2023 NFL Week 13 Preview

With six teams on a bye in Week 13, it is a relatively light schedule of games in terms of quantity but the quality of these matchups should more than make up for that.

It all kicks off in Dallas on Friday (AEDT) with the red hot Cowboys taking on the reeling Seahawks in a big game for both in terms of their playoff standings.

However that is just the entrée to Monday morning’s blockbuster battle between Philadelphia and San Francisco in what could very well be a preview of the NFC Championship in a few weeks’ time.

The Eagles could also become the first team to clinch a playoff spot with a win and one or two other results going their way.

Read on for our NFL best bets and game previews below and find out who we are backing in Week 13.

While this is not the biggest game between NFC foes this week, there is plenty on the line as Seattle heads to Dallas.

The hope here is that with both teams coming off a full week of rest, this will be played at a slightly higher level than some of the other Thursday games, though there’s no guarantees.

Dallas is in red hot form at home this season, winning and covering on all five occasions and I have not seen anything from Seattle that suggests they are playing well enough to keep this one close.

Their last three road games have seen the lose to Cincinnati, Baltimore and the Rams, not to mention the belting they received at home against San Francisco last week.

In fact, their entire November has been relatively underwhelming with their only win coming at home against Washington by three points.

Dallas’s form is reflected in Dak Prescott’s stat lines and he was at the top of his game on Thanksgiving, registering over 300 yards and at least three touchdowns for the fourth time in five weeks.

I’ll back Prescott to have another productive day as he throws the Cowboys to victory at home.

SGM: Dallas to Cover -9, Dak Prescott 275+ Pass Yards & 3+ Passing Touchdowns @ $4.76

If the news of the last few days is not enough to get the Jets motivated for a game like this then nothing can get them going.

At 4-7 their playoff hopes are tenuous at best (CBS Sports has them as a 0.9% chance), but Aaron Rodgers is back at practice less than three months after tearing his Achilles.

Putting aside the logistical, medical and common sense questions that come with such a quick recovery, if the Jets go on a run here they can get their star player back.

This is a very winnable game against an Atlanta side battling for its own playoff life thanks in large part to the mediocre NFC South, but they have their own motivations for this game.

In the most encouraging sign for the Falcons, it looks like Arthur Smith has finally decided to lean on Bijan Robinson after his 19 touch, two touchdown performance last week, better late than never right?

If the Jets are motivated they look like a decent value bet as the underdog but they were so bad against Miami last week I’m calling this head to head market a stay away.

Neither team has given the scoreboard operators a whole lot of trouble this season but someone is going to find the end zone and I’ll have a play on Bijan scoring once again.

Bijan Robinson Anytime Touchdown Scorer

The motivation of both teams is pretty easy to work out heading into this game.

Pittsburgh needs to win to maintain a bit of breathing space in a very congested AFC Wild Card race and Arizona needs to lose to preserve their status in the race for the NFL Draft’s top pick.

However the Steelers just aren’t good enough to blow anyone out at the moment unless their defence scores two or three touchdowns on their own, which is possible but not something I’d be betting on.

Against an undermanned Bengals team last week, they kept their streak of winning by a touchdown or less going and another 16-10 grind of a game looks like the way this will play out.

Pittsburgh to Win by 1-13 Points @ $2.05

While the decision to shift this game to the early window might cause a bit of consternation for some, moving it away from San Francisco-Philadelphia gives it an opportunity to feature amongst an otherwise mediocre schedule.

Regardless of how they close out the final six weeks, this year is already a success for Houston, who have already beaten their preseason win total of 5.5 and remain in the mix for a playoff spot.

Denver might be the most in form team in the NFL, winning five in a row to storm back into postseason contention.

As much fun as Houston is to watch, I’ve got to side with the hot hand for this game and that is the team on the long winning streak.

Denver to Win @ $2.60

If we are going to take Detroit seriously as a contender, this is a game they simply have to win.

The warning signs are all there regarding a potential collapse after a couple of bad performances against division rivals Chicago who they just scraped by and Green Bay who beat them handily on Thanksgiving.

It looks like the wheels have already fallen off the Saints wagon on the back of consecutive losses against Minnesota and Atlanta.

