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NFL Best Bets for Week 6 (Ravens Dominate Giants, Fade Arizona Early Among Top Predictions)

By Peter Dewey, Ben Heisler, Iain MacMillan, Joe Summers

Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury with Kyler Murray quarterback.
Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury with Kyler Murray quarterback. / Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com via Imagn
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The BetSided team is at exactly .500 (11-11 against the spread) in our weekly best bet picks after going just 1-3 in Week 5. 

We’re looking to turn things around in Week 6, and we have several different ways that you can bet on this week’s slate, from first quarter bets, to full game spreads to totals. 

Whether you want to fade our picks or tail them, we’re going to deliver each week. Let’s dive into Week 6’s action: 

NFL Best Bets for Week 6

  • Baltimore Ravens -5.5. vs. New York Giants
  • Seattle Seahawks 1Q ML vs. Arizona Cardinals
  • Carolina Panthers vs. Los Angeles Rams UNDER 41
  • Pittsburgh Steelers Team Total UNDER 17.5 Points
  • San Francisco 49ers -5.5 vs. Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens -5.5. vs. New York Giants

It’s time to sell high on the New York Giants after an impressive 4-1 start to their season. Despite their winning record, their offense still ranks only 19th in yards per play, 29th in yards per pass attempt, and 26th in third down conversion percentage.

Now, they have to take on a Baltimore Ravens team that they may struggle to run the ball on. Only 27.12% of the yards gained against the Ravens defense this season comes from running plays, that’s the third lowest percentage in the NFL.

If the Giants want to beat Baltimore, they have to attack its secondary, and I don’t think New York has the capability to do that.

Let’s not forget that the Giants defense allows 5.0 yards per carry, and now they have to face one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL in the Ravens. It’s going to be a long day for Brian Daboll and company. – Iain MacMillan

Seattle Seahawks 1Q ML vs. Arizona Cardinals

My favorite bet for the week remains the Indianapolis Colts on the moneyline to take care of Jacksonville at home, but the line has moved since the start of the week to a number that I don’t love nearly as much.

As I thought of what other plays to consider, I came across a remarkable stat from the Arizona Cardinals versus Seattle Seahawks matchup this week.

Arizona has been the worst scoring team in the first quarter this year in the NFL. How bad has it been? In five games this year, the Cardinals have a total of, wait for it, 0 points. In fact, they have a minus-38 point differential in the first quarter this season.

Conversely, their opponent in Seattle has been the second-best first quarter scoring team in the league, averaging 8.2 points per game in the first quarter, and 11.3 points over their last three games.

The Cardinals could very well reverse their fortunes against the Seahawks defense that’s second-last in points allowed this year, but they’ve also only allowed 21.5 points at home this year.

Until Arizona shows that it can start putting any sort of points on the board in the first quarter regardless of competition, I’ll happily back Seattle early at home. – Ben Heisler

Carolina Panthers vs. Los Angeles Rams UNDER 41

There’s no other way to put it: these are two of the NFL’s very worst offenses, and I’ve got no faith in either team to score. 

Carolina ranks 28th in yards per play (4.9) while the Rams are dead last (4.8). Everything that could go wrong offensively for these teams has, and now the Panthers are turning to backup QB P.J. Walker after Baker Mayfield was injured last week. 

Each defense is playing well – the Panthers are 12th in opponent yards per play (5.3) and the Rams are 13th (5.4), and I expect a slow, low-scoring game as a result. 

As a cherry on top, betting trends support an under bet as well. The under is 3-1 in Carolina’s last four games and a remarkable 16-5 in Los Angeles’ last 21 as home favorites. 

Back the trends and superior defenses with confidence. These aren’t last year’s Rams, and bettors have an opportunity to profit as a result. - Joe Summers

Pittsburgh Steelers Team Total UNDER 17.5 Points

The Pittsburgh Steelers were held to just three points against the Buffalo Bills in Week 5, and now they take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as eight-point underdogs. 

The Bucs are No. 4 on defense in yards per play, No. 6 in points allowed and No. 6 in yards allowed this season. A lot of that has to do with the 41 points they gave up to the Kansas City Chiefs, but outside of that game they’ve been dominant. 

Kenny Pickett and the Steelers enter this game dead last in yards per play, and 29th in rushing yards, meaning there will be a lot of pressure on the rookie to move the ball. 

The Bucs have allowed fewer than 17.5 points in every game outside of the Chiefs debacle, and the Steelers have scored over 17.5 points in just two games this season. 

Fade Pickett and company in this tough matchup. -- Peter Dewey

San Francisco 49ers -5.5 vs. Atlanta Falcons

I’m all over the 49ers in this game, as they are perfectly designed to stop the Falcons. Atlanta makes its money off of the running game. It’s sixth in yards per rush, fourth in rushing attempts per game and third in rushing yards per game. 

San Francisco, on the other hand, is first in opponent yards per rush (3.0) and second in opponent rushing yards per game. This is a strength on strength matchup, and I’ll easily back the 49ers. 

The Falcons are coming into this game as a one-dimensional offense, which will make it easy for DeMeco Ryans to scheme for them. 

The 49ers are the best defense in the NFL and the Falcons will soon learn why. 

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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