behind the black ball. You don't spend the money they did on extending Trevor Lawrence's contract at Quarter Back without expecting Playoff runs every season, but Jacksonville will need to produce something special over their remaining eleven games to move back into contention.

Things are bad for Jacksonville, but the same can be said for the team in transition that will play as the 'visiting team' at Wembley Stadium. The New England Patriots (1-5) have lost five in a row since their upset win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1 and they have now moved into the Drake Maye era with the rookie taking over at Quarter Back from veteran Jacoby Brissett.

Managing the game had been the job specification for Brissett and he was largely capable of looking after the ball, but Drake Maye showed he has the higher upside in the crushing loss to the Houston Texans.

Yes, he threw two Interceptions, but Maye had over 240 passing yards and three Touchdown passes too.

One of the main reasons Drake Maye had not been installed into the starting lineup immediately was less to do with high expectations at New England and almost everything to do with the Patriots Offensive Line. They looked like a unit that may not offer a lot of protection for the Quarter Back and that is exactly how things have worked out so the hope was that the Patriots would not have to leave Maye in a position to be beaten up in the NFL.

He will be under duress in this game when New England are in obvious passing situations, but the Jacksonville Jaguars have struggled in most other aspects on this side of the ball. For all of their protection struggles, the Patriots have been able to establish the run and they should have success doing that against the Jaguars, and that should give Drake Maye an opportunity to attack this Secondary.

This might not be the deepest New England Receiving corps, but they will be able to make some plays for their rookie Quarter Back. It also helps that Drake Maye is able to move the ball with his legs and the Patriots should be able to score points in this one, even if they are on a relatively long travelling path in Week 7.

It might be the one factor that can help the Jacksonville Jaguars slow things down having been gashed by the Chicago Bears last week and looking like a team that is struggling for confidence.

The same can be said on the other side of the ball and Jacksonville were punished for far too many drops in the defeat to the Bears. However, they were having some success until the game got out of hand and this is a team that should be able to have one of their stronger outings against this Patriots Defense.

Running the ball should not be a problem with Tank Bigsby getting the majority of carries in place of the injured Travis Etienne- the Jaguars Offensive Line have been pretty effective at moving the ball on the ground and Bigsby has shown he can hit the holes as they develop in front of him, which can only be good news for Trevor Lawrence.

The Quarter Back has a number of solid Receiving options, well solid if they are not dropping passes that hit them in the chest plate. Gabe Davis might have had two Touchdown catches last week, but could have doubled that with stronger hands and this is another game in which the Jaguars should be able to move the ball through the air as well as the ground.

Trevor Lawrence should have time in the pocket, but the key for the Quarter Back is to avoid the turnovers that this New England team have been picking up to remain competitive. If he can do that, the Jaguars might just alleviate some of the immediate pressure on their Head Coach by securing a solid win in London in the second game the Jaguars have played in the UK Capital this month.

You cannot say it is easy to trust the Jaguars as a big favourite considering the really poor numbers being put together Defensively, but New England have struggled to remain competitive within games. Drake Maye has offered a spark, but travelling to London will be tough, especially when facing an opponent that should be well adjusted to the time zone having spent over a week on that side of the Atlantic.

The favourite has won both games played in London this season and Jacksonville are likely to win the turnover battle in this one, which should see them have enough to cover too. As bad as things have been for Jacksonville, the Patriots have arguably had it worse and the Jaguars may be able to score enough points to just keep New England at arm's length.

Baltimore Ravens @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pick: Would you stand in front of a buzzsaw willingly? The answer almost certainly going to be 'no', but the Baltimore Ravens (4-2) may struggle to cover this spread on the road, even if they have won four in a row and ground down all in front of them in that run.

They will be looking to do the same against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2) who bounced back from a disappointing loss to the Atlanta Falcons to beat another Divisional rival in Week 7.

With Derrick Henry behind Lamar Jackson, it is no surprise that an already effective Ravens rushing Offense is pounding out the yards on the ground and stopping Baltimore from doing what they want to do has proven too tough for most. That is not expected to be much different when they face this Buccaneers Defensive Line and both players should keep things ticking along on the ground and ensuring Baltimore are playing in front of the chains.

