NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

NFL 2017, Week 6: Best picks against the spread, top teasers

By Dan Salem

FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 24: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots prepares to take a snap during the third quarter of a game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on December 24, 2016 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 24: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots prepares to take a snap during the third quarter of a game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on December 24, 2016 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Your best picks against the spread for NFL Week 6 begin on the road with sweet point spreads. Then grab as many points as you can.

Good teams are bad and bad teams are playing extremely well. But even the winless teams are covering. Nothing makes any sense, so we’re sticking to the basics with our NFL 2017 Week 6 picks against the spread.

Take a lot of points in likely close games, or give up only a few when you know a team will win outright. Simple and sage advice for Week 6 — plus teasers! Here are the lines for Week 6 via Sportsbook Review.

Two brothers from New York, Dan Salem and Todd Salem, debate NFL 2017 in today’s NFL Sports Debate.

2017 Record ATS

Dan’s record ATS: 5-5
Todd’s record ATS: 4-6

All three of the road underdogs we threw into teasers in Week 5 covered, including two who won outright. The New York Jets are tied for first place. The Jacksonville Jaguars hold first all on their own, while every team in that AFC South (the supposed worst division in football for the millionth year running) has at least two wins. This year makes no sense as we continue to throw picks against the wall and see what sticks. On to our picks for NFL 2017 Week 6!

Todd Salem’s NFL Week 6 Picks

Todd’s Teaser:
Baltimore Ravens -0.5 (from -6.5) vs. Chicago Bears
Atlanta Falcons -4.5 (from -10.5) vs. Miami Dolphins

There are few things I’m sure about this NFL season. I am sure that the Miami offense stinks. Even in its two wins, the Miami O has combined for just 35 points. There is no way the Dolphins can keep pace with the Atlanta Falcons on the latter’s home turf. Atlanta is coming off a bye, while the Dolphins just defeated a Mariota-less Titans team by throwing for 92 yards.

I used to be sure that Chicago’s offense stunk too, though maybe Mitch Trubisky infuses some energy into that group. Nevertheless, Baltimore has the sixth-best defense and second-best pass defense in football. Infused energy isn’t going to be enough to defeat or tie the Ravens on the road, which is what pushing this line six points would require.

More from NFL Spin Zone

Green Bay Packers -3 at Minnesota Vikings

We know Sam Bradford has been injured and Dalvin Cook is out for the year. But the dirty, little secret about Minnesota is that its supposedly elite defense hasn’t been elite at all to this point. The Vikings rank just 16th in the NFL on that side of the ball after finishing in the top eight a year ago. If Green Bay has found something in Aaron Jones, a league-average defense doesn’t stand a chance of stopping the Packers.

The Vikings have actually been carried by their offense through the first month, which should continue to decline as it adjusts to playing without its most important skill players. Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen are awesome, but they are at the mercy of their teammates to give them room to work.

Dan Salem’s NFL Week 6 Picks

Dan’s Teaser:
Detroit Lions +11.5 (from +5.5) at New Orleans Saints
New York Jets +16 (from +10) versus New England Patriots

The Lions have a very good defense this season, so even if Matthew Stafford is hurt and misses the game, Detroit can hold New Orleans in check. My gut says the Lions win straight up. They are the better team. But the Saints are at home, which I suppose warrants a few points. Not double digits, however, so I love this pick for my teaser.

I’m also riding with the New York Jets, who legitimately have a chance to beat New England. The Patriots are vulnerable and the Jets matchup nicely with them. Tom Brady may be enough to get New England the victory on the road, but he won’t make this a blowout. Adding this to my teaser gets us 16 points in favor of New York. Thank you.

Next: NFL 2017: 20 Bold predictions for Week 6

San Francisco 49ers +10.5 at Washington Redskins

I hesitate to back a winless football team on the road, but San Francisco has lost by a combined 11 points over its last four games. Only the 49ers defeat in week one was by more than three points. I doubt they get their first victory of the season in Washington. The Redskins are a formidable team this year. But I’m happy grabbing over 10 points, because its unlikely San Francisco loses by double digits.

Home/NFL