I’ll give Detroit the benefit of the doubt and back Dan Campbell to get his team right on the back of 10 days rest heading into this one.

As is tradition in Detroit they won’t do it the easy way but they’ll find a path to victory.

Detroit to Win by 1-13 @ $2.35

It beggars belief that the Colts still have a winning record after their highly dysfunctional September but they have played the schedule in front of them and managed to pull off six wins so far.

By all accounts this is a team that should have collapsed in a heap as injuries, contract disputes and bad mistakes have plagued their season but they have found ways to overcome it… even if their opponents making even bigger mistakes helped just a bit.

Speaking of mistakes, the Tennessee Titans are in a horrific downward spiral in the last month and last week’s accidental win over Carolina does not suggest all is well in the Music City.

Will Levis is going through some major growing pains and that is hampering the offence with the team maxing out at 264 yards and 17 points in their last three games.

This won’t be pretty but I’ll take Indy to make one fewer mistake than the Titans.

Indianapolis to Win @ $1.83

This game goes one of two ways, either the Chargers finally decide to play like a team that had Super Bowl aspirations a couple of months ago and blow out the Patriots.

The second option is Bill Belichick produces another one of those patented gameplans that confounds Justin Herbert and stifles the Chargers offence… that still sees the Chargers win but by a score of 16-6 instead of 40-6.

By all accounts the visitors should win this one going away based solely on how bad the Patriots have been but I just can’t trust LA to play to its potential since they haven’t all season.

I like the Chargers to win but cannot see how this game goes over unless they score 40 themselves.

LA Chargers to Win and Under 40.5 Points @ $2.65

On the back of winning the first Black Friday game in the NFL’s modern era, Miami heads to Washington to open up a three game lead in the AFC East race.

The Commanders just make way too many mistakes to be able to win this game, but with the Dolphins losing pass rusher Jaelen Phillips to a major injury, they might be able to score enough points to put the 9.5 point line in jeopardy.

I’ll back the Dolphins to roll to a 9-3 record and pair it with the over in a game that should see a few touchdowns scored.

Miami to Win and Over 49.5 Points @ $2.15

There are only so many ways you can describe a matchup between two bad teams, or more accurately a bad team and a really, really bad team.

Tampa’s post-bye record now sits at 1-6 after last week’s loss in Indianapolis but they are still favoured over the 1-10 Carolina Panthers.

Things got so bad at Panthers HQ that coach Frank Reich was fired during the week along with several of the offensive staff due in large part to the struggles of rookie Bryce Young.

Normally in this situation I’d be talking about the new coach bounce giving Carolina a boost but you have to have a scintilla of talent across the roster to boost in the first place.

I’ve got very low hopes for this one and even with the low points total I have to take the under with both teams undergoing their own sets of struggles.

Under 37 Points @ $1.90

I, like many people, was surprised to find out Joe Flacco was still considered a viable quarterback in the NFL in 2023 but it looks like the Super Bowl 47 MVP will be at least active for the Browns in LA if not starting.

If nothing else it is a stark warning about how barren the quarterback market is for needy teams with Deshaun Watson on injured reserve, Dorian Thomson-Robinson in the concussion protocol and PJ Walker playing like a guy with six touchdowns and 16 career interceptions, you might get a bit desperate.

All the Browns quarterback has to do is not screw the game up and let their defence, aided by Myles Garrett avoiding a serious injury last week, keep them in the game with big plays.

However there is only so much that defence can be asked to do and I’ll be taking on the Browns in this and likely the majority of their remaining games for the rest of the season.

LA Rams to Cover -3.5 @ $1.90

The reigning NFC Champions are now over halfway through a brutal five game stretch and they have passed all three tests to date, defeating Dallas, winning in Kansas City and edging Buffalo in the game of the season last week.

It does not get any easier here though with the Super Bowl favourites San Francisco up next and you have to be a bit concerned about how much emotion they have spent in the last fortnight alone.

San Francisco is looking dangerous, cruising to a comfortable win in Seattle last week and they have had a full 10 days rest heading into this game.

That explains why the market has the visitors favoured, especially with the added motivation of losing last year’s NFC Championship Game to the Eagles after they were left with no healthy quarterbacks.

However the Eagles just seem to find ways to win these close games and the value in this market is on the home team with the raucous crowd at their backs.