Doing so has really made things very comfortable for Lamar Jackson when has chosen to throw the ball and the numbers make good reading during this winning run. Running the ball, or the threat of this powerful running game, will just cool down any pass rush pressure teams are willing to invest in as they try and rattle Jackson, and that should also mean the Quarter Back has time to dissect this Tampa Bay Secondary.

The reality is that Lamar Jackson has proven himself to be a very good starter in the regular season and he is really going to be judged in January when the pressure ramps up. He has looked after the ball when he has chosen to throw and the Ravens should be able to have their own way on this side of the ball.

So why go against them?

As good as Baltimore have been Offensively, the Defensive unit are still growing and there is no doubt that the Buccaneers have a team that can score enough points to keep this one competitive.

One concern when Tom Brady left was that Tampa Bay would struggle to find a Quarter Back to take the reins, but Baker Mayfield has more than stepped up. Some salty comments aside, Mayfield has impressed with his maturity and the Tampa Bay Offensive unit have been playing with plenty of rhythm.

He is surrounded by some talented playmakers, although it is Bucky Irving stepping up to complement the running game that will give Tampa Bay the balance to keep on the scoreboard. It is not easy to run the ball against this Ravens Defensive Line, but Tampa Bay's Offensive Line have been opening up some big holes up front and they just need to keep that threat alive to help Baker Mayfield.

The main problem for the Ravens is that they have not been able to stop the pass so the likes of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin should be able to have big games to support their Quarter Back. The likes of Irving and Rachaad White can contribute by leaking out of the backfield and the struggles of the Baltimore Secondary should give the Tampa Bay Buccaneers every chance of a backdoor cover at the very least.

It is never ideal going up against a team playing with the momentum Baltimore have, but Tampa Bay are not exactly struggling for wins.

Lamar Jackson's record against the NFC is another concern, but there is a way the Ravens can win without covering and taking the points looks the call considering how well the Tampa Bay Offensive unit should match up with the Baltimore Secondary here.

Los Angeles Chargers @ Arizona Cardinals Pick: The Monday Night Football double-header looks like it might be a regular feature of the schedule in the coming years and we have yet another one of those in Week 7 of the 2024 season.

The second of those games will be played between teams that play in the West Division of their respective Conferences and the Arizona Cardinals (2-4) will be looking to bounce back from a heavy loss and get back on track.

It was a winning effort from the Los Angeles Chargers (3-2) who will have been glad to hear that Head Coach Jim Harbaugh has not had a serious issue come up after being forced to go to the medical tent in the win over Denver. He will have wear a heart monitor, but Harbaugh should be capable of performing his duties to the full as he continues to lead the Chargers.

Time will be needed for the Chargers to really get up to the level of the Kansas City Chiefs, but there have been positives for a team that finished 5-12 in 2023 and who were not entirely sure how healthy Justin Herbert would be at Quarter Back.

A work in progress will have some ups and downs, but this looks a good chance for the Chargers Offensive unit to put together a solid game. In recent outings, they have struggled to establish the run as well as they would have liked, but playing Pittsburgh, Kansas City and Denver is one thing with the Defensive units they can run out onto the field, and this is not nearly as challenging a Defensive Line.

That should help the Chargers who know that Jim Harbaugh wants to run the ball effectively first and foremost and they should be able to have some success on the ground in this one, which in turn should aid Justin Herbert.

Some key Receivers have moved on and that has perhaps contributed to some of the issues Justin Herbert has had when he steps back to throw the ball. Again, this is not exactly a daunting Secondary to attack and so there is a feeling that Herbert can have a game more in line with the kind of numbers he has been able to put together early in his career.

The Offensive Line have struggled in pass protection as much as run blocking in recent games, but the Chargers should offer more time for Justin Herbert if they can rip off some big gains on the ground. Even if behind the chains, Herbert should be able to avoid the pressure that has been around him in recent games because of the largely ineffective Arizona pass rush generated.

