If you’ve spent any time on CBS Sports lately, you know that Pete Prisco doesn't exactly sugarcoat things. The man lives for the "trench warfare" of the NFL. He’s the kind of guy who gets more excited about a guard pulling on a power run than a 50-yard touchdown pass. And honestly? That's why people keep coming back to Pete Prisco picks week 7 every single year. He sees the game differently than the "stat nerds" (his words, not mine).
Week 7 of the 2025 season was a weird one. By mid-October, we usually think we know who teams are. Then a guy like Sam Darnold starts playing like an MVP candidate for the Vikings, or the Chiefs’ defense decides to become a brick wall, and suddenly all the preseason "locks" look like garbage. Prisco has been doing this for decades, and his 2025 run has been a rollercoaster. He’s currently sitting at a 179-100 record straight up, which is roughly a 64% clip. Not too shabby for a guy who often picks against the grain just to prove a point about offensive line play.
Breaking Down the Biggest Hits from Pete Prisco Picks Week 7
Let’s get into the meat of it. Prisco’s philosophy is basically "Quarterback + Protection = Win." He doesn't care about your fantasy points. He cares about who is winning the line of scrimmage.
Take the Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals game. Most of the public was leaning toward Kyler Murray making something happen at home. Prisco? He went with the Packers. His logic was simple: Jordan Love is a better "pure" passer in the pocket, and the Cardinals' pass rush is, well, suspect. He predicted a 24-21 win for Green Bay. He was almost spot on. Love stayed clean, the Packers' O-line held up, and they ground out a win. It wasn't flashy, but it was classic Prisco.
Then you had the Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings. This was for first place vibes in the NFC. Prisco has always been a "show me" guy with Sam Darnold. Even with Darnold lighting it up early in the 2025 season, Pete leaned toward the Eagles' defensive front. He figured Jalen Carter and that Philly rush would eventually force the "old" Darnold to show up. He picked the Eagles to win a tight one, 24-22. While Darnold didn't exactly "turn back into a pumpkin," the Eagles did manage to disrupt the rhythm enough to escape with a victory.
The Games Pete Prisco Got Wrong (And Why)
Look, nobody goes 16-0. Prisco is the first to tell you when he blows a pick. The Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Chargers game was a prime example. Pete is a massive Justin Herbert fan—he’s called him an elite, top-tier talent for years. He took the Chargers to win at home, figuring Jim Harbaugh’s physical style would overwhelm a young Colts team.
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Instead? The Colts’ ground game went nuclear. Anthony Richardson (or whoever was taking snaps that week, let's be real, the Colts QB room is always a saga) didn't even have to do much. They just ran the ball down the Chargers' throats. Prisco’s biggest blind spot is often his belief that a great QB can overcome a mediocre supporting cast. In this one, Herbert just didn't have the help.
Another one that bit him was the Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers. Thursday night games are usually a mess, and this one was no different. Prisco usually bets on Joe Burrow. Who doesn't? But the Bengals' defense in 2025 has been... leaky. The Steelers managed to pull off a 33-31 upset. Pete's prediction of a Steelers win was actually right (he picked them 27-19), but the game was way higher scoring than he anticipated. He underestimated how much the Bengals would struggle to stop the run.
Why the Prisco "Gamble" Still Works
People love to troll Pete on Twitter (or X, whatever) because he’s opinionated. But if you look at the Pete Prisco picks week 7 history, he’s remarkably consistent at identifying "fraud" teams.
He tends to stay away from the hype. If a team wins three games in a row by one score, Prisco is the first one to say they’re lucky, not good. He looks for:
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- Clean pocket time: If a QB is getting hit 10 times a game, Pete is picking against them next week.
- Cornerback depth: He hates teams that can’t cover the #2 receiver.
- The "West to East" travel rule: He almost always picks against West Coast teams playing at 1 PM ET.
Real-World Betting Impact
If you’re using these picks for more than just water cooler talk, you’ve got to be careful. Prisco picks "Straight Up" (SU) more often than "Against the Spread" (ATS). In Week 7 of 2025, his straight-up picks were solid, but he struggled with some of the larger spreads.
For instance, he had the Chiefs beating the Raiders (duh), but the 11.5-point spread was a monster. The Raiders, despite being a mess, usually play the Chiefs tough. Pete predicted a 28-16 blowout. The Chiefs won, but it was a slog. If you followed his "pick" but didn't look at the line, you might have felt like a winner until you saw the final score was closer than 12 points.
How to Use These Picks Moving Forward
Don't just blind-follow any expert. Not even Pete. Use his analysis as a starting point. If he says an offensive line is struggling, go watch the highlights from their last game. Look for the "holding" calls and the "hurries." If he’s right about the line, he’s probably right about the game.
Actionable Insights for the Rest of the Season:
- Monitor the Trenches: Start looking at the PFF (Pro Football Focus) grades for offensive lines. Prisco is obsessed with this for a reason. If a team loses their starting Left Tackle, take Pete's pick with a grain of salt if he's still backing them.
- Home Underdogs: Prisco loves a scrappy home dog. Week 7 saw a few of these, and they usually cover the spread even if they don't win the game.
- The "Letdown" Factor: Did a team just play a massive divisional rival on Sunday Night Football? They’re likely to come out flat the following week. Pete often bakes this into his "Prisco's Picks" column.
At the end of the day, football is unpredictable. That’s why we watch. But having a guy like Pete Prisco give you a roadmap—even if that roadmap occasionally leads you into a ditch—makes the Sunday slate a lot more interesting. Just remember to check the injury reports before lock-in. A late scratch at Left Tackle can ruin even the best "Prisco's Picks" in a heartbeat.
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Go check the latest injury updates for Week 8 before you place any bets based on last week's results. The NFL moves fast, and what worked in Week 7 might be totally irrelevant by Tuesday morning.