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So Watt if they're banged up, take the Texans to the bank | Vegas Vic

Three of our seven selectors are off to a good start with a win in the Eagles game - which means four got it wrong.

Don’t sweat the injuries,  Houston and rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson will roll the hapless Browns. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Don’t sweat the injuries, Houston and rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson will roll the hapless Browns. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)Read moreMichael Dwyer / AP

Our staff picks this week’s NFL games.

Sunday

Texans (-9.5) Browns (O/U: 46.5), 1 p.m.

Quick hit: Kevin Hogan will be the Browns 28th different starting quarterback since 1999. The wonderful list: Derek Anderson, Jason Campbell, Tim Couch, Austin Davis, Jake Delhomme, Ty Detmer, Trent Dilfer, Ken Dorsey, Charlie Frye, Jeff Garcia, Bruce Gradkowski, Robert Griffin III, Kelly Holcomb, Brian Hoyer, Cody Kessler, DeShone Kizer, Thaddeus Lewis, Johnny Manziel, Josh McCown, Luke McCown, Colt McCoy, Doug Pederson, Brady Quinn, Connor Shaw, Seneca Wallace, Brandon Weeden, Spergon Wynn.

Browns vs. spread: 1-4

Texans vs. spread: 3-2

Vegas Vic's take: Yeah, I know, I know. Houston lost arguably the best defensive player in the NFL last week in J.J. Watt. Yeah, yeah, I know that LB Whitney Mercilus, a second team All-Pro in 2016, is also gone for the rest of the season. So, if you recall, Watt missed the last 13 games of the 2016 season, and Houston made the playoffs with a 9-7 record. And when Watt went down, the Texans posted a win and a cover at home the following week. But the best news for the banged up Texans team is that Cleveland is coming to town. Yes, the pathetic Brownies, that are 0-5 this season, and have managed a grand total of one win in the last 21 games. They are also packing an 0-11 road losing streak in the suitcase. No doubt that Houston will win this game, and if you don't wanna lay nine and a hook, try the money line which is right around Texans -$450. Welcome to Houston, Best Bet country!


Patriots (-10) Jets (O/U: 47.5), 1 p.m.

Quick hit: A win would make Tom Brady the all-time winningest regular-season quarterback, breaking a tie at 186 with Brett Favre and Peyton Manning. Brady has 54 losses (.775 win pct.), Manning had 79 losses (.702) and Favre 112 (.624). Brady also has those five little Lombardi Trophies, compared to two for Manning and one for Favre.

Patriots vs. spread: 2-3

Jets vs. spread: 3-2

Vegas Vic's take: New England's last three games: three-point win, three-point loss, five-point win. The plus-10 looks very tasty.

Falcons (-12) Dolphins (O/U: 46.5), 1 p.m.

Quick hit: All four of Miami's games have been under. In fact, way under. The total points in their four games are 26, 20, 26 and 36. The corresponding over/unders for those games were 41.5, 51.5, 43.5 and 46.

Dolphins vs. spread: 2-2

Falcons vs. spread: 2-2

Vegas Vic's take: If you look at the standings and see Miami's 2-2 record, you would think that the Dolphins are an average team. They ain't! The two wins were a 19-17 squeeze against the sad-sack Chargers, and 16-10 W against the Titans who played without QB Marcus Mariota. The Dolphins have scored 22 points the last three times out, for an average of 7.3 points per game. Atlanta should have that in the first quarter. Actually making a big fat wager on the Falcons -6 in the first half.

Saints (-5) Lions (O/U: 50.5), 1 p.m.

Quick hit: Some triviality opposite of the Tom Brady note above. Drew Brees (103) is one of six quarterbacks with 100 regular-season losses. The others are Vinny Testaverde (123), Brett Favre (112), Fran Tarkenton (109), Warren Moon (101) and Norm Snead (100). Half of Snead's losses came with the Eagles from 1964-70 when he went 28-50-3.

Lions vs. spread: 3-2

Saints vs. spread: 2-2

Vegas Vic's take: New Orleans lost to Detroit at home last season, 28-13 as a six-point point favorite. Now the Saints are laying five. Since Matthew Stafford keeps the Lions competitive 'til the final gun (two losses by a total of seven points), gotta roar with the visitors.

Packers (-3) Vikings (O/U: 46.5), 1 p.m.

Quick hit: The Packers last four games all have gone over. Three of Minnesota's last four have been under. Good luck with that.

Packers vs. spread: 3-2

Vikings vs. spread: 2-3

Vegas Vic's take: Is there any doubt when it comes to Aaron Rodgers vs. Case Keenum? Not in this space.

Ravens (-6) Bears (O/U: 40), 1 p.m.

Quick hit: The Bears are 2-8 against the spread on the road since the start of 2016.