After beating San Francisco in the fashion they did, the Cardinals will be disappointed with their efforts in Week 6 and have to show they have made use of the slightly longer preparation time between games. Kyler Murray has been inconsistent as a thrower, but the Quarter Back should find some room to move the ball on the ground.

Handing the ball to James Connor should be effective too and the Los Angeles Chargers Defensive Line have had a couple of issues containing the run in recent games. The Line of Scrimmage, and dominating there, is always important for Jim Harbaugh, but his Chargers team may have a couple of issues with the run-option that Arizona can scheme together.

If they can move the ball as anticipated, Kyler Murray should be able to have a bit more success throwing the ball than he has had for much of the season. Positive news is that Marvin Harrison Jr is set to be cleared and the Cardinals may just have the playmakers to move into a position to win this game.

The Cardinals are not so easy to trust, especially with the way things have gone for them over the last couple of years, but they may be the team with a bit more consistency Offensively. Turnovers could be important to the outcome of this one, which are always hard to predict, but the feeling is that the Cardinals can find a way to get the better of a team that had a very hard fought win over a Divisional rival in Week 6.

MY PICKS: Denver Broncos - 2.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Jacksonville Jaguars - 5.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Cleveland Browns + 5.5 Points @ 1.95 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Philadelphia Eagles - 3 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Miami Dolphins + 3.5 Points @ 1.72 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers + 3.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Arizona Cardinals @ 2.10 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Week 6: 4-2, + 1.67 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.83% Yield)

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)

College Football Week 7 Picks 2024 (Saturday 12th October)

There continues to be a lot of uncertainty about the future of College Football with a number of plans being discussed behind the scenes that could completely change the landscape.

None of that matters to teams and players performing in 2024 and the sole focus has to be in trying to win Conference Championships and/or earning a spot in the College Football PlayOff and having a chance to win a National Championship.

However, avoiding all distractions is never easy and a number of the higher Ranked teams were beaten in upsets in Week 6 to just change the outlook of this season.

It might not have been the 'biggest upset of all time' in terms of the raw numbers, but the Alabama Crimson Tide going down to the Vanderbilt Commodores for the first time in forty years shook up College Football. The fact that defeat was just seven days after beating the Georgia Bulldogs just made the upset that much bigger in the eyes of the fans, although Alabama were not the only ones to be downed last week.

Two other highly Ranked SEC teams were also beaten when Tennessee and Missouri went down and all three of those teams have dropped several places in the top 25 Rankings ahead of Week 7.

Without playing, the Texas Longhorns moved back to Number 1 and they are followed by top unbeaten teams in Ohio State, Oregon and Penn State, although those three Big Ten teams will begin to jockey for position in Week 7 when the Buckeyes travel to Oregon to take on the Ducks.

The Miami Hurricanes are another highly Ranked unbeaten tea, but they have been a little fortunate in each of the last two weeks and most would likely pick the Clemson Tigers as the team to beat in the ACC.

As Week 6 proved, looking too far ahead is a big mistake for teams, players and fans and there should be a refocus after seeing some big named College teams beaten.

Once again, there are some big games on deck in Week 7 and the Picks can be read below.

Missouri Tigers @ Massachusetts Minutemen Pick: They were Ranked pretty highly, but it should not be ignored that the Missouri Tigers (4-1) had been set as the underdog when travelling to Texas A&M last week. Even then, it was an embarrassing capitulation from what had been an unbeaten team and Missouri fans and Head Coach Eli Drinkwitz will be expecting a big reaction.

The Tigers dropped to 1-1 in the Conference, but they will return to SEC action in Week 8 and have been given this opportunity to 'get right'.

It is no disrespect to Massachusetts Minutemen (1-5), but this is a huge step up for a team that has lost five of six games to begin the 2024 season. Outside of the blowout at the Buffalo Bulls, the Minutemen have been competitive, but they have also not played a Power 4 team like the one that will be heading into town.