Philadelphia to Win @ $2.30

Don’t sleep on the Packers making a late run to the playoffs in the next few weeks, this are starting to point upwards in Wisconsin.

They have won three of their last four and looked good in their Thanksgiving win over the Lions, having back to back games without an interception for the first time since Weeks 1 and 2.

All season long the Chiefs have been somewhat inconsistent, relying on the defence more than ever in the Patrick Mahomes era and they are carrying their weight and then some.

There are enough warning signs to make me think the Packers could cause an upset but this is still Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, they always seem to find a way.

I’ll back the visitors in a close one and would not be surprised if this comes down to who has the ball last.

Kansas City to Win by 1-13 @ $2.40

We could have had so much fun with this game but with no Joe Burrow, it’s unlikely to be all that competitive.

The Jags are now in a position to push for the top seed and home field advantage in the playoffs and they will want to lay down a marker in the primetime slot.

Let’s not make this any more complicated than it needs to be.

Jacksonville to Win by 14+ @ $2.60

2022

We are two thirds of the way through the 2022 NFL season and the playoff races continue to heat up across both conferences.

It gets underway with a huge AFC East clash on Friday (AEDT) as New England tries to stay alive in the playoff race when they host Buffalo.

Controversial quarterback Deshaun Watson will play his first game since January 2021 when he makes his Cleveland debut against his former team in Houston.

That’s just the start of a busy morning with a number of huge games and we’re previewing all of them below.

It’s desperation stations for New England as they try and spring themselves back into the AFC playoff picture after last week’s loss in Minnesota.

Buffalo won’t be in a giving mood however, needing to win to not only keep pace with Miami for the division lead but stay one game behind Kansas City for the first seed in the conference.

The Bills (in particular Josh Allen) have had their way with the Patriots defence in the last two meetings with the team not needing to punt once as Bill Belichick struggles to contain their star quarterback.

The won in New England the day after Christmas 33-21 before having a perfect offensive day in the Wild Card round in a 47-17 bludgeoning.

Under normal circumstances this points total would be about right however with both teams having a full week off after their Thanksgiving exertions the play should be a bit sharper than we normally see and the over should be in play for Buffalo alone.

Back Over 43.5 Points @ $1.90

A lot has happened since January 3, 2021 when Deshaun Watson last played in an NFL game both for the quarterback and in the league.

He will be in for a baptism of fire returning to Houston after forcing his way out of the Texans franchise amidst a raft of sexual harassment allegations.

The playoffs might be beyond Cleveland despite their big win over Tampa Bay last week but having Watson on the field does make them a more competitive team.

Houston on the other hand is a bad team and their limitations are there for all to see, even if Watson is a bit rusty, this one probably won’t be close.

Back Cleveland to Cover -7 @ $1.87

If Baltimore was ever to break out of its funk of closely fought games, this is the weekend to do it as they host the hapless Broncos.

Last week’s heartbreaking loss in Jacksonville will sting the Ravens team and this is the sort of game that a Super Bowl contending team will be able to produce a rebound performance if they are what they claim to be.

Denver is not good and severely limited offensively and if they wind up with any more than 14 points it will be a big surprise.

That in turn will put a lot more pressure on their defence which has been largely stellar so far but eventually will snap and decide enough is enough.

Back Baltimore to Win by 14+ @ $2.65

This is one that punters have every excuse to find a way to stay out of considering the major question marks over who is starting at quarterback for both teams.

Even with the potential absence of Aaron Rodgers and Justin Fields, we’re heading for a potential shootout here though with both teams playing some pretty poor defence.

Chicago has given up 27 or more points in its last five games while the Packers just got run over by the Eagles and if there is one thing the Bears can do, it’s run the ball.

Both teams should at least be able to score 20 points.

Back Over 43.5 Points @ $1.90

There’s no need to pick a side for this game, Detroit and Jacksonville have been involved in plenty of entertaining contests and it will likely go down to the wire.

The market is having a tough time splitting these teams with the Jaguars a slight favourite at the time of publish, but it’s tough to feel good backing either team to win here.

Where there is value is in the total market with both Detroit and Jacksonville capable of scoring for fun, and giving up far more points than an NFL team should.

