expert picks – Page 2 – Syndication Server

NFL Week 6 picks: Do the experts lean toward Commanders or Ravens?

Baltimore or Washington? The experts leaning heavily in one direction.

The NFL game of the week for Week 6 will emanate from Baltimore, Maryland, on Sunday as the Ravens (3-2) host the Washington Commanders (4-1).

Not only is this a matchup of two good teams, but it’s teams whose home stadiums are separated by less than 45 miles, making it a hot ticket for fans around the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia).

Washington and Baltimore also enter Sunday’s game on winning streaks. The Commanders have won four in a row, while the Ravens have won three consecutive games.

While the Commanders have won one more game, they’re not the favorite. The Ravens opened as 6.5-point favorites over the Commanders.

The oddsmakers have spoken and believe Baltimore will have little problem with Washington. So, what do the experts think? According to NFL Pickwatch, 90% of the picks are in, and they also believe the Ravens defeat the Commanders.

This isn’t the first time Washington has faced these types of odds this season. Remember when nearly 100% of the experts picked the Bengals over the Commanders in Week 3? How’d that one turn out?

Experts say Notre Dame will sail over Stanford

The experts all think Notre Dame will have it easy against Stanford.

It looks like there’s once again consensus that Notre Dame Fighting Irish will win at home.

This time they’re hosting the Stanford Cardinal in South Bend, and experts have the Irish winning — though more than a few believe the Cardinal will at least cover the spread.

We’re still worried about it being a trap game, but then again, the Cardinal aren’t very good and the Irish may have figured a few things out.

We hope, for the sake of the Irish’s playoff chances, that Notre Dame will walk away winners on Saturday. Certainly, most, if not all, experts think that they will.

For example, CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli has the Cardinal covering the spread, along with several other experts at the network. Yet the staff has unanimously has Notre Dame winning.

“Stanford isn’t likely to try to air it out against this Irish defense, so I don’t know that either team will be able to pull away from the other,” Fornelli wrote.

SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – SEPTEMBER 28: Beaux Collins #5 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in action against Tahveon Nicholson #23 of the Louisville Cardinals during the second half at Notre Dame Stadium on September 28, 2024 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

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NFL Week 5 picks: Experts heavily favoring Commanders over Browns

The experts believe in the Commanders over the Browns in Week 5.

The Washington Commanders enter Week 5 in an unusual position. Washington, winners of three consecutive games, hosts the Cleveland Browns on Sunday from Northwest Stadium and is a 3.5-point favorite, according to BetMGM.

In the Commanders’ first four games, they’ve been underdogs three times and significant underdogs twice. While oddsmakers had Washington as the underdogs, so did the experts. In the Week 3 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, 97% of the expert picks favored Cincinnati.

Now, the shoe is on the other foot for the red-hot Commanders.

According to NFL Pickwatch, 87% of experts pick Washington over Cleveland on Sunday.

Uh oh.

As we’ve seen this year alone, this doesn’t mean much. You can bet head coach Dan Quinn and the Commanders aren’t taking the Browns lightly. Just one year ago, the Browns won 10 games and made the playoffs. While they are off to a slow start, they are capable of turning things around on any given week.

NFL expert picks: Commanders remain heavy underdogs

It’s surprising to see so many picks in favor of Arizona.

When the betting lines opened for Week 4 last week, the Arizona Cardinals opened as favorites over the Washington Commanders. However, when the Commanders upset the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football, the Cardinals remained the favorite, but those lines narrowed.

Arizona remains the favorite over Washington on Sunday, as the Commanders will be without the services of one of their best offensive players. Running back Austin Ekeler will miss the game as he’s in concussion protocol. Ekeler was injured in the third quarter of Monday’s win at Cincinnati.

The Cardinals will also be without a key offensive starter, tight end Trey McBride, who is also in concussion protocol.

The good news for Washington is that rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels is healthy and will be under center. Daniels was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in the win over the Bengals. He was also named Rookie of the Week for the second time in three weeks.

