NFL Week 7 picks and predictions: Giants, Jets earn big division wins

Week 7 of the NFL regular season is officially underway, as the San Francisco 49ers defeated the visiting Seattle Seahawks, 13-6, on Thursday Night Football. And as a favor to all those NFL pickers, I delayed my picks and predictions by a day because nobody wants to bet on a game like that.

This week, again, I am looking to crack the .500 mark. Last week, I went 6-8 overall for the second straight week and dropped my overall record to 40-48-3.

Over the years I've been right around .500 with my picks, but this year has been a roller coaster. I was curious as to why my weeks seem so up and down and I found out the reason earlier this week in a Bill Simmons' podcast.

According to Simmons, this season underdogs are 22 games above .500, and if you're just looking at the spread (favorites over underdogs), underdogs have won 40 games outright through six weeks.

Yikes! No wonder I can't get a break. So, with that knowledge I went with underdogs this week. Here we go...

(All point spreads provided by Oddshark.com and Bovada.)

Tennessee Titans (2-4) at Buffalo Bills (3-3), 1 p.m. on CBS

Point spread: Bills 3-point favorites.
Pick: Bills 31, Titans 24
Prediction: Titans are coming off an emotional victory over the Steelers and is due for a letdown. The Bills squeaked by the Cardinals on the road with a solid game by their defense. I like that trend to continue.

Cleveland Browns (1-5) at Indianapolis Colts (2-3), 1 p.m. on CBS

Point spread: Colts 3-point favorites.
Pick: Colts 28, Browns 21
Prediction: I just like Andrew Luck at home -- he beat the Packers there. If this game was being played in Cleveland, I'd go with them.

Green Bay Packers (3-3) at St. Louis Rams (3-3), 1 p.m. on FOX

Point spread: Packers 6-point favorites.
Pick: Packers 24, Rams 17
Prediction: Seems like Green Bay is finally find its rhythm. I've like the Rams defense all season, but I just think the Pack and Aaron Rogers will be too much.

Arizona Cardinals (4-2) at Minnesota Vikings (4-2), 1 p.m. on FOX

Point spread: Vikings 7-point favorites.
Pick: Vikings 20, Cardinals 17
Prediction: Minnesota will probably win this game, but I am taking the a tough Cardinals team with the points.

Washington Redskins (3-3) at New York Giants (4-2), 1 p.m. on FOX

Point spread: Giants 6-point favorites.
Pick: Giants 31, Redskins 28
Prediction: Washington's pass defense could get shredded by Eli Manning and New York's passing attack. But I think RG3 makes enough plays to keep this game close.

New Orleans Saints (1-4) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-3), 1 p.m. on FOX

Point spread: Saints 3-point favorites.
Pick: Buccaneers 24, Saints 21
Prediction: If the Bucs' want to stay in the playoff race they will need to win this game at home. I like their chances with that attitude.

Dallas Cowboys (2-3) at Carolina Panthers (1-4), 1 p.m. on FOX

Point spread: Cowboys 2-point favorites.
Pick: Cowboys 24, Panthers 13
Prediction: If Dallas can stop killing itself they'd be 4-1 instead of 2-3. I like them to get a nice confidence boost with a win over the Panthers. If not, its season could be in trouble and so could head coach Jason Garrett.

Baltimore Ravens (5-1) at Houston Texans (5-1), 1 p.m. on CBS

Point spread: Texans 7-point favorites.
Pick: Ravens 24, Texans 21
Prediction: Baltimore is slowly growing on me and they'll prove its the real deal Sunday with a victory in Houston.

Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4) at Oakland Raiders (1-4), 4:25 p.m. on CBS

Point spread: Raiders 4 1/2-point favorites.
Pick: Raiders 28, Jaguars 10
Prediction: This will just be an ugly game all around, but the Raiders are the better team.

New York Jets (3-3) at New England Patriots (3-3), 4:25 p.m. on CBS

Point spread: Patriots 11-point favorites.
Pick: Jets 24, Patriots 21
Prediction: Yes, you saw it here first. Tim Tebow (at running back) scores the game-winning touchdown in the final minutes in a victory at the Patriots. Let Tebowmaina continue!

Pittsburgh Steelers (2-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (3-3), 8:20 p.m. on NBC

Point spread: Even.
Pick: Steelers 21, Bengals 17
Prediction: You're giving me even money on a game between the Steelers and Bengals? Thank you for free money.

Detroit Lions (2-3) at Chicago Bears (4-1), Mon. at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

Point spread: Bears 6-point favorites.
Pick: Lions 24, Bears 21
Prediction: Everybody is buying Chicago. That means I should go in the opposite direction.

Last week's record: 6-8-0. Season record: 40-48-3.