Even with the market slightly inflated because it is expecting a high scoring tussle, we could still see the number broken by the end of the third quarter.

Back Over 51.5 Points @ $1.90

Two teams currently in the playoff picture but still facing plenty of questions will see this as an opportunity to further establish their credentials with a win here.

There is no shortage of storylines to follow in this matchup with the headline one on one battle being Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson and Jets corner Sauce Gardner.

It will be a huge test for the rookie, trying to shut down one of the game’s best offensive weapons, especially with Kirk Cousins happy to go to Jefferson when he is tightly covered.

New York pulled the plug on Zac Wilson for the time being for some solid results with Mike White running the show.

At some stage the backup quarterback bubble is going to burst but White should be able to move the ball enough to keep the Jets in the game.

However Minnesota has the difference makers to get them over the line at home and I’ll back them to win a close one.

Back Minnesota to Win by 1-13 Points @ $2.60

Atlanta was one of the best teams to back at the line early in the season but they have started to fall apart as injuries exposed their lack of depth.

Pittsburgh is coming off a big win on Monday Night Football and perhaps the most encouraging part of that victory was the performance of Kenny Pickett when the game was placed on his right arm.

While neither team is necessarily trending in an upwards direction, the Steelers have looked a lot better than the Falcons of late and are worth backing to win here.

Back Pittsburgh to Win @ $1.87

It’s the best record in the NFL taking on the team with one of the best records against the spread in an early morning blockbuster.

The Eagles looked unstoppable at times against Green Bay on offence, but their defence gave up 33 points to a struggling Packers offence.

Tennessee has not exactly been lighting it up in the last few games but Philadelphia’s biggest weakness is stopping the run, something the Titans specialise in with Derrick Henry in the backfield.

This is another game that is leaning towards an end to end affair with both offences moving the ball at will, however the Titans ability to run it with Henry and control the clock should allow them to keep it close.

Back Tennessee to Cover +5.5 & Over 44.5 Points @ $3.30

In spite of the best efforts of Washington ownership, the Commanders are very much in the playoff race thanks to a resurgence under the stewardship of Taylor Heinicke.

It might not always be pretty but they have won six of their last seven and they have not given up more than 21 points since Week 4.

The Giants offence has started to struggle in recent times with Saquon Barkley’s production starting to fall away as the workload catches up to him.

There is every chance neither team is able to reach 20 points and the unders is the way to go here.

Back Under 40.5 @ $1.90

If a few things break their way over the next couple of months, this is could turn out to be a potential preview of Super Bowl LVII.

There could not be two more contrasting styles of play however with the Dolphins high powered, turbo charged offence looking to run riot on one of the league’s best defences.

No team has really been able to slow down the Dolphins offence with Tua Tagovailoa running the show, but the 49ers will be the best defence they have faced.

They are coming off a performance where they shut out an inept Saints offence so their confidence will be high.

However the biggest question surrounding the 49ers is on running back Christian Mccaffrey who is under an injury cloud and his absence will be a big blow for a team that could only manage 13 points.

San Francisco should still dictate the tempo of the game with their defence but the fact their offence cannot get anything going should have punters leaning towards the under.

Back Under 46.5 Points @ $1.90

From Super Bowl champions to “back against at all costs” in the space of 10 months, the Rams really are a shell of themselves.

Seattle meanwhile is still chasing a stunning playoff berth with the post-Russell Wilson era going far better than anyone could have imagined.

Seattle has its issues but they are nothing compared to the shortcomings of the Rams and the Seahawks should take care of business easily.

Back Seattle to Cover -7.5 @ $1.94

The easy storyline to follow for this game is the quarterback duel between Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow, but there’s a lot more to this game than just that battle.

For starters, Kansas City will be out for revenge after Cincinnati won the AFC Championship at Arrowhead Stadium last year and the Chiefs are also chasing home field advantage this season too.

The Bengals could be in for a big boost at the receiver position with Ja’Marr Chase reportedly back in action after missing several games with a hip injury.

During his absence the Bengals had no trouble putting up some big scores and he only makes them more dangerous.

It’s always tough to back against the Chiefs but there is a lot going for the Bengals and the divide between the two teams may not be that big.

Back Cincinnati to Win @ $2.05

There’s no questioning the talent on both of these rosters however consistency continues to elude both of them.