So, while oddsmakers favor the Cardinals, who do the experts pick?

According to NFL Pickwatch, 76% of this week’s picks favor the Cardinals. Considering last week’s results, seeing so many pick Arizona is a bit surprising. Washington is probably happy about that since nearly 100% of the so-called experts picked the Bengals last week.

NFL Network experts going for the Steelers over the Colts

NFL Network is leaning in hard on the Steelers getting the road win this week.

Week Four of the NFL regular season is upon us and the Pittsburgh Steelers are a surprising 3-0. This has been in large part due to a smothering defense, the best in the NFL, and a conservative offense that hasn’t made mistakes.

This week the Steelers travel to take on an Indianapolis Colts (1-2) that got their first win of the season last week against the Chicago Bears. The Colts are still a work in progress but have some dangerous weapons on offense NFL Network did a full preview of the game and offered up their expert picks.

Of the 10 NFL Network picks, only Kevin Patra calls for the Colts to upset the Steelers at home.

The Steelers got to 3-0 by defeating the Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons.

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Who are the experts picking in Panthers vs. Bengals?

A new starting QB has sparked a bit of faith in the Panthers heading into their Week 4 matchup against the Bengals.

Do the experts think the rejuvenated Carolina Panthers can put away the 0-3 Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday?

Here are their picks for this intriguing Week 4 matchup . . .

USA TODAY: Bengals (6-0)

Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Panthers (0):

Bengals (6): Jarrett Bell, Chris Bumbaca, Nate Davis, Tyler Dragon, Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz, Lorenzo Reyes

NFL.com: Bengals (9-1)

Panthers (1): Adam Rank

Bengals (9): Colleen Wolfe, Maurice Jones-Drew, Marcas Grant, Bucky Brooks, Grant Gordon, Daniel Jeremiah, Nick Shook, Eric Edholm, Kevin Patra

ESPN: Bengals (10-1)

Panthers (1): Kalyn Kahler

Bengals (10): Stephania Bell, Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Jeremy Fowler, Dan Graziano, Kimberley A. Martin, Eric Moody, Jason Reid, Lindsey Thiry, Seth Wickersham

CBS Sports: Bengals (7-1)

Panthers (1): Will Brinson

Bengals (7): Pete Prisco, Jared Dubin, Ryan Wilson, John Breech, Tyler Sullivan, Dave Richard, Jamey Eisenberg

Bleacher Report: Bengals (5-3)

Panthers (3): Gary Davenport, Vince Michelino, Brent Sobleski

Bengals (5): Brad Gagnon, Ian Hanford, Kristopher Knox, Maurice Moton, Wes O’Donnell

Pro Football Talk: Bengals (2-0)

Panthers (0):

Bengals (2): Mike Florio, Chris Simms

Overall

Panthers: 6

Bengals: 39

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Experts seem cautiously optimistic about Notre Dame over Louisville

While not every expert is picking Notre Dame this week, a decent amount feel cautiously optimistic about the Fighting Irish over Louisville.

It’s almost certainly not hyperbole to suggest that Notre Dame’s home game against Louisville this weekend could determine the Fighting Irish’s postseason fate.

Even before Notre Dame suffered a shocking loss to Northern Illinois, the matchup against the Cardinals was considered one of the biggest tests for the Irish, along with the season opener at Texas A&M and the tilt with Florida State — at least until the Seminoles fell apart.

Notre Dame Nation is likely nervous about this game, both because it’s the first true test since the NIU debacle and because the Cardinals effectively ended the Irish’s postseason bid last season.

There is one key difference from 2023 — this year’s game is in South Bend. Maybe the green jerseys will help

Can the Fighting Irish beat Louisville? Some experts think so. — Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price runs the ball up the field during a NCAA college football game between Notre Dame and Northern Illinois at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in South Bend.

With that in mind, the experts have their picks in, and it’s a mixed bag, though some pundits are leaning towards the Irish.