There is an excitement about being given an opportunity to face a team from the SEC, but the Minutemen Defensive Line are going to have a really tough time competing with this Missouri Offensive Line. Being able to stop the run has been difficult for the Minutemen all season and now having to try and block off those lanes against a much stronger Offensive Line is likely going to make it a long day in the office for the Linemen.

Everyone knows that the Tigers want to pound the ball on the ground and then use that to open the rest of their playbook- this was not possible for them last week in their defeat, but Missouri should be much more comfortable on this side of the ball in Week 7 and that should see them in front of the chains and keeping drives ticking over.

Brady Cook has not had those stellar Quarter Back passing numbers, but he is capable of making enough plays where Missouri need them, while also being able to tuck the ball under his arm and run.

As the level of opponent has stepped up, the Missouri Defensive unit have perhaps not been as convincing as they have looked earlier in the season and that was evident in the defeat last week at Texas A&M. However, this is not going to be an Offensive unit that overly concerns the Tigers and they should be able contain this Umass run game.

Taisun Phommachanh has shown flashes of his ability in recent games and his ability as a dual-threat Quarter Back could help the Minutemen make a few plays, but he could also find the pocket collapsing if the home team are stuck in obvious passing situations.

Playing a clean game could help Massachusetts keep this one closer than the spread suggests, although the play is backing the road team to bounce back. The Tigers were embarrassed by the Aggies in Week 6 and that is gong to mean there is plenty of motivation to just put a big win on the board before returning to Conference play.

One concern with a number like this one is that the backdoor cover will be available if Missouri do begin to turn their attention to upcoming games with Auburn and Alabama. However, the Minutemen look like they could be worn down by the SEC power of the Missouri Tigers and this may end up being a strong win for the Power 4 team.

Oklahoma Sooners vs Texas Longhorns Pick: After a week in which they were sitting back and watching the chaos unfold, the Texas Longhorns (5-0) return to action against a familiar rival, albeit they are meeting under the SEC banner for the first time.

The Red River Rivalry against the Oklahoma Sooners (4-1) will be played at the Cotton Bowl Stadium and could have major ramifications for how the season plays out.

For all of their positive start, this is only the second SEC game for the Longhorns who have been moved above the likes of Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia after all three of those teams have been beaten over the last couple of weeks. However, there is still a considerably tough path to tread for Texas if they are going to play in the SEC Championship Game in their first season in the Conference and they will be more than aware of how little motivation is needed for the Sooners to want to upset them from that path.

The Sooners are 1-1 in the Conference having lost at home to the Volunteers, but recovering to beat the Auburn Tigers on the road in Week 5. Like Texas, Oklahoma have been on a Bye Week to prepare for the latest running of the Red River Rivalry, alhthough there have been more issues to clear up as far as the Sooners Offensive strategy goes.

Games between these rivals have tended to be very competitive and that will see plenty backing the underdog who are being given plenty of points in this one. Nine of the last ten games between Texas and Oklahoma have been won by fewer than nine points and both teams are going to be well prepared and waiting to compete in what should be another raucous atmosphere.

As stated, it has been a very tough season for the Sooners Offensively and the decision has been made to go with Michael Hawkins at Quarter Back having originially been splitting time between him and Jackson Arnold behind Center. It was Hawkins who was much more productive in the loss against Tennessee that saw him have complete control in the win at Auburn, but this is another huge challenge for the Sooners on this side of the ball.

The Offensive Line has not really been able to help the Quarter Back as would have been hoped and they are not likely going to have to a lot of success pounding the ball on the ground against this Texas Defensive Line. As the quality of opponent has ramped up, it is looking even tougher for the Sooners to establish the run and that is putting a lot of pressure on the Quarter Back to make plays.

Michael Hawkins is not expected to get a lot of time in the pocket with the Longhorns pass rush able to pin back their ears and get after the Quarter Back and so he will have to move around and try and extend plays. This can be dangerous against a Secondary that has played at a high level and who have found big turnovers to keep the pressure on opponents.