Vegas needs to win out to have a shot at the playoffs but with a defence that would struggle to stop a Division 2 college team, it’s tough to put too much faith in them.

As for the Chargers, they have the talent to compete with Kansas City but they cannot stop finding creative ways to shoot themselves in the foot.

Neither team has been that strong defensively of late and the over looks to be the way to go.

Back Over 50.5 Points @ $1.90

All of the criticism and all of the concerns over Indianapolis hiring Jeff Saturday as head coach were borne out when the Colts mismanaged the end of the game in their loss to the Steelers.

Dallas on the other hand came away with a much needed win over the Giants on Thanksgiving and look to only be getting better.

It’s just a case of how ruthless the Cowboys want to be.

Back Dallas to Win by 14+ @ $2.10

When the schedule was announced, having this as a primetime game made sense but with the respective struggles on both sides, there’s not a lot to look forward to.

Nine of the Buccaneers games have gone under so far which is an astonishing stat when you consider they have Tom Brady.

New Orleans on the other hand just got shut out by the 49ers and while Tampa’s defence isn’t on that level, we won’t see some sort of surprising shootout here either.

Back Under 40.5 Points @ $1.90

2021

Six weeks remain in the 2021 NFL Regular season and (mathematically at least) every team still has a path to the playoffs.

Some are more likely than others with a congested AFC field lead by the 8-3 Baltimore Ravens, who take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in a hotly anticipated divisional matchup.

Hot on their heels are the 7-4 Cincinnati Bengals and they will take on the 6-5 Los Angeles Chargers in a game both teams will be desperate to win to earn the head to head tiebreaker in the wild card race.

The biggest game of Week 13 comes on Monday Night Football as the Buffalo Bills will host the New England Patriots in what will be a raucous atmosphere as the two teams fight for AFC East supremacy.

That’s just a taste of what is to come over the coming days so read on and see who we are backing.

When the schedule came out seven months ago, the hope was that this game would be a battle of NFC teams vying for playoff positioning.

While neither team has set the world alight, this is a very important contest in terms of the NFC playoff picture.

Both teams are coming off equally depressing losses on Thanksgiving and will be eager to bounce back.

For New Orleans they will be ecstatic with the reported return of Alvin Kamara from injury who has practiced with the team after missing three games with a knee injury.

Unfortunately, they do not know who will be their quarterback with Taysom Hill rumoured to be replacing Trevor Siemian after the latter’s limp showing against Buffalo.

Dallas has had a less than ideal preparation for this game as well, losing head coach Mike McCarthy after he tested positive for Covid.

There is plenty of reason to back against both teams so it is prudent to avoid the head to head markets and delve into the player ones instead.

Back both star running backs to find the end zone in a Same Game Multi.

SGM: Alvin Kamara and Ezekiel Elliott Anytime Touchdown Scorer @ $4.31

The Lions won their Thanksgiving game against the Lions and Matt Nagy survived in the Bears hot seat for another week.

It does not get any easier for the 4-7 Bears with the NFC leading Arizona Cardinals coming to town.

Traditionally the dome team from the desert heading to the cold and windy confines of Soldier Field is a recipe for the disaster regardless of the record.

However Arizona has the makeup to go on the road and win in inclement conditions thanks to the performance of James Conner who has been a touchdown machine.

Prior to their bye he had scored eight touchdowns in five games and should be very eager to take on the Bears for the first time in his career.

Even if Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins are unable to return the visitors should have no problems taking care of business.

Back Arizona to Cover -9.5 @ $1.90

For a team that has looked as good as the Colts have at times, it is still surprising to see them at 6-6 heading into the home stretch.

They fell back to .500 after committing five turnovers in a last minute loss at home to Tampa Bay, essentially leaving them needing to win out to have a chance at taking the AFC South crown.

Should that happen they will have no better springboard than the struggling Houston Texans who just lost to the New York Jets.

When these teams met earlier in the year, Indianapolis won 31-3 and a similar scoreline is on the cards in this game.

Back Indianapolis to Win by 14+ @ $2.60

Since returning from their bye, Cincinnati has been the most impressive team in the NFL defeating Las Vegas and Pittsburgh by a combined score of 73-23.

