The 2018 NFL season is officially in full swing, which means regular season betting is back. I’m back for another year of picks in the Westgate SuperContest. SB Nation’s partners over at Odds Shark are sponsoring my entry again. The contest requires selecting 5 games each week and picking them against the spread. I finished 2-2-1 in Week 7, marking the second straight week with that record. This brings me to 15-12-3 for the season. Overall for last week I scuffled along at 8-6-1 once again.
The San Francisco 49ers are a 9.5 point underdog in their Week 7 home game against the Los Angeles Rams. Some sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark are offering 10.5 points, but like last week against the Green Bay Packers, it is hanging around 9.5 points at most shops.
I’m not feeling particularly great about this game. The 49ers hung close against the Rams on Thursday Night Football with Brian Hoyer at the helm, and they’re an improved team this year — so, that’s something. However, that close game against the Packers has me worried the team gave its all and will be slow out of the gates against the Rams. If they come out of the gates slow against this LA squad, this game will be over before halftime.
I’m staying away from this game just because there are too many question marks. I would not be shocked if the 49ers hung close, and I would not be shocked if they got blown out. I can’t quite put a bead on it, so I’ll stay away from it.
Here are my five SuperContest picks for Week 7.
BEARS (+3) over Patriots
Panthers (+4.5) over EAGLES
JAGUARS (-5) over Texans
RAVENS (-2.5) over Saints
WASHINGTON (-2) over Cowboys
I’m stick mostly with home-cooking this week. I would have liked another home dog, but I could not pull the trigger on the 49ers. I like the Panthers on the road this week against an Eagles team that is having a serious regression from last year’s Super Bowl win. They pummeled a bad New York Giants team last week in primetime, while Carolina is coming off a close loss in Washington. This should be a close one.
The Jaguars are an interesting team to watch, particularly with their Friday addition of Carlos Hyde. Jacksonville is not looking quite like the world-beater many thought they might be. They face a Houston team that has won three straight in fairly weak fashion. Wins are wins, but they’re not a good football team in the slightest. I’ll take the better team on this line.
I went 8-6-1 overall in Week 6, a second straight week with such a performance. Here are all my picks for Week 7:
CARDINALS vs. Broncos (-1.5): Cardinals — LOSS
Chargers vs. Titans (+6.5 — London): Titans
BEARS vs. Patriots (-3): Bears
BUCCANEERS vs. Browns (+3): Browns
DOLPHINS vs. Lions (-2.5): Lions
EAGLES vs. Panthers (+4.5): Panthers
COLTS vs. Bills (+7.5): Bills
CHIEFS vs. Bengals (+6): Chiefs
JETS vs. Vikings (-3): Vikings
JAGUARS vs. Texans (+5): Jaguars
RAVENS vs. Saints (+2.5): Ravens
WASHINGTON vs. Cowboys (+2): Washington
49ERS vs. Rams (-9.5): Rams
FALCONS vs. Giants (+5.5): Giants