Of course this is only the second SEC game for the Longhorns so they may feel they are still in 'prove it' mode, especially considering the upsets that were recorded in this Conference last week and with the sole victory being against the struggling Mississippi State Bulldogs.

This is a considerable step up and the rivalry makes it that much tougher, while Texas will also be dealing with a 'Quarter Back controversy' if things do not go as planned.

Arch Manning is always going to draw a lot of interest merely through his surname, but the performances in place of Quinn Ewers have got the College Football nation talking.

However, it cannot be ignored that Ewers began the season as the starter, has won fourteen of sixteen games leading the Texas Longhorns and that includes in incredibly hostile environments like Alabama and Michigan. These stack up to make Quinn Ewers an expected top five Draft choice and there is little doubt about his capabilities as he looks to get one over on Oklahoma after losing to them last year.

The feeling is that Arch Manning may be used at times with his dual-threat capabilities making this Longhorns Offensive unit that much more dangerous.

But Quinn Ewers is healthy and he will be able to quieten down any outside discussion, even when facing his toughest Defense of the relatively young season. Running the ball will be challenging, but there is a lot of faith in this Texas Offensive Line, while Ewers should find spaces to exploit in the Secondary.

Young Tennessee Quarter Back Nick Iamaleava had almost 200 passing yards in the road win over the Sooners, but Quinn Ewers is a stronger Quarter Back right now and is surrounded by playmakers that should keep the chains moving. His Offensive Line will provide some time and Ewers just has to play a cleaner game than when the Longhorns were beaten by Oklahoma in 2023 to push his own team clear.

Rivalry games can do funny things to teams and you cannot ignore how competitive games between these two schools have been on the football field. However, it was two years ago when the Longhorns blew out Oklahoma in a game where Quinn Ewers had 289 passing yards along with 4 Touchdown passes and the feeling is that the last weekend upsets will just refocus Texas and help them produce a statement win ahead of the big game with Georgia in Week 8.

Mississippi State Bulldogs @ Georgia Bulldogs Pick: Let's not mess around at the beginning of this Pick- the battle of the Bulldogs will be won by Georgia and it would take an upset that surpasses any other we have seen this season if this game ended any other way.

The fact that the Georgia Bulldogs (4-1) have already been beaten in the Conference is only going to keep them that much more focused, even if they are hosting the struggling Mississippi State Bulldogs (1-4). A win over the Auburn Tigers allowed Georgia to bounce back from the defeat to the Alabama Crimson Tide and move to 2-1 in the SEC, while Mississippi State were dropped to 0-2 in the Conference before heading into their Bye Week.

Even with the additional preparation time, Mississippi State are going to struggle to make this very competitive.

However, this is a monster line and there are some reasons to back the underdog Bulldogs to find a way to avoid the complete and utter blowout. You cannot ignore the schedule and the Georgia Bulldogs are heading into a pivotal game at the Number 1 Ranked Texas Longhorns in Week 8 before their own Bye Week.

This could lead to some of the key starters being pulled from this game and so the backdoor cover is absolutely going to be available, even as the Mississippi State Bulldogs as freshman Quarter Back Michael Van Buren Jr to lead the team.

Everything is a work in progress in what is Jeff Lebby's first season as Head Coach of Mississippi State and there is no doubting that is has been a disappointing start. The team have struggled Offensively, but they did score 28 points in the loss to the Florida Gators and you can certainly say that there have been signs that this Georgia Defensive unit is not as strong as some of the recent editions.

With all that in mind, there is little doubt it is going to be a real learning day for Quarter Back Michael Van Buren Jr, although the Offensive mind of his Head Coach will give him some chances to make plays. Having enough time in the pocket has been a problem for the Mississippi State Quarter Back, regardless of who that has been taking the snap, but if the backups come in, Van Buren Jr should have some limited successes.

When Georgia have the ball, they should be able to do much of what they want and Trevor Etienne is likely going to be a focus either running the ball or catching come out of the backfield. This looks a good chance for the Georgia Bulldogs Offensive Line to put in a big, big performance against the struggling Mississippi State Defensive Line and that should only make things extremely comfortable for Carson Beck.

