Week 7 NFL Predictions: Picks, Scores & Betting Lines for Every Game

NFL
October 17, 2025


Week 7 of the NFL season closes with a doubleheader on Monday Night Football, featuring two matchups that hold major betting interest across the board. The early game features the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visiting the Detroit Lions at Ford Field, while the late window moves to Seattle, where the Seattle Seahawks host the Houston Texans.

Both contests carry major implications for NFL Betting, with sharp bettors watching the NFL Odds on BUSR closely. Detroit enters as a 5.5-point home favorite over Tampa Bay, with a total of 53, while Seattle is a 3.5-point favorite against Houston, with a total of 41. The numbers indicate one expected shootout and one defensive grinder, each offering its own edges for bettors.

Below, we break down both games with a complete betting analysis: team strengths, statistical matchups, and the best plays based on current NFL betting lines.

 

Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1) at Detroit Lions (4-2)Detroit Lions

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

 

Baker Mayfield enters Week 7 sitting third in MVP futures odds, an impressive feat considering the injuries Tampa Bay has endured. The Buccaneers have gone 5-1 despite missing both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin for large portions of the season. In last week’s win, Emeka Egbuka went down early, forcing Mayfield to rely on Sterling Shepard and depth receivers who had not been part of the regular rotation.

Mayfield’s leadership and accuracy have driven Tampa Bay’s success, but this will be his toughest test without his full complement of weapons. The Lions’ defense is not without flaws, especially in the secondary, where Brian Branch’s suspension has left a hole, but Detroit’s defensive front has developed into a strength. The Lions’ pass rush could cause issues for the Buccaneers’ offensive line, missing two starters.

The Buccaneers have not found consistency running the ball, ranking among the league’s least productive rushing attacks. Even with Bucky Irving possibly returning, it’s unlikely that Tampa Bay will generate momentum on the ground against a Detroit unit that ranks top-five in rush defense. That means the burden once again falls on Mayfield to carry the offense through the air.

Tampa Bay’s key to success lies in quick-hitting passes and creative protection schemes to neutralize Detroit’s front. If Mayfield finds rhythm early, Tampa Bay can move the chains through intermediate routes and play-action, but sustained drives will be difficult with a limited run threat.

 

Detroit Lions

 

Detroit’s offense also faces a difficult matchup. The Lions have thrived when able to run the football behind Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, yet the Buccaneers’ defensive front ranks among the league’s most effective against the run. Tampa Bay has not allowed a single opposing running back to top 50 yards rushing this season, forcing teams to abandon the ground game entirely.

That puts added pressure on Jared Goff to deliver through the air. Goff has been accurate and decisive, but this matchup will test his pocket presence. Tampa Bay’s pass rush has improved dramatically, recording 135 pressures through six games—one of the highest marks in the NFL. Without a healthy Taylor Decker protecting his blindside and with Frank Ragnow and Kevin Zeitler no longer in the lineup, Goff could see frequent pressure.

If Decker returns, Goff will have more time to locate Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta downfield. The Lions’ quick passing game could also serve as an extension of the run game, helping neutralize the Buccaneers’ front seven. Detroit’s ability to win on early downs through timing routes will determine whether they can sustain drives or settle for field goals.

 

Betting Analysis

 

The Buccaneers’ 5-1 record looks impressive on paper, but their schedule has lacked high-level opponents. Their only game against a top-tier team came against the Philadelphia Eagles, a loss that was largely one-sided until Lane Johnson exited in the second half. Tampa Bay has handled mid-tier teams effectively but has yet to face a balanced contender like Detroit.

The Lions are better on both lines of scrimmage, and that advantage should control the flow of the game. Detroit’s defense is capable of limiting Mayfield’s pocket time, while their offense has the tools to exploit Tampa Bay’s secondary once the short match opens up.

The betting market agrees. BUSR’s NFL Odds list Detroit as a -5.5 favorite, which still offers value based on power ratings that project this line closer to -7.5. With 79 percent of the betting handle on the underdog Buccaneers, the Lions also carry a strong contrarian edge.

Motivation tilts toward Detroit as well, with the Lions coming off a loss and returning home in a dome environment where weather is not a factor.

