NFL Week 7 Monday Night Football Preview & Picks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Detroit Lions 

Line: Lions -6.5 

Total: 53.5

We kick-off our Monday night double-header with an absolutely banger NFC match-up between the Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Both teams have dealt with a myriad of injuries this season, the Bucs are still down some guys but will be betting both Mike Evans and Emeka Egbuka back tonight. That could be a big boost, with all of the Lions starting DBs set to miss this game. The total sits at a lofty 53.5 and I’m expecting plenty of offense here. 

Detroit sports a huge 29.5 team total and they should have no issue scoring tonight. Jared Goff and the team as a whole always seems to perform better at home and Tampa Bay profiles as a pass-funnel defense presenting a tasty matchup for Goff and his pass catchers. They’ve also allowed the third-most receiving yards to RBs, due to how much they blitz, pointing to a nice spot for Jahmyr Gibbs as well. I personally want to buy into a breakout game from Jameson Williams. Jamo is someone I was very high on coming into the season, and his big games often come at home correlating with Goff’s success indoors. It’s a great stylistic match-up for him, and I’m forecasting a potential Williams eruption spot on Monday night. 

Tampa should be able to take advantage of this banged up Lions secondary, especially with Evans and Egbuka back in the fold. Evans himself has excelled on Monday Night Football in his career – scoring 8 total TDs on Monday night since entering the league. 

Touchdown Prediction: Jameson Williams

Score Prediction: Lions 34, Bucs 27

 

Houston Texans @ Seattle Seahawks

Line: Seahawks -3

Total: 41.5

We close Week 7 with the Texans traveling to Seattle to take on the Seahawks. Houston is coming off their bye week, but with how good the Seattle defense has been for the large portion of the season I still have major concerns for them offensively. They looked the part pre-bye against the lowly Titans and Ravens – this is a much different match-up on the road vs what I view as a top-5 defensive unit overall. Their pass catchers would be the look for me from a prop betting standpoint, in an expected trailing game-script. Seattle has operated as a TE-funnel under Mike Macdonald, setting up what should be a soft match-up for Dalton Schultz. Christian Kirk is also out for this game, meaning more targets over the middle of the field can funnel to both Schultz and rookie RB Woody Marks. Marks could see an increased role tonight if they’re trailing early. 

I think Seattle has been the beneficiary of some good fortune this season, but this also doesn’t appear to be a good spot to fade them. Sam Darnold has been in full command of the offense and they have a solid two-headed monster in the backfield with Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet. Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been arguably the best WR in football this season and it should be another big spot for him at home. 

Touchdown Prediction: Dalton Schultz

Score Prediction: Seahawks 24, Texans 230