The Quarter Back will be able to put up some very strong numbers against this Secondary, although Carson Beck is expected to be pulled out of the game if Georgia have taken a big lead. Even then, Beck will have plenty of time to throw against a Secondary that has allowed almost 300 passing yards on average across their last three games.

Mississippi State are not generating a lot of pressure, but it should be noted that the team were beaten 17 points against Florida and 22 points against Texas. Jeff Lebby has certainly got his team to compete, while the distraction of playing in Texas next week may make it very hard for Georgia to win by a five Touchdown mark.

Michael Van Buren Jr is going to have a tough afternoon, but avoiding turnovers will be key to give his Defensive unit a chance and the spread just looks far too big, even with the disparity of quality between the teams.

Florida Gators @ Tennessee Volunteers Pick: Every team will face setbacks and the character can only be shown by how those teams respond.

They were big favourites on the road, but the Tennessee Volunteers (4-1) were not able to hold onto what felt a big lead over the Arkansas Razorbacks and ultimately were handed their first loss of the season. It has dropped Tennessee to 1-1 in the Conference, and also dropped them in the Rankings, but all is not lost and things will look a lot different if Tennessee are able to bounce back and put a winning streak together.

The next visiting team is going to be the Alabama Crimson Tide, but the Volunteers will have to focus on this rivalry game first against the Florida Gators (3-2) who may have just cooled down the very hot seat on which their Head Coach had been sitting. It still feels a change will be made come the end of the season unless the Florida Gators really pick up their standards, but two wins in a row since losing to the Texas A&M Aggies will have everyone feeling better.

Florida's players will try and stay focused while the latest big hurricane rips a path through the State, and winning back to back games has just settled the team down. Billy Napier will be feeling stronger too and the Gators have dominated the Tennessee Volunteers in recent years, which will also give the road underdog real belief.

Once again it has to be noted that these rivalry games tend to be very competitive and three of the last four in this series has seen the underdog cover, even if they have been beaten outright.

The Gators will have been encouraged by the Defensive breakdown of the Volunteers in their defeat last week in Arkansas, especially as they were a stop away from winning that game. However, that will also mean Florida's Offensive unit have played their best game of the season, especially as they are facing a much tougher test than when beating the Mississippi State Bulldogs and UCF Knights.

This time Florida are facing a Volunteers Defensive Line that have been able to clamp down on the run and who will be looking for redemption. Running the ball has not come easily to the Gators and so it could be down to Graham Mertz to try and put up points with his arm.

Graham Mertz has put together a decent stretch of outings, but this time he is facing a Tennessee Secondary that is much stronger than his last two opponents. While there should be some time for Mertz when stepping back to throw, he will have to be aware of the potential of having a pass Intercepted, while the Volunteers will be much better at home when it comes to those critical moments.

With that in mind, it may be up to the Florida Defensive unit to step up their own level and look to try and make things difficult for a freshman Quarter Back who has just had a couple of tough starts. Nick Iamaleava has massive potential, but he will be hoping that the Offensive Line can produce a much better effort all around and get this Volunteers team dominating on the ground.

Last week the Gators were able to control the Line of Scrimmage against the Knights as they earned the victory, but this Defensive Line have struggled at times and this is an even bigger test. It is going to be a key part of the outcome of the game, but the Volunteers have to believe they can keep Iamaleava in front of the chains and that should keep the drives ticking over.

Negating the pass rush pressure would really help Nick Iamaleava and there are one or two holes that can be exploited in the passing game. Of course the Tennessee game plan will be to avoid putting too much pressure on their Quarter Back, but they can do that by grinding down Florida on the ground and it could be a bounce back week in which the Volunteers remind everyone why they are amongst the favourites to reach the College Football PlayOffs.

Nothing is ever easy in rivalry games and this is a big spread, but Tennessee do look the stronger team on both sides of the ball and Florida are perhaps a touch overrated. The last two games on the schedule have been kind to Billy Napier and the Gators, but they were beaten by 24 points by the Miami Hurricanes and 13 points by the Texas A&M Aggies and both of those games were at home.

