It has been a little while since we last checked in with how things were going in the NFL this season and as we reach the second third of the season, now is as good a time as any to review what has happened over the first six weeks of the regular season.

In my pre-season tips, I gave you my predictions for the teams to win each of the eight divisional titles. So, we can check how those tips are going in this article.

In addition, we are going to be using odds from bet365 for some of the top tips to back for Week 7 of the season, details of which are attached at the bottom of this article.

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So let us begin with a look at how the divisions look after six weeks of action for most teams.

NFL Standings – Following Gameday 6

Pre-Season Predictions V Reality

The number in brackets indicates whether the team is in the position I predicted (=) or if it is in a higher (+1, +2 or +3) or lower (-1, -2 or -3) position in their division at present.

NFC North

My Pre-Season Prediction:

1. Green Bay Packers (-1)
2. Chicago Bears (-1)
3. Minnesota Vikings (+2)
4. Detroit Lions (=)

The Vikings have been the surprise here, winning five of their six games, to sit two games ahead of the Packers, who are a very disappointing 3-3. The Bears are a little worse than expected but as usual, the Lions have struggled, despite some much better performances this season.

NFC West

My Pre-Season Prediction:

1. Los Angeles Rams (-1)
2. San Francisco 49ers (+1)
3. Arizona Cardinals (-1)
4. Seattle Seahawks (+1)

This division is very close with the Rams, 49ers and Seahawks all with a 3-3 record, while the Cardinals have a 2-4 record, so anything is still possible, but my gut feeling is the Cardinals may be the team that finishes bottom of this division, while I still expect the Rams and 49ers to finish 1-2.

NFC East

My Pre-Season Prediction:

1. Philadelphia Eagles (=)
2. Dallas Cowboys (-1)
3. New York Giants (+1)
4. Washington Commanders (=)

The Commanders have struggled as I expected, and the Eagles have taken the top spot as they are undefeated after 6 games. The Giants superb 5-1 start has them just ahead of the Cowboys who are 4-2 and not out of things yet at all.

NFC South

My Pre-Season Prediction:

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (=)
2. New Orleans Saints (-1)
3. Carolina Panthers (-1)
4. Atlanta Falcons (+2)

The Bucs hold the lead in the South but that is a tenuous grip. The Falcons have done superbly well to get to 3-3 ahead of the Saints, and it is the Panthers who will likely finish bottom of this table after a miserable start to the season saw HC Matt Rhule sacked this past week.

AFC North

My Pre-Season Prediction:

1. Baltimore Ravens (=)
2. Cincinnati Bengals (=)
3. Cleveland Browns (=)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (=)

The only division that has a clean sweep of predictions so far, but with just one game between all four teams, so much in this division can change over the next few weeks. I still feel it will be a race between the Ravens and Bengals for top spot though.

AFC West

My Pre-Season Prediction:

1. Los Angeles Chargers (-1)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (+1)
3. Denver Broncos (=)
4. Las Vegas Raiders (=)

In my defence, this division is almost 100% on the money too as the Chargers and Chiefs both have a 4-2 record, with the Chiefs holding the head to head thanks to beating the Chargers a few weeks back. The Broncos and Raiders have struggled a little more than I was expecting though.

AFC East

My Pre-Season Prediction:

1. Buffalo Bills (=)
2. Miami Dolphins (-1)
3. New England Patriots (-1)
4. New York Jets (+2)

The Bills top this division as I and almost everyone else expected. What was not expected though was the Jets to be a hugely impressive 4-2 to lie second in this group while after solid start, the Dolphins have struggled a little in recent weeks.

AFC South

My Pre-Season Prediction:

1. Indianapolis Colts (-1)
2. Tennessee Titans (+1)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (=)
4. Houston Texans (=)

The Jags and Texans have pretty much had the season I was expecting, but I am a little surprised at the slow start by the Colts. They have a crunch game with Tennessee this week, who lead the South and have one game in hand over the Colts.

NFL Matchday 7 – Fixtures & Betting Tips

Thursday 20^th October

• New Orleans Saints (2-4) @ Arizona Cardinals (2-4)

Sunday 22^nd October

• Cleveland Browns (2-4) @ Baltimore Ravens (3-3)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3) @ Carolina Panthers (1-5)
• Atlanta Falcons (3-3) @ Cincinnati Bengals (3-3)
• Detroit Lions (1-4) @ Dallas Cowboys (4-2)
• New York Giants (5-1) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (2-4)
• Green Bay Packers (3-3) @ Washington Commanders (2-4)
• Indianapolis Colts (3-2-1) @ Tennessee Titans (3-2)
• Houston Texans (1-3-1) @ Las Vegas Raiders (1-4)
• New York Jets (4-2) @ Denver Broncos (2-4)
• Kansas City Chiefs (4-2) @ San Francisco 49ers (3-3)
• Seattle Seahawks (3-3) @ Los Angeles Chargers (4-2)
• Pittsburgh Steelers (2-4) @ Miami Dolphins (3-3)

Monday 23^rd October

• Chicago Bears (2-4) @ New England Patriots (3-3)

Bye Week Teams: Buffalo Bills (5-1), Los Angeles Rams (3-3), Minnesota Vikings (5-1), Philadelphia Eagles (6-0).

Week 7 Betting Tips

If you are new to NFL betting, do check out our article from a few weeks back looking at some of the more common NFL betting markets to give you a better idea of what the types of bet are shown in my tips for Week 7 games below.

• Ravens to beat the Browns by 13-18 points – 19/4
• BET BOOST – Saints to win, Alvin Kamara over 61.5 yards rushing, Tayson Hill to score a Touchdown – 13/2
• Buccaneers and Panthers – under 40.5 points and Bucs to win – 13/10
• Titans to defeat the Colts by 1-6 points – 14/5
• Raiders to defeat the Texans by 13-18 points – 9/2
• Patriots to defeat the Bears by 7-12 points – 15/4
• Bengals to defeat the Falcons and under 47.5 points – 17/10
• Jets to beat the Broncos by 1-6 points – 3/1

Let’s hope that these tips produce a nice profit for you over the weekend!