Caesar’s Week 13 picks: Rams win, but not by a lot – STLtoday.com
PATRIOTS AT PACKERS
Time • 3:25 p.m.
Line • Packers by 3
New England averages 32.5 points per game, No. 1 in the NFL, just 0.3 ahead of No. 2 Green Bay. The Patriots have the better defense, so that is an advantage. However, the Packers have won their last four home games by an average of 31.8 points and outscored their foes 128-9 in the first half in that stretch. But look for New England to go to its interchangeable-parts ground game vs. the No. 30 run “D,” on what is forecast to be a windy, cloudy day with the temperature hovering in the low 30s.
PATRIOTS 33, PACKERS 30
REDSKINS AT COLTS
Time • Noon
Line • Colts by 9½
WASH benches QB Robert Griffin III in favor of Colt McCoy, who was effective in relief earlier this year but now operates behind a suspect offensive line. He won’t outgun INDY’s Andrew Luck, who operates the NFL’s top-rated aerial attack. The ’Skins are No. 8 vs. the pass, but have lost three in a row and face a tough task after being in SF last week.
COLTS 33, REDSKINS 20
TITANS AT TEXANS
Time • Noon
Line • Texans by 7
Sub-.500 teams meet and HOU goes back to previously-benched QB Ryan Fitzpatrick because Ryan Mallett suffered a season-ending chest injury last week. However, Fitzpatrick was a winner earlier this season vs. Titans — 30-16 on the road in late October. TENN has lost nine of 10 and is 28th in offense and defense. Not much to like here.
TEXANS 26, TITANS 17
BROWNS AT BILLS
Time • Noon
Line • Bills by 3
BUF back home after game last week was moved to Detroit because of snowstorm, and relies on its No. 4 “D.” CLEV has WR Josh Gordon, the NFL’s leading receiver last year, back for his second outing since suspension ended, to face the No. 5 pass “D.” CLEV minus safety Tashaun Gipson (sprained knee).
BROWNS 23, BILLS 20
CHARGERS AT RAVENS
Time • Noon
Line • Ravens by 6
SD barely eked out wins at home over sub-.500 teams the last two weeks, after a three-game losing streak, now goes cross country to BALT, where the Ravens have won four in a row and allowed an average of just 7.5 points in those games. The Chargers face the NFL’s No. 8 offense and this shapes up as nothing but trouble for the Chargers.
RAVENS 27, CHARGERS 16
GIANTS AT JAGUARS
Time • Noon
Line • Giants by 3
Emerging New York rookie receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and the rest of the Giants’ aerial attack should feast on the NFL’s No. 27 pass “D.” Then again, so should the ground game vs. the No. 28 run defense. Jacksonville scores just 14.6 points a game, worst in the league, but NY has the No. 31 defense.
GIANTS 30, JAGUARS 20
BENGALS AT BUCCANEERS
Time • Noon
Line • Bengals by 3½
How bad is the NFC South? Tampa Bay (2-9. 0-5 at home) is just two games out of first place and entertains CINCY, which has won four of five and key WR A.J. Green is back on track after being slowed by a toe injury. Tampa’s run game ranks 29th, but CINCY could be looking ahead to key AFC North clash next week with PIT and have letdown.
BUCCANEERS 24, BENGALS 20
RAIDERS AT RAMS
Time • Noon
Line • Rams by 6½
Oakland got its first win in its last outing and hasn’t won two in a row since Oct. 2012. It faces a foe that blew a chance to upset San Diego last week when Shaun Hill’s pass was intercepted at the goal line, and sputters offensively. Oakland is 0-5 on the road, but only once did it lose by more than seven points.
RAMS 20, RAIDERS 17
SAINTS AT STEELERS
Time • Noon
Line • Steelers by 4½
NO has lost three in a row — all at home — and now goes to PIT, which comes off a bye and has been inconsistent. This should be an aerial show. NO’s Drew Brees guides the NFL’s No. 3 passing attack, PIT’s Ben Roethlisberger runs the No. 5 unit. Steelers have the better pass “D,” but only by about 12 yards a game.
STEELERS 30, SAINTS 27
PANTHERS AT VIKINGS
Time • NoonLine • Vikings by 3
CAR is just 3-7-1 but only half a game out of the NFC South lead, and gets a break here as MIN’s offense ranks 30th and rookie QB Teddy Bridgewater is having growing pains. MIN’s defense isn’t much better (No. 25), but the offense has more potential even though it has struggled. CAR has lost five in a row; time to win.
PANTHERS 27, VIKINGS 23
CARDINALS AT FALCONS
Time • 3:05 p.m.
Line • Cardinals by 2
AZ comes off a rare loss at Seattle, now goes east and tries to get its 25th-rated offense going. It faces the NFL’s worst “D,” which allows 409.9 yards a game. But key AZ receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who didn’t play last week because of a sprained knee, might be out again. Cards allow just 17.7 points, win with “D.”
CARDINALS 23, FALCONS 17
BRONCOS AT CHIEFS
Time • 7:30 p.m.
Line • Broncos by 2
DEN is 2-2 in its last four and scored just seven points in its last road outing, vs. STL. Now it goes to KC, which has won its last four at home — including against reigning NFL champ SEA in its last home contest. Key TE Julius Thomas (ankle) might not be in DEN’s aerial show, and KC is No. 1 vs. the pass — but minus key S Eric Berry (illness) for rest of the year.
CHIEFS 27, BRONCOS 23
DOLPHINS AT JETS
Time • 7:30 Monday
Line • Dolphins by 6½
MIA has lost two of three and tries to get on track vs. NY, which plays on back-to-back Mondays. That’s because its contest last week was moved from Sunday because of the snow in Buffalo and the game was shifted to Detroit and NY was pummeled 38-3. Jets QB Geno Smith, who was benched earlier, is back as Michael Vick now is benched.
DOLPHINS 21, JETS 17
PICKS OF THE WEEK
STRAIGHT UP • COLTS
Last week • Right (COLTS)
Season • 10-2
vs. SPREAD • COLTS (-9½)
Last week • Right Colts (-14)
Season • 4-7-1
CAESAR’S RECORD
STRAIGHT UP
Last week: 12-3
Season: 116-59-1
vs. SPREAD
Last week: 11-4
Season: 95-79-2
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