Bears vs. spread: 3-2

Ravens vs. spread: 3-2

Vegas Vic's take: Even though last week's 30-17 win at Oakland was against EJ Manuel at QB and not Derek Carr, like what we're seeing from Joe Flacco, one of the greatest Fightin' Blue Hens ever. He was 19 of 26 for 222 yards last week against a very tough Silver & Black defense. Didn't have any TD tosses, but also didn't have any picks and was not sacked. Chicago brings plenty of ugly to the table. How ugly? The Bears crawl into Baltimore riding an 0-10 streak on the road. Gimme a cup of Joe.

Redskins (-11) 49ers (O/U: 46.5), 1 p.m.

Quick hit: The last time the Redskins were double-digit favorites was in 2008 when they lost outright at home to St. Louis, 19-17. The Rams were 0-4 and had just fired Scott Linehan and replaced him with Jim Haslett.

49ers vs. spread: 3-2

Redskins vs. spread: 2-2

Vegas Vic's take: Totally see the crew from D.C. on the winning side, but for an ugly 0-5 team, San Francisco is — you ready for this? — 4-1 (80%) against the spread. And the Niners have covered two in a row as a double-digit 'dog.

 Jaguars (-2.5) Rams (O/U: 42), 4:05 p.m.

Quick hit: Leonard Fournette fans take note. The Rams, thanks largely to giving up 229 yards against the Redskins in Week 2, are dead last in run defense.

Rams vs. spread: 2-3

Jaguars vs. spread: 3-2

Vegas Vic's take: Jags look good on the road but can't seem to win at home, where they have posted only one W in the last nine.

Buccaneers (-2) Cardinals (O/U: 44.5), 4:05 p.m.

Quick hit: The Cardinals are the only winless team against the spread.

Buccaneers vs. spread: 1-3

Cardinals vs. spread: 0-5

Vegas Vic's take: Tampa has covered just one of the last six overall and is now a road favorite. Don't think so.

Chiefs (-4) Steelers (O/U: 45.5), 4:25 p.m.

Quick hit: Alex Smith has 11 touchdown passes, no interceptions and a passer rating of 125.8. Ben Roethisberger has six TDs, seven picks and a 75.8 rating. How come this line is only 4?

Steelers vs. spread: 2-3

Chiefs vs. spread: 5-0

Vegas Vic's take: Pittsburgh was on my radar screen right after Ben Roethlisberger looked like he was gonna cry in a postgame interview when he said, "I might not have it anymore." Then I started digging a little deeper, and revenge is gonna carry the day. The Steelers smoked the Chiefs last season in Pittsburgh, 43-14, then bounced 'em out of the playoffs in KC, in front of the home folks, 18-16. Double revenge should put some cash in the pockets of Chief Nation.

Raiders (-3.5) Chargers (O/U: –), 4:25 p.m.

Quick hit: The Raiders have won four in a row in this series, the last three all by three points.

Chargers vs. spread: 1-3-1

Raiders vs. spread: 2-3

Vegas Vic's take: Of course, this is a Derek Carr selection. If Carr takes the keys for Oakland, scrub city. If Carr stays in the garage, it's the Bolts.

Broncos (-12) Giants (O/U: 39.5), 8:30 p.m.

Quick hit: On top of everything else the Giants are dealing with, stud defensive end Olivier Vernon is still dealing with an ankle injury and missed practice Wednesday and Thursday.

Giants vs. spread: 2-3

Broncos vs. spread: 2-1-1

Vegas Vic's take: Is it just me or does this game smell like 42-3? Or does this game just smell? The New Yorkers come to Denver bruised, battered, and with a big fat zero on the left side of the standings. Like 0-5. And of course we have odds on the Giants going 0-16. If you think that they're gonna go for the giant bagel — lose all 16 — then you would put up $100 and get back $900. If you think they are gonna finally win a game, you would put up $1800 to win back only $100. So, chances are, they ain't gonna swallow 11 more losses, but hey, ya never know. The Giants will be without their three best wide receivers. No Odell Beckham Jr. No Brandon Marshall. No Sterling Shepard. Also, CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has been suspended. What else can go wrong? Ben McAdoo's hair. C'mon Ben, a little less product! The last NFC East team that rolled into Denver was the Cowboys, and they limped out on the wrong end of a 42-17 score.

Monday

Titans (-3) Colts (O/U: –), 8:30 p.m.

Quick hit: Even without Andrew Luck, four of the five Colts' games this season have been over.

Colts vs. spread: 3-2

Titans vs. spread: 2-3

Vegas Vic's take: This picks swings on Marcus Mariota's health. Double M plays for Tennessee and we wash the pick. Double M is out and we're on Indy.

Thursday

PANTHERS (-3.5) Eagles (45)

The Eagles sure made a statement with a huge 28-23 road win that could carry a lot of weight come January.

Season records

Entering Week 6