We’re nearing the end of NFL Week 6, with only the AFC West matchup between the Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Chargers left on Monday Night Football in order to put a bow on another topsy-turvy round of NFL betting.
The favorites had a tough round, going 6-7-0 straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS). Home teams went 7-6-0 SU and ATS while the under cashed in 10 of 13 games, enjoying a dominant week – again.
Below, we dive into the games and highlight some of the worst of the bad beats and backdoor covers that shaped key outcomes at the sportsbook betting exchange. Basically, the good, the bad and ugly of Week 6 NFL picks against the spread.
Let’s check the latest NFL picks, stats, injury reports, and NFL predictions. We’ve plenty of NFL expert picks for you to consider.
Week 6 NFL Betting Highlights
- The Pittsburgh Steelers were the biggest underdogs (+10, ML +380) to cash in a 20-18 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- The New York Jets (+9, ML +300) were the biggest road underdogs to cash in a 27-10 upset over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau
- The New York Giants (+6), Atlanta Falcons (+3½) and New England Patriots (+2½) were noteworthy underdogs to win straight up as well
- The Los Angeles Rams were the biggest favorites (-10) to cover in a 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers
- The Cincinnati Bengals (-3) were the biggest road favorites to cover in a 30-26 win over the New Orleans Saints.
- The Philadelphia Eagles (-7) improved to 6-0 following a 26-17 win over the Dallas Cowboys
Blunders Sink Baltimore, Again
The Baltimore Ravens (-5½) fritted away the late lead yet again and spoiled it for their backers by losing 24-20 to the New York Giants. Separately, the hosts came through for their backers, especially for those that bet the moneyline at the tasty +200 price tag. But it wasn’t all-around cheers at the betting online exchange as over bettors were left wanting thanks to a decision that denied them the points they so badly needed to push the score over the closing 46-point total.
Ravens side bettors were literally minutes away from cashing their bets – until they weren’t. Baltimore had just extended its lead to 20-10, with tight end Mark Andrews scoring the touchdown in the fourth quarter that gave his side the 10-point cushion over the Giants at MetLife.
However, the Giants weren’t done. Daniel Jones and Co. rallied in the final minutes and scored 14 unanswered points to take the four-point edge. The second score came after a Lamar Jackson interception, with Saquon Barkley skipping into the end zone on a 1-yard scoring run to give the Giants the go-ahead touchdown. And then, on the ensuing Baltimore possession, the Giants’ D stepped up, sacking Jackson to force the timely fumble.
The fumble set up the G-men in the red zone. The opportunity to put up more points was right there for the taking. Directly in front of them. No more than 10-ish yards away. But instead of scoring another touchdown to pad his stats, Barkley, putting the team over self-interest, picked up the first down by plonking himself down on the 2-yard line. The move was applauded by everyone except one group (hi, over bettors), who were left hanging.
Ravens blown leads:
• Week 2 against Dolphins: Led 35-14, lost 42-38
• Week 4 against Bills: Led 20-3, lost 23-20
• Today against Giants: Led 20-10, lost 24-20 pic.twitter.com/RkEviTUl8D— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 16, 2022
A Shank and a Chase
The Cincinnati Bengals got help thanks to a shanked punt with two minutes left in the game to flip the script and steal the DUB in the Bayou. Thus, spoiling it for the New Orleans Saints and their backers.
The Saints (+3) had the delicate 26-24 advantage going into the final two minutes of the game. Then, punter Blake Gillikin shanked his punt. That set up the Bengals on their own 40-yard line and Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase didn’t waste the opportunity, connecting for a 60-yard touchdown pass to clinch the 30-24 win.
Ryan Catapults Colts to Comeback Victory
Matt Ryan had his best game with the Indianapolis Colts to date, throwing for 389 yards and three touchdowns as he catapulted the Colts to the 34-27 come-from-behind victory. In doing so, he denied the Jacksonville Jaguars the series sweep after the Colts lost to the Jaguars 24-0 in Week 2. At the same time, he prevented Jaguars backers from cashing on a game that looked to be in hand.
One wonders where Ryan has been hiding for the first five weeks of the season!
Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars (+1) had the narrow 27-26 edge with under three minutes left in the game. Then, Ryan, seemingly dialing back the clock to his heyday, led the Colts on an 11-play drive that was capped off with a touchdown. And for added measure, the Colts converted on a two-point conversion to pull ahead by seven points with seconds left.
Cowboys’ Kicking Mishap
Despite the NFL odds being stacked against the Dallas Cowboys (+7), there were many that backed America’s favorite team to pull off the upset against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football. Alas, the Cowboys didn’t deliver. They also failed to come through for side bettors in a game that was much closer than the final score would suggest.
The Eagles reeled off a couple of touchdowns and forced three turnovers to clinch the 26-17 win at Lincoln Financial Field; thus, extending their unbeaten record to six straight and covering as the seven-point home chalk.
Cowboys side bettors came close to cashing on the cover, though. Especially those bettors that backed the Cowboys at +7 later in the week, after the NFL line jumped up from an opening +4½ points to +7. The Cowboys’ missed 59-yard field goal attempt would have narrowed the score to six points. The Eagles took over with 1:08 minutes remaining and their lead intact. Talk about bad beats!
Bills’ Last-Gasp Win & Cover
The Buffalo Bills (-2½) were trailing 20-17 before Josh Allen and Co. engineered a late drive to score the go-ahead touchdown with 1:04 remaining. One minute is an eternity when the opposing quarterback is Patrick Mahomes, who’s led numerous last-gasp, winning drives. Allen, Buffalo and the entire “Bills Mafia” fan base knows very well just how devastating and clutch Mahomes is.
While the Bills were dreading the deja vu, Chiefs backers were praying that Mahomes could Hail Mary his side to victory. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be. The Bills intercepted Mahomes. And just like that, it was game over.
The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.