Results have not been as kind for the Chargers with a 2-4 run over their last six games leaving them as outsiders against the red-hot Bengals.

What awaits us here is a battle between two of the most promising young quarterbacks in the NFL in Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert.

Head to head the common sense move is to take Cincinnati to win however they have not won three in a row since the end of the 2017 and start of the 2018 seasons.

Add in a desperate Chargers team that knows they cannot afford to drop a game themselves and instead, back the over as both offences can light it up.

Back Over 50.5 Points @ $1.90

Detroit’s struggles continued on Thanksgiving when they lost another game on a last second field goal.

Up next is a Vikings team who beat them 19-17 in October when Greg Joseph nailed a 54 yard kick as time expired.

That result basically summed up Detroit’s season, it was tight, it was scrappy and ultimately just not good enough.

Being division rivals with the Vikings, they are a real chance of playing them close here but you just cannot give them a chance here.

Plus the Vikings are coming off a wildly entertaining eight point win in San Francisco, so there is the chance of a letdown performance.

Even if they do have a bad game, they should still handle this Lions team, but it might not be easy.

Back Minnesota to Win by 1-13 @ $2.40

The Dolphins have won four in a row and are on the very of re-inserting themselves into the AFC playoff picture.

Winning out may be a touch optimistic however the line for this contest is awfully conservative, especially with the Giants quarterback situation.

Daniel Jones was not scaring anyone and with the news he will miss this game with a neck injury, his replacement Mike Glennon is not going to offer a whole lot more in his stead.

With the Giants limping toward the finish line and Miami playing for its season (and Brian Flores possibly coaching for his job) back the Dolphins to stay hot heading into their bye.

Back Miami to Cover -3.5 @ $1.83

It’s not worth trying to oversell this one as a contest, especially after the Eagles laid a massive egg when they took on the Giants at this venue in Week 12.

Meanwhile the Jets welcomed rookie signal caller Zach Wilson back in their win over the Texans but their run defence has been gashed and that’s where the Eagles should be looking to attack.

Instead of talking yourself into taking either team to win, I’ll settle on a touchdown scorer SGM with two of the more exciting players in the game in Jalen Hurts and Elijah Moore.

SGM: Jalen Hurts and Elijah Moore Anytime Touchdown Scorers

Whatever was ailing the Buccaneers has clearly been solved as they have put up 30 points in back to back games.

In Week 2 they scored 48 on Atlanta and the most encouraging sign for them is the fact they can put up points multiple ways.

Last week Leonard Fournette scored four touchdowns on the Colts while in Week 2 Tom Brady threw for five touchdowns to go with a pair of interceptions returned for touchdowns.

Atlanta just does not have the personnel to keep pace with the Bucs as injuries and other absences have depleted this top heavy roster.

Back Tampa Bay to Cover -11 @ $1.90

In true jinx fashion, a week after writing off Las Vegas, they came out and picked up a dramatic win over Dallas.

While that was a huge result in terms of their playoff potential, there were still enough red flags in that performance with the number of penalties and mistakes that were made.

Washington did it the hard way on Monday Night Football against Seattle and the short rest does present a bit of a concern, but we have two teams that are very similar in terms of talent levels.

Take the underdog as the value play.

Back Washington to Win @ $2.15

When November began, the Rams were 7-1 and challenging for top spot in the NFC, now they are 7-4 and battling for position in the wild card race.

Such was the high bar they had set with their all-in approach it is panic stations despite everything still technically being on the table.

They have looked atrocious at times in their last three games, and will be out for a statement victory over the hapless Jaguars.

This is a team that cannot score and has a defence that really struggles to generate turnovers.

All signs are pointing towards a big Rams win.

Back LA Rams to Cover -13 @ $1.94

A little bit of history will be made this week, by all accounts this will be the first time Baltimore has been favoured in Pittsburgh when taking on Ben Roethlisberger.

Despite the best efforts of Lamar Jackson, the Ravens managed to beat the Browns and claimed the top overall seed in the AFC through 12 weeks.

Meanwhile Pittsburgh reminded everyone why they are not a playoff calibre team however they are more than capable of playing spoiler, especially in a rivalry game like this one.

In spite of the NFL being a pass-first league, this is going to be a game that is a throwback to 20 years ago with plenty of running plays, a whole lot of hard hits and probably not a lot of points.

