Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks return home with a postseason spot all but secured despite being thrashed 38-10 by Green Bay. They Rams have a new head coach having sacked Jeff Fisher after Week 14, and have surprisingly beaten the Seahawks in four of their last five encounters. The underdogs are 10-3 ATS in the last 13 meetings between the Rams and Seahawks.
Line bet – Rams +15.0
Best bet – Rams +24.5 @ $1.29
Feeling lucky – Seahawks to win by 7-12 points @ $4.10
Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets
Miami remain in the race for a wildcard spot in the AFC, but must go forward without quarterback Ryan Tannehill who suffered an ACL injury. They will fancy their chances against a Jets team who rallied from a 14-point deficit to defeat the San Francisco 49ers, but have little to play for other than pride. The Jets have covered the spread in five of their last six encounters with the Dolphins; and six of Miami’s last seven outings have resulted in the game total going over the market line.
Line bet – Dolphins -3.0
Best bet – Dolphins +6.5 @ $1.21
Feeling lucky – Dolphins to win by 7-12 points @ $5.20
Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears
Don’t look now but the mob from Wisconsin are gaining momentum heading towards the playoff and are shaping as the side that no-one in the NFC wants to see come the postseason. The Bears pushed the Detroit Lions all the way before losing the lead, and the game late in Week 14 and are waiting for a bleak season to come to an end. The Packers have won each of their last six road games against the Bears, and have covered the spread in 10 of their last 12 games overall against Chicago.
Line bet – Packers -6.5
Best bet – Packers to win @ $1.36
Feeling lucky – Packers to win and game score over 40.5 points @ $2.50
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys had an 11-game winning streak snapped last weekend as they lost to the New York Giants; they welcome the vastly improved Tampa Bay Buccaneers to town, knowing that a win will all but seal home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. On the other hand, the Buccs currently hold the last wildcard spot in the NFC and will make the postseason if they keep winning. Tampa Bay have won five straight game, defeating heavyweights Kansas City and Seattle along the way while conceding just 12.8 points per game during this time.
Line bet – Cowboys -7.0
Best bet – Cowboys to win @ $1.32
Feeling lucky – game total under 43.5 points @ $2.36
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans
The Jaguars travel to Houston to face the Texans who currently lead the NFC South. The Texans were impressive in defeating Indianapolis on the road, virtually ending the Colts playoff hopes while the Jaguars fought hard but came up short against the Vikings. The Texans have won their last five games against the Jaguars, covering the spread in four of those five games.
Line bet – Texans -5.0
Best bet – Texans to win @ $1.39
Feeling lucky – Texans to win by 7-12 points @ $4.00
Cleveland Browns @ Buffalo Bills
The Cleveland Browns have now gone over a year without a win and travel to Buffalo, who have slight hopes of a playoff berth but know that they cannot slip up. The favourites have won the game and covered the spread in the last four games between these teams, while each of the Browns last five games have resulted in the game total finishing under the market line.
Line bet – Browns +10.5
Best bet – Bills to win @ $1.22
Feeling lucky – Browns +10.5 and game total under 42 points @ $3.40
Philadelphia Eagles @ Baltimore Ravens
A promising season has crashed and burned for Philadelphia, while the Ravens are still well and truly in the playoff race and one of the teams to be feared due to their consistency and defensive prowess. The Ravens defence is ranked fourth in the league and will feast on rookie quarterback Carson Wentz, who has hurtled into the rookie wall. The Eagles have won just once on the road this year, and only covered the spread in one game (being that win).
Line bet – Ravens -5.5
Best bet – Ravens to win @ $1.39
Feeling lucky – Ravens to score over 31 points @ $5.20
Tennessee Titans @ Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs solidified their position amongst the AFC elite with an imposing 21-13 win over the previous division-leading Oakland Raiders which saw them grab top spot in the division. The Titans defeated the Broncos in a defensive-focused contest and remain well and truly in playoff contention. The Titans maturing offence behind Marcus Mariota did enough to get them past the reigning champions. The away team has won, and covered the line in five of the last six games between these two teams.
Line bet – Chiefs -5.0
Best bet – Chiefs to win @ $1.43
Feeling lucky – Titans to score under 13.5 points @ $3.40
Detroit Lions @ New York Giants
The Detroit Lions are currently in second place in the NFC despite having trailed in the fourth quarter in all but one of their games this season, and have comeback from fourth quarter deficits in all nine of their wins. They are the ultimate coinflip team, a trait that is likely to catch up with them at some stage; maybe this week against a Giants team buzzing after they took down the Dallas Cowboys and are just a win away from sealing a wildcard berth. The away team has won seven of the last nine games between these two teams.