Winning on the road at Mississippi State is one thing, but doing so in Knoxville should be another altogether and Tennessee might just show their worth by not only coming out victorious, but by an impressive margin too.

Ohio State Buckeyes @ Oregon Ducks Pick: There are a couple of other teams in the Big Ten that will certainly feel they can have a say in the final shakeup, but for many this could be the first of two meetings between the Ohio State Buckeyes (5-0) and the Oregon Ducks (5-0).

Previously this would have been a non-Conference game that could still have a big impact in what team would be invited into the College Football Playoff. The expanded Playoff picture means even the losing team will have an opportunity to recover, but this is a very big game and the Buckeyes and Ducks have both begun with 2-0 records in the Conference.

Both teams are very much relying on strong Defensive units to set the standard for any game in which they are involved and that is likely going to be the case in this primetime spot.

The Ducks have home advantage in this Conference game and they have a very experienced Quarter Back in Dillon Gabriel who has looked comfortable in this uniform. It helps that he is playing behind an impressive Oregon Offensive Line that have offered Gabriel all of the time he has needed by being strong in pass protection, while also bullying teams up front and opening up some significant running lanes.

Having that experience behind Center feels really important for Oregon considering the Defensive unit they are facing this week.

The only criticism yoiu may have of the Oregon Ducks so far this season is that they have been very strong through a weak schedule- it is not their fault of course and they have to beat what is in front of them, but you have to wonder if that has left them short of the tests needed before facing a team like the Buckeyes.

You could argue the same about the Ohio State schedule, but the performance of the Buckeyes Defense is much harder to dismiss with the team being very strong at the Line of Scrimmage. The Buckeyes have put together a solid pass rush too, which has helped this Secondary restrict the yards being allowed through the air, although Ohio State will be aware that this is the toughest Offense they have seen.

Much the same can be said when the Buckeyes have the ball in their hand- they have an experienced Quarter Back in Will Howard and a powerful Offensive Line that wants to set the tempo right out of the gate. There have been some big gains made on the ground, and the Offensive Line has offered Will Howard plenty of time to make his plays down the field.

The Ducks have been able to clamp down on the run, but their Defensive Line will face the biggest challenge so far this season. Earlier in the season there were one or two more holes that could have been exploited and Ohio State will certainly test to see if there has been proper work done to fill those issues.

There have also been a few more passing yards available to teams when facing the Ducks and that is where the difference could be made in this game, even with two very experienced Quarter Backs on the mound. We do know the Oregon Ducks can bring pressure, but the Buckeyes should be able to give Will Howard some time and he has some big playmakers that can step up and win their battles to find some spaces.

Ryan Day is under some pressure as the Ohio State Head Coach to show he can win the big games- his record against Ranked opponents is not very impressive, but this is a good chance to turn some of the narrative around. It is going to be a competitive game, but the Ohio State Buckeyes feel like the best team in the Big Ten and they can make a few more bigger plays Offensively to move into a position to win and cover, even in a tough road environment.

Turnovers are likely going to be a big factor, but all things being equal, the Buckeyes may be the ones who come out on top and they can head into their Bye Week with some real confidence behind them.

MY PICKS: Missouri Tigers - 27 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Texas Longhorns - 14 Points @ 2.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Mississippi State Bulldogs + 34 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Tennessee Volunteers - 14 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Ohio State Buckeyes - 3 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Clemson Tigers - 20.5 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Pittsburgh Panthers - 3 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

BYU Cougars - 3 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Colorado Buffaloes + 3.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Week 6: 3-2, + 0.82 Units (5 Units Staked, + 16.4% Yield)

Week 5: 0-5, - 5 Units (5 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)

Week 4: 3-2, + 0.73 Units (5 Units Staked, + 14.60% Yield)

Week 3: 3-5, - 2.35 Units (8 Units Staked, - 29.38% Yield)

Week 2: 2-4, - 2.26 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37.67% Yield)

Week 1: 4-2, + 1.64 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.33% Yield)