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NFL expert picks: Almost no one gives the Commanders a chance to beat the Bengals

Almost no one thinks the Commanders have a chance.

The Washington Commanders (1-1) are looking for their second consecutive win on Monday night as they head to Cincinnati to face the winless Bengals (0-2).

Washington opened the week as a 7.5-point underdog to the Joe Burrow and the Bengals. Cincinnati looked like it would pick up its first win last week over the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs, but a fourth-down penalty kept a late drive alive before a last-second field goal took down the Bengals.

So, the Bengals come into Monday night looking to avoid starting 0-3 and also received some good news as wide receiver Tee Higgins returns to action. He missed the first two games with a hamstring injury. Now, the Commanders’ struggling secondary must worry about defending Ja’Marr Chase and Higgins.

Few believe the Commanders can pull off the upset. According to NFL Pickwatch, 97% of the expert picks believe Cincinnati will defeat Washington.

If you’re looking for hope, remember in 2022 when the Commanders strolled into Philadelphia on a Monday night and took down the then-undefeated Bengals?

This Washington team has a dynamic young quarterback in Jayden Daniels.

Who are the experts picking in Panthers vs. Raiders?

Has a new QB sparked some faith in the Panthers ahead of their Week 3 trip to Las Vegas?

Even with an 0-2 start and a surprising switch under center, the Carolina Panthers seem to have some experts in their corner this week.

Here are the Week 3 picks for Sunday’s matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders . . .

USA TODAY: Raiders (5-1)

Panthers (1): Nate Davis

Raiders (5): Jarrett Bell, Chris Bumbaca, Tyler Dragon, Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz, Lorenzo Reyes

NFL.com: Raiders (9-1)

Panthers (1): Eric Edholm

Raiders (9): Colleen Wolfe, Maurice Jones-Drew, Adam Rank, Marcas Grant, Bucky Brooks, Grant Gordon, Daniel Jeremiah, Nick Shook, Kevin Patra

ESPN: Raiders (10-1)

Panthers (1): Dan Graziano

Raiders (10): Stephania Bell, Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Jeremy Fowler, Kalyn Kahler, Kimberley A. Martin, Eric Moody, Jason Reid, Lindsey Thiry, Seth Wickersham

CBS Sports: Raiders (8-0)

Panthers (0):

Raiders (8): Pete Prisco, Will Brinson, Jared Dubin, Ryan Wilson, John Breech, Tyler Sullivan, Dave Richard, Jamey Eisenberg

Bleacher Report: Panthers (5-3)

Panthers (5): Gary Davenport, Ian Hanford, Vince Michelino, Wes O’Donnell, Brent Sobleski

Raiders (3): Brad Gagnon, Kristopher Knox, Maurice Moton

Pro Football Talk: Raiders (2-0)

Panthers (0):

Raiders (2): Mike Florio, Chris Simms

Overall

Panthers: 8

Raiders: 37

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Here’s what the experts are saying about Miami of Ohio at Notre Dame

Here’s how the experts are picking Notre Dame vs. Miami of Ohio.

With Notre Dame looking to avoid a second letdown at home against a Mid-American Conference team in the first month of 2024, the Fighting Irish should be ready for any challenge presented by the Miami of Ohio Redhawks.

So, what do the experts think?

Irish Illustrated’s Kevin Sinclair has the Fighting Irish walking away with a 34-7 victory.

“Notre Dame will continue its evolution offensively while the defense won’t give up points until the reserves roll onto the field in the second half,” he wrote. “Look for another strong rushing day from the Irish offense and a deep shot that will develop over increased play-action.”

His colleague John Brice aka Football Scoop has the Irish tallying a 38-13 win over the Redhawks.

“The Irish win the turnover battle for the second-straight week and third time in four games. They win the lines of scrimmage,” he wrote. “They win the game.”

Unit strength #GoIrish☘️ | Game 4 | @MyCreditUnion1 pic.twitter.com/n7aEWe4oK1

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) September 20, 2024

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