 

Picks: Lions -5.5; Over 52.5

 

Houston TexansHouston Texans (2-3) at Seattle Seahawks (4-2)Seattle Seahawks

 

Houston Texans

 

Houston’s offense has been inconsistent all season, flashing briefly against the Baltimore Ravens before reverting to old habits. The Texans’ primary issue has been poor offensive line play. C.J. Stroud has faced pressure on a high percentage of dropbacks, and while his arm talent is evident, he has not been supported by consistent protection or a stable running game.

The Seahawks’ defense ranks ninth overall in the NFL and has the pass-rush depth to take advantage of Houston’s weaknesses. Seattle’s edge defenders should collapse the pocket frequently, forcing Stroud to throw under duress. Without time to set his feet, even the injuries in Seattle’s secondary are unlikely to be exposed.

Houston’s running game will provide little relief. The team reverted to veteran Nick Chubb after Woody Marks’ breakout performance against Tennessee, a move that backfired immediately. Chubb lacks the burst to challenge the edges of Seattle’s defense, and the Seahawks rank fifth against the run. With little threat on the ground, Stroud will have to shoulder the load against a defense that can pin its ears back and rush freely.

The Texans’ inability to sustain balance could make this game long and frustrating. Unless Houston’s line unexpectedly improves, their possessions will stall quickly, leading to field-position losses that tilt the game toward Seattle.

 

Seattle Seahawks 

 

Seattle’s offense has found stability through the run game. Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet form one of the league’s most efficient backfield tandems, and the matchup against Houston favors them again. The Texans sit 21st in rushing defense, leaving them vulnerable to inside-zone runs and misdirection schemes that Seattle uses to open lanes.

The Seahawks’ offensive approach centers around establishing the run to open the passing game for Sam Darnold. Darnold has played well within structure and is starting to draw light MVP chatter. Whether that talk is premature or not, his job becomes much easier when Walker and Charbonnet move the chains.

Houston’s defense, ranked 10th overall, excels against the pass but can be gashed on the ground. If Seattle’s offensive line wins early downs and creates third-and-shorts, Darnold will have high-percentage throws to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who continues to emerge as the offense’s most valuable piece. Smith-Njigba’s ability to work over the middle and find soft spots in zone coverage gives Seattle reliable production even against strong secondaries.

Given that both defenses rank inside the top 10, many expect a low-scoring game, but the matchups suggest otherwise. Seattle’s ground advantage should extend drives, while Houston’s pass-heavy script could lead to turnovers that create short fields.

 

Betting Analysis 

 

Seattle holds several measurable edges in this matchup. Beyond the personnel advantages, the scheduling spot heavily favors the Seahawks. This is a late 10 p.m. ET kickoff, which impacts teams from the Eastern and Central time zones. Circadian rhythm data show that teams traveling west for late games have failed to cover the spread in each of the last three occurrences. For Houston, this becomes a significant factor, as their internal clocks will feel the effects of a body-clock start approaching midnight.

The NFL betting lines from BUSR opened at Seahawks -2.5 with early sharp money quickly driving it to -3.5. Seattle has drawn roughly 73 percent of the betting handle but still holds line value based on the calculated spread of -5 and a computer model projection of -7. The late-night environment at Lumen Field amplifies Seattle’s home-field advantage, making it one of the toughest venues for opponents.

The Texans remain a one-dimensional team without a consistent run game or offensive line depth. Seattle’s defense can key on Stroud’s tendencies, mix coverages, and let its front four dictate tempo. Expect early sacks to kill Houston drives and limit their ability to find rhythm.

Seattle’s offense should benefit from field position and time of possession. As Walker and Charbonnet grind down Houston’s front, play-action will open intermediate windows for Darnold and Smith-Njigba. That formula aligns perfectly with how the Seahawks want to play: ball control, physicality, and situational efficiency.

 

Prediction: Seahawks -3.5; Over 41

 

The Seahawks’ physical style and home-field advantage align well with this Monday Night Football slot. Houston’s lack of balance and late-start disadvantage create an uphill climb that should leave Seattle comfortably ahead.

 

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