Tampa Bay Buccaneers

WhatIfSports NFL Week 7 predictions: Colts will top Saints

Published Oct. 20, 2015 3:30 p.m. ET

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Each Tuesday, WhatIfSports.com's NFL simulation engine generates predictions and box scores for every NFL game for the coming week. Our highly sophisticated algorithms simulate every play of every game to produce each team's likelihood to win. Each matchup is simulated 501 times.

To account for injuries and roster moves announced late in the week, we will be re-simulating games on Thursdays through the season.

Note: Our predictions use the latest available team and player information, while NFL S imMatchup includes all players that were or will be available at any point during the 2015 season so that theoretical and "what if" scenarios can be simulated.

Week 6 in Review

The NFL simulation engine broke even in Week 6, going 7-7 in straight-up predictions. The engine was actually .500 in picking against the spread as well, finishing with a 4-4 record. Although the upset pick (Bears over Lions) and Game to Watch (Giants over Eagles) were both incorrect, our lock pick of Patriots over Colts was on the nose.

Nailed It: Our NFL simulation engine predicted the Packers would defeat the Chargers by an average score of 30-21. The actual score? Packers 27, Chargers 20.

Wide Right: The big upset pick of the week didn’t exactly pan out. We predicted the Giants to beat the Eagles 57.8 percent of the time, by an average score of 25-23. Instead, the Eagles took care of business and won 27-7.

Track our 2015 performance or view our accuracy last season.

Week 7 Game to Watch

Saints at Colts: What should be a high-scoring battle also carries high stakes, as both teams desperately need a win to stay in the hunt. Our predictions have the Colts protecting their home field 61.3 percent of the time by an average score of 28-24.

Week 7 Upset Pick

Buccaneers (+3.5) over Redskins: A rookie quarterback on the road wasn’t enough to scare our engine away from picking this upset. According to our simulation, the Bucs win this one 53.7 percent of the time by an average score of 24-22.

Fantasy Radar

Fantasy Start – LeSean McCoy, BUF: After returning to action and having a nice game against the Titans, our simulation engine has McCoy scoring the 9th most points of any fantasy running back with 14.5.

Fantasy Sit – Dion Lewis, NE: Our predictions have LaGarrette Blount as the back to start for New England this week, as Lewis is only projected to score 6.3 points, which would rank him 30th among all running backs.

Fantasy Add – Cole Beasley, DAL: Coming off a bye, the engine thinks Cole Beasley is going to have a big game out of the slot, scoring 10.0 fantasy points.

For more fantasy football tips, view our Week 7 player projections.

NFL Week 7 Predictions
Matchup	Win %	Avg. Score
Baltimore Ravens	26.6	20	Box Score
@ Arizona Cardinals	73.4	28	Simulate Game
New York Jets	30.3	17	Box Score
@ New England Patriots	69.7	23	Simulate Game
New Orleans Saints	38.7	24	Box Score
@ Indianapolis Colts	61.3	28	Simulate Game
Philadelphia Eagles	41.1	18	Box Score
@ Carolina Panthers	58.9	22	Simulate Game
Oakland Raiders	43.5	25	Box Score
@ San Diego Chargers	56.5	27	Simulate Game
Houston Texans	43.4	19	Box Score
@ Miami Dolphins	56.6	21	Simulate Game
Dallas Cowboys	45.5	23	Box Score
@ New York Giants	54.5	25	Simulate Game
Cleveland Browns	49.7	23	Box Score
@ St. Louis Rams	50.3	24	Simulate Game
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	53.7	24	Box Score
@ Washington Redskins	46.3	22	Simulate Game
Buffalo Bills	57.9	24	Box Score
@ Jacksonville Jaguars	42.1	21	Simulate Game
Minnesota Vikings	64.1	24	Box Score
@ Detroit Lions	35.9	20	Simulate Game
Pittsburgh Steelers	67.1	27	Box Score
@ Kansas City Chiefs	32.9	21	Simulate Game
Seattle Seahawks	69.4	27	Box Score
@ San Francisco 49ers	30.6	20	Simulate Game
Atlanta Falcons	74.5	29	Box Score
@ Tennessee Titans	25.5	20	Simulate Game