NFL Best Bets, Week 6: Bears headline these three smart picks

A late Falcons touchdown prevented a perfect 3-0 week in our Week 5 Best Bets column. However, if you could get the Texans at +2, then a PUSH isn’t the worst outcome.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs and 49ers easily covered in their games. Our year-to-date record is 8-6-1, and it’s time to add more wins this weekend.

Here are my best bets for Week 6.

Reminder: Lines taken from FanDuel Sportsbook.

COLTS +4.5 @ Jaguars

The Colts lost rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson to a shoulder injury last week, and it’s expected to keep him out of the lineup for at least one month. But the dropoff to Minshew isn’t something to scoff at. He has completed close to 69% of his passes and has thrown zero interceptions when coming in for relief duty this season.

With running back Jonathan Taylor back in the fold, the Colts can use their impressive offensive line to establish the run and keep the Jaguars pass rush at bay (the Jags rank 27th in sack percentage). Trevor Lawrence is also 0-5 against the spread when being at least a four-point favorite, and the Jaguars are finally returning home after two weeks in London and an emotional win over the Bills.

I expect this game to be close, with the Jags winning on a late FG.

BEARS +2.5 vs Vikings

I would like this line better at +3, but I am still comfortable with +2.5. The Chicago Bears are coming off a mini-bye after getting their first win in Week 5 over the Commanders in nearly a year. Despite their injuries during the game, the Bears should get three of their four secondary starters back (Kyler Gordon, Jaylon Johnson, and Eddie Jackson).

Meanwhile, the Vikings suffered a massive blow in losing superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson to a hamstring injury, which leaves rookie Jordan Addison as the No. 1 option for Kirk Cousins.

The weather in Chicago will be windy and rainy this weekend, so this game could benefit the team with the better ground game. Even if Khalil Herbert and rookie Roschon Johnson are sidelined, Justin Fields and D’onta Foreman are more than capable of rushing the ball effectively.

This could be a low-scoring, sloppy game.

COWBOYS -2.5 @ Chargers

The Cowboys got absolutely embarrassed on national television last week at the hands of the 49ers, and that’s precisely why I like them in this spot. This is a talented team that just ran into one that was more talented and better coached. The Chargers might be more talented, but I’m not sure they are better coached. This Cowboys team will be looking to get that bad taste out of their mouths to a Chargers defense, giving up nearly 300 passing yards per game. This will be a home game type of feel for the Cowboys, and I think they will feed off that energy if they can manage to score some early points.