Last week we introduced 4th and Short, our weekly NFL picks podcast featuring myself and Big MB.
As promised, 4th & Short is back this week to give you expert point spread analysis for the most compelling games on the NFL Week 6 schedule.
In Week 6, there are clearly three games that jump off the schedule as being the most important games of the week: Ravens-Vikings, Falcons-Bears, and of course, Giants-Saints.
Big MB and I look at these three games, plus five more, and determine which teams will cover the spread and which teams will come up short.
Use the player below to listen to this week’s podcast:
4th & Short – Week 6
NFL Picks Podcast with Jerod & Big MB
[Editor's note: Music credit for the intro and outro song snippet go to our good friend Davey Heritier and his old band -- still one of my all-time faves -- Austin Bridges. The song is called Awake the Day.]
To see all of my Week 6 spread picks (I’m 43-31 heading into this week!) follow the link to the Week 6 NFL spreads, picks, and TV schedule post.
Below you will find the pertinent information for the three marquee matchups mentioned above, which are also the ones that we especially focus on in this week’s episode. Included below is my picks for each of the three games. You’ll have to listen to the podcast for more in-depth analysis to get Big MB’s always insightful opinion.
Baltimore Ravens (3-2) at Minnesota Vikings (5-0)
- Ravens-Vikings Date: Sunday, October 18th
- Ravens-Vikings Kickoff Time: 1:00 PM
- Ravens-Vikings TV Network: CBS
- Ravens-Vikings Announcers: Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf
- Ravens-Vikings Point Spread: Vikings -3.5
- Ravens-Vikings Over-Under: 43.5
- Ravens-Vikings Spread Pick: This should be a very entertaining game and it is certainly an intriguing line. The Vikings have not been tested as much as the Ravens have in the early season, and the two teams’ records reflect that. And think about, Baltimore is a Mark Clayton drop from being 4-1 and Minnesota is an amazing Favre-to-Lewis bomb from being 4-1 as well. Still, in the dome, I think the speed of the Vikings’ offense wins out. Peterson, Harvin, and Berrian are too much for a Baltimore D that couldn’t stop Cedric Benson last week. Ravens-Vikings free pick: Vikings -3.5
New York Giants (5-0) at New Orleans Saints (4-0)
- Giants-Saints Date: Sunday, October 18th
- Giants-Saints Kickoff Time: 1:00 PM
- Giants-Saints TV Network: FOX
- Giants-Saints Announcers: Tom Brennaman and Troy Aikman
- Giants-Saints Point Spread: Saints -3.5
- Giants-Saints Over-Under: 47
- Giants-Saints Spread Pick: Easily the game of the week, and I can’t wait. The Giants have looked absolutely awesome, but they’ve also played the Chiefs, Raiders, and Buccaneers in back-to-back weeks. Their only impressive win so far is over Dallas, who is not that good, making New York’s 5-0 record slightly hollow. The Saints, on the other hand, took the previously unbeaten Jets to the woodshed without throwing a TD pass. That is impressive and shows the versatility of this offense. I think the Saints have been the most impressive team in football so far this season, and I think their offense sticks it to the Giants with Drew Brees’ quick accuracy neutralizing the Giants’ rush. Giants-Saints free pick: Saints -3.5
Chicago Bears (3-1) at Atlanta Falcons (3-1)
- Bears-Falcons Date: Sunday, October 18th
- Bears-Falcons Kickoff Time: 8:20 PM
- Bears-Falcons TV Network: NBC
- Bears-Falcons Announcers: Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth
- Bears-Falcons Point Spread: Falcons -3.5
- Bears-Falcons Over-Under: 46
- Bears-Falcons Spread Pick: There is nothing inherent about the history of this matchup that makes it intriguing. And while these two teams are NFC foes, they are in different divisions and have flown under the radar with their solid starts. I think we could be in for a very good game, and another underrated QB matchup between Jay Cutler and Matt Ryan. These two guys will be among the league’s best and most exciting QBs for the next decade. I think the Falcons re-announced themselves last week against San Francisco, and I look for their balanced attack to be too much for the Bears. Bears-Falcons free pick: Falcons -3.5
About Jerod Morris
