Casino City's Week 6 NFL Circa Million IV Pro Football Contest Picks

We finished 4-1 in Week 4 for our best results on the season to bring our record to .500. In Week 5, we had as average of a week as you could have by going 2-2 with the fifth game being a push. This week, we hope to finally get over the .500-mark threshold. The Lions, Texans, Raiders and Titans are not playing this week as Week 6 is the first week of the NFL season that teams are on byes.

Let’s get into our picks:

#CircaSportsMillion IV ????
Week 6 Contest Point Spreads

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— Circa Sports (@CircaSports) October 13, 2022

1. San Francisco -5.5 over Atlanta
Since its Week 1 loss in Chicago, the San Francisco 49ers’ defense hasn’t allowed more than 15 points in a game and has looked like the best defense in the league. Pass rusher Nick Bosa did suffer a minor injury in the team’s last game, but there is a chance he will be ready to go Sunday afternoon against the Atlanta Falcons.

Jimmy Garoppolo along with playmakers Deebo Samuel and George Kittle have been leading the offense. Once you get the ball to these pass catchers, anything can happen with their skill to get yards after the catch. This will be pretty evident come Sunday as the Falcons have given up over 400 yards (air and ground combined) in their last two games.

Sure, the Falcons have been able to score in recent weeks, but they haven’t faced a defense as talented as the 49ers.

This defense hits different. pic.twitter.com/9wbciBKNS2
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 12, 2022

2. New England +2.5 over Cleveland
There is still a question mark on who will be leading the offense for the New England Patriots in Cleveland on Sunday. Will Mac Jones make his return from the injury report, or will it be Bailey Zappe, who won last week in his first career NFL start.

The important factor in this matchup is running the football. While Damien Harris is going to miss a few weeks from an injury, Rhamondre Stevenson showed out last week against the Detroit Lions when he rushed for a career-high 161 yards.

The Pats offensive line has done a much better job as of late and the Browns rush defense has struggled by giving up 200+ yards on the ground in each of the last two weeks. This game is going to be won in the trenches and New England has been trending in the right direction in that category.

Practice reps & game prep.@baileyzappe04's comfort in the Patriots offense continues to grow: https://t.co/yL0AyTTd2b
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 12, 2022

3. Minnesota -3.5 over Miami
It seems we have the Vikings in our picks almost every week, but we like them again in Week 6. Miami is struggling to keep quarterbacks on the field as Tua Tagovailoa is still recovering from his scary head injury and Teddy Bridgewater also suffered a concussion last week.

The Dolphins will most likely turn to Skylar Thompson, a rookie out of Kansas State. If he can’t keep the Dolphins offense on the field, it will be more time for Justin Jefferson, Dalvin Cook and Adam Thielen to help Kirk Cousins move the ball.

A rookie third-string QB is a tough sell to keep up with an offense that has put up at least 28 points in three consecutive weeks.

4. Tampa Bay -8 over Pittsburgh
In any sport it sometimes only takes that “one” game to jumpstart the season and that is exactly what the Buccaneers have this weekend as they travel to face the Steelers.

Tampa is led by the GOAT of quarterbacks in 23-year veteran Tom Brady, who is not only 280-88 in his career, but also 12-3 against Pittsburgh during that time period. The Steelers are led by rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett, who is 0-1 in NFL starts. And, yes, we know it’s not necessarily Brady vs. Pickett on the field, but the Buccaneers defense is surely licking its chops to face a Pittsburgh team whose wide receivers haven’t scored a touchdown yet this season.

Add in the fact that Tampa’s offense is finally starting to get healthy with running back Leonard Fournette, wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, and the emergence of rookie tight end Cade Otton, and well you got the makings of seasoned Buc about to school a young buck!

5. Cincinnati -1.5 over New Orleans
The injury bug is definitely going to be present in this matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and the New Orleans Saints.

Without its second-best pass catcher Tee Higgins, Cincinnati suffered a tough loss on Sunday night against the Baltimore Ravens. The team could be without him come Sunday but New Orleans is also missing some big names.

The Saints may have to rely on backup QB Andy Dalton, who filled in again for Jameis Winston last week at home against Seattle. New Orleans might also be without gadget guy and former backup quarterback Taysom Hill, who ran for three scores and threw for one last week. However, Hill is dealing with a rib injury this week which could limit him. In addition to Winston, the Saints may be without cornerback Marshon Lattimore, who would most likely be covering Bengals’ top receiver Ja’Marr Chase.

If Chase is being covered by anyone but a top corner, you better look out. The Bengals’ offense wasn’t at their best last week so expect a bounce back from them and the defense has only improved over the last few weeks.

Another week of work. pic.twitter.com/DlQBy3rzdt
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) October 13, 2022

Week 5 Results: 2-2-1
Season Record: 12-12-1