Pete Prisco doesn’t care about your feelings. He definitely doesn't care about your advanced analytics or that "expected points added" chart you found on Twitter. When you look at prisco picks week 7, you aren't just getting numbers; you’re getting the perspective of a guy who has spent decades breathing NFL air.
He’s the senior NFL writer at CBS Sports, and his Weekly Picks column is basically a rite of passage for football bettors. Some people love him. Others want to throw their remote through the screen when he picks against their home team. But you can't deny the man has a pulse on the league.
The Core Philosophy of Prisco Picks Week 7
Honestly, Pete is an "eye test" guy. While the rest of the world is obsessing over QBR and specialized defensive packages, Prisco is looking at the offensive line. He loves a "big boy" game. If a team can't protect their quarterback, Pete is going to fade them. It’s that simple.
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Take the Week 7 clash between the Green Bay Packers and the Houston Texans. A lot of the computer models liked C.J. Stroud to go into Lambeau and cause problems. But Pete looked at Jordan Love and the way that Green Bay offense was clicking. He predicted a 34-30 shootout. He saw two young gunslingers and bet on the home team's ability to outlast the road weary Texans.
He’s often right because he understands the "human" element. Travel schedules, consecutive road games, and locker room vibes matter more to him than a simulation.
Breaking Down the Big Games
One of the heaviest hitters in prisco picks week 7 was the NFC North showdown: Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions. This wasn't just a game; it was a fight for the divisional crown.
- The Vibe: Minnesota was coming off a bye, looking fresh.
- The Problem: Detroit had just lost their defensive soul, Aidan Hutchinson, to a horrific leg injury.
- The Call: Prisco went with the Vikings, 31-26.
Why? Because he knew Sam Darnold would have all day to find Justin Jefferson without Hutchinson screaming off the edge. You’ve gotta respect that kind of situational awareness. He doesn't just look at who has the better record. He looks at who has the better matchup right now.
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Why People Get These Picks Wrong
Most fans look at a spread and panic. They see a 7-point favorite and think, "That's too high." Prisco doesn't play that way. He likes to look for the "Spinning Top" of the week—the game that could go either way but usually tilts toward the team with the better coaching staff.
In the Super Bowl rematch between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, most of the "experts" were leaning toward a 49ers revenge tour. Not Pete. He saw a struggling San Francisco defense and knew Patrick Mahomes would pick them apart. His 27-23 prediction for the Chiefs was a masterclass in not overthinking the "revenge" narrative.
He basically says: "Stop looking for ghosts. Look at the tape."
The London Factor
We also had the Rams and Jaguars across the pond. London games are a nightmare to predict. The jet lag, the weird grass, the 9:30 AM start—it's a mess. Prisco, who has a bit of a soft spot for Jacksonville (he used to cover them locally), usually has a unique take here. He focuses on who handles the travel better.
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If you're following prisco picks week 7, you noticed he’s been leaning heavily on veteran quarterbacks in these neutral-site games. Experience beats adrenaline when your internal clock is six hours off.
Actionable Insights for Your Betting Slip
You shouldn't just blind-tail every pick. That's a quick way to lose your bankroll. Instead, use Prisco’s logic to sharpen your own.
- Check the Trenches: If Pete mentions a backup left tackle is starting, pay attention. That's usually his "tell" for a blowout.
- Fade the Public Narrative: When everyone is talking about a "trap game," Pete usually looks at the talent gap. Talent usually wins.
- The "Home Dog" Rule: Pete loves a home underdog in a divisional matchup. If the Cleveland Browns are playing the Bengals at home and getting points, Prisco is probably sniffing around that upset.
NFL betting is hard. There's no magic wand. But reading through the reasoning in prisco picks week 7 gives you a framework. It’s about more than just picking a winner; it’s about understanding the "why" behind the win.
Go back and look at his Week 6 record—he went 12-2 straight up. You don't do that by guessing. You do that by knowing which teams are pretenders and which ones are actually built for a deep January run. Keep an eye on the injury reports, especially for those key defensive line rotations he loves to talk about. That’s usually where the money is made.
To apply this to your own strategy, start by comparing his straight-up picks against the actual Vegas spreads. Look for discrepancies where he thinks a team will win comfortably but the line is thin; those are your "value" plays for the weekend.