Line bet – Giants -4.0
Best bet – Giants to win @ $1.47
Feeling lucky – Lions to score 15-17 points @ $5.20
Indianapolis Colts @ Minnesota Vikings
The Colts blew a chance to take a share of the division lead when they lost to Houston last weekend and have only a slight mathematical chance of making the playoffs. Andrew Luck has thrown multiple touchdown in eight games this season but has also thrown 10 interceptions faces a Vikings defence that has conceded more than 17 points just four times this season. The Vikings have won four of their six home games and controlled strong offenses in Green Bay, Arizona and Dallas when playing at home. The home team has won 10 of the last 11 games in this series.
Line bet – Vikings -3.5
Best bet – Vikings to win @ $1.48
Feeling lucky – match total under 43 points @ $2.40
New Orleans Saints @ Arizona Cardinals
The Saints have looked likely to mount a run all season, but have lost four of their last five as their offense has fallen away against a rash of top-notch defences. The task gets no easier this weekend against a Cardinals side that has had its problems offensively, but concedes the least yards in the NFL and just 14.1 points a game in seven home games this season. The home side has won the last six games between these teams, covering the line in all six games.
Line bet – Cardinals -2.5
Best bet – match total under 54.0 points @ $1.57
Feeling lucky – match total between 49-52 points @ $6.80
San Francisco 49ers @ Atlanta Falcons
The San Francisco 49ers slumped to a 1-12 record for the first time in 37 years after suffering an overtime loss to the New York Jets. Life isn’t going to get easier when they travel to the Georgia Dome to take on the Atlanta Falcons and the league’s top-scoring offence. A positive for the 49ers? The underdogs have covered the spread in four of the last five games between these teams and the Falcons are just 2-5 at the line in their seven home games this season.
Line bet – 49ers +13.5
Best bet – Falcons to win @ $1.11
Feeling lucky – Falcons to score over 40 points @ $4.40
New England Patriots @ Denver Broncos
In a rematch of last season’s AFC Championship match, the Patriots travel to Denver to face the defending Superbowl Champion Broncos. Denver are clinging to a share of a wildcard spot, while the Patriots remain ahead of the chasing pack in the AFC and will secure home field advantage if they win out. The home side has won the last seven games between New England and Denver, covering the line in all seven encounters.
Line bet – Broncos +3.0
Best bet – Broncos +8.0
Feeling lucky – Broncos to win by 1-6 points @ $3.95
Oakland Raiders @ San Diego Chargers
Oakland are hoping to bounce back in San Diego after losing top spot in the AFC West with a loss to Kansas City. The Chargers have struggled immensely in the fourth quarter of games, and Philip Rivers will need his offensive line to be on point to avoid getting eaten alive by Raiders MVP candidate Khalil Mack. Incredibly, the underdog has covered the line in 14 of the last 15 games between these two teams. The Raiders are 5-1 on the road this season.
Line bet – Raiders -3.0
Best bet – Chargers +10.5 @ $1.28
Feeling lucky – game total between 52-55 points @ $7.00
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals
These teams hate each other, ensuring that this match will capture the imagination of all fans as the Steelers chase a playoff spot. The Bengals, on the other hand, are playing for pride only and are coming off a win against the Browns which proved nothing. LeVeon Bell is arguably the best player in the NFL and he killed the Bills last weekend; the Bengals must contain him to have a chance or springing an upset. The Steelers have won their last four games, covering the spread in all four games.
Line bet – Raiders -3.0
Best bet – Chargers +10.5 @ $1.28
Feeling lucky – game total between 44-47 points @ $6.40
Carolina Panthers @ Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins host the reigning NFC champions on Monday Night Football with their playoff hopes on the line. The Redskins sit just half a game out of the final wildcard position in the NFC and will be confident of a strong showing against a disappointing Carolina team that is 5-8 just a year after almost running the table and finishing 15-1. Five of Carolina’s last six away games have resulted in the game total finishing over the market line, and the last eight games played at FedExField have resulted in the game total exceeding the market line.
Line bet – Redskins -4.5
Best bet – Redskins to win @ $1.44
Feeling lucky – game total between 52-55 points @ $7.00
