The NFL has reached its final week of regular season games, which often features some of the strangest betting odds of the year at Las Vegas casinos. A team like the New England Patriots are only a small favorite at home because they already clinched home-field advantage in the playoffs, while the San Francisco 49ers are decided favorites over the playoff-bound Arizona Cardinals.
The underdogs had one of their best weeks of the year in Week 16, covering 10 of 16 betting lines. Below are picks against the spread for every game in Week 17.
Detroit Lions (+7.5) at Green Bay Packers
It’s been 23 years since the Lions won at Lambeau Field, and there’s little reason to believe that streak will end this season, since the Packers have been the most dominant home team in football. Green Bay is unbeaten at home and 5-1-1 against the spread.
Prediction ATS: Green Bay
Jacksonville Jaguars (+9.5) at Houston Texans
The Jaguars are likely to go the whole season without a road win. Five of their losses away from home have come by 10 points or more and their other two road defeats have come by eight points. After winning in Jacksonville by 14 points a few weeks ago, the Texans, who are still fighting for a playoff spot, should be able to do the same in Houston.
Prediction ATS: Houston
Cincinnati Bengals (+3.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have consistently taken care of business in divisional home games, winning six in a row. Pittsburgh blew out Cincinnati in Week 14, and Andy Dalton has been too inconsistent to help the Bengals keep up with the high-powered Steelers offense.
Prediction ATS: Pittsburgh
Indianapolis Colts (-7) at Tennessee Titans
The Colts have been exposed by good teams all season long, continuing with a 35-point loss to the Cowboys last week. However, Tennessee is not a good team, and Indianapolis has been dominant against the worst teams in football. The Colts are 5-0 against teams with six wins or fewer, winning each contest by at least 20 points.
Prediction ATS: Indianapolis
Cleveland Browns (+9.5) at Baltimore Ravens
The Browns are out of the playoff race and might have to start a quarterback that hasn’t thrown a pass in two years. The Ravens still have a chance to reach the playoffs if they win, and they should find a way at home against a team that has completely fallen apart. Cleveland has lost four games in a row, scoring 13 or fewer points in three of those games.
Prediction ATS: Baltimore
Buffalo Bills (+5) at New England Patriots
The Patriots clinched the No.1 seed with Denver’s loss on Monday night, so the betting line has decreased significantly. New England, historically, plays well in Week 17, going 16-4 against the spread in their last 20 regular season finales, via Odds Shark. They’ve won 16 games in a row at home and Sunday should be no different.
Prediction ATS: New England
New York Jets (+5.5) at Miami Dolphins
After a miserable first 11 games, the Jets have had a chance to win each of their last four contests, winning one game and losing the other three by an average of 3.3 points. Miami hasn’t won a game by more than three points since Week 11.
Prediction ATS: New York
Carolina Panthers (+4) at Atlanta Falcons
The Panthers have thrived against bad teams during their three-game winning streak, but they are still playing good football. Atlanta has been inconsistent in 2014, and it’s hard to pick the Falcons when they’re laying more than a field goal.
Prediction ATS: Carolina
Chicago Bears (+6.5) at Minnesota Vikings
The Bears are a mess and the Vikings are one of the best NFC teams that won’t be in the playoffs, but they tend to win games by small margins. Since Week 5, Minnesota has just one victory by more than six points.
Prediction ATS: Chicago
San Diego Chargers (+2.5) at Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs are not playing good football, having lost four of their last five games. Their inconsistent offense is finally coming back to bite them, and they won’t beat the Chargers if they continue to score two touchdowns or fewer. San Diego has won four of the last five games against Kansas City.
Prediction ATS: San Diego
Philadelphia Eagles (+3) at New York Giants
A few weeks ago, the Giants would’ve been decided underdogs. However, Odell Beckham Jr. has helped give New York an explosive offense, and Mark Sanchez has slowed down one of the league’s best offenses. The Giants have won three games in a row by double-digits, and with the Eagles out of the playoff race, that streak could be extended in Week 17.
Prediction ATS: New York
Dallas Cowboys (-6.5) at Washington Redskins
The Cowboys are likely to win, considering they’ve been the league’s best road team this season. Still, the Redskins could keep it close, since they’ve had the Cowboys’ number, covering eight of the last nine point spreads against the Cowboys.
Prediction ATS: Washington
New Orleans Saints (-4) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Saints have nothing to play for, but the Buccaneers still have a chance to land the No.1 pick in the draft, so it would benefit them to lose.
Prediction ATS: New Orleans
Arizona Cardinals (+6) at San Francisco 49ers
As much of a mess as the 49ers are, the Cardinals can’t be trusted to keep the game close with their No.4 starting quarterback.
Prediction ATS: San Francisco
Oakland Raiders (+14.5) at Denver Broncos
Having won three of their last five games, the Raiders shouldn’t be getting more than two touchdowns against anybody. Peyton Manning has been mistake-prone in the last few weeks, and the contest could be somewhat competitive.
Prediction ATS: Oakland
Season Record: 117-119-4
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