Baltimore has not broken 20 in four of its last five and seven of the Steelers games have gone under the total points number.

Back Under 44 Points @ $1.90

San Francisco is riding a three game winning streak into Seattle and they are well positioned to continue their playoff push as slight favourites here.

The fact you are only having to give -3.5 (at the time of publish) as a gift considering the mess that Seattle finds itself in.

Having lost their last three, Seattle finds itself in dire need of, but unable to undertake, a hard rebuild as they limp towards the finish line of the 2021 NFL season.

They have scored 28 points in the three games out of their bye, cannot protect a clearly not healthy yet Russell Wilson and will struggle to stop a 49ers team that has scored 95 points in that same span.

Back San Francisco to Cover -3.5 @ $1.98

Step aside Patrick Mahomes, the new star in Kansas City is their stingy defence.

That may be a bit of hyperbole, but they can feel very confident in their ability to slow down opposing offences which makes Mahomes’ life significantly easier not needing to score on every drive.

This will be their first clash with the Broncos with the second coming in Week 18 and with one game separating them in the AFC West, getting an early tiebreaker advantage would be huge.

Denver has run hot and cold but were able to stifle the Chargers in their last outing to move to 6-5 on the season.

10 points is a lot to give in a divisional game like this one so I’ll go a bit more conservative and take them to win in a low scoring affair.

SGM: Kansas City to Win and Under 47.5 Points @ $2.37

This will be the most anticipated Buffalo-New England game possibly since the 2003 season opener when the Bills belted New England 31-0 thanks to the defection of safety Lawyer Milloy.

It is hard to fault New England in their six game winning streak however there is just something that is stopping me from buying in on them for this game, even though they are unbeaten on the road.

Perhaps it is the lingering shadow of Tom Brady and the insanely high standard he set in his two decade run in New England that is impossible to reach.

On top of that, Buffalo will be out to prove their big win over New Orleans on Thanksgiving was not a fluke and they deserve to be on the AFC East throne.

The motivated Bills plus the extra few days of rest have me thinking they will pull the win out, setting up for a huge game in New England three weeks from now.

Back Buffalo to Cover -2.5 @ $1.87

2020

Just over a month of regular season football remains as we look ahead to another mammoth slate of games in Week 13.

The early window kicks off with a doozy between the Titans and Browns from Tennessee with the result likely to go a long way to determining the AFC playoff picture.

Not long after, the NFC West takes centre stage with the Cardinals and Rams in action, followed by a Monday Night Football battle on Tuesday between the 49ers and the Bills from San Francisco.

With time running out and several teams looking to make a last-minute push, be sure to read our entire 2020 NFL Week 13 Preview below to find out who we’re backing!

It’s likely neither of these two teams will be overly desperate to win this game with their sights set firmly on next years draft position.

Detroit has enjoyed an extra few days off from following their Thanksgiving embarrassment against the Texans that consequently cost head coach Matt Patricia and General Manager Bob Quinn their jobs.

The Bears, meanwhile, were handed their own blowout loss on the primetime stage last week against the rival Packers.

In his first start since Week 3, Mitch Trubisky showed no signs of improvement as Chicago now looks ahead to the draft and a very long and arduous rebuild.

With all that said, the Bears do look to be the team worth your money this week.

Chicago defeated the Lions 27-23 when these two sides met back in Week 1, extending their winning streak over Detroit to five games.

The Bears defence was torn apart by Aaron Rodgers last week, but it’s worth remembering this is still one of the fiercest pass rushes in the league.

Chicago registered a sack, an interception and six hits on Matthew Stafford last time out, so this doesn’t look a particularly promising game for Detroit.

Tip: Back the Bears 1-13 @ $2.50

A crucial AFC matchup headlines the early window on Monday between two 8-3 teams.

Tennessee has been installed as the -6 favourites in the market after rattling back-to-back  wins over Baltimore and Indianapolis, but this line still seems a little generous considering the Browns have lost only one of their last five games.

To be fair, Cleveland has only defeated the Bengals, Texans, Eagles and Jaguars during that time frame, but on the flip side, it’s worth noting the Browns’ defence has been one of the best in the league this year against the run.

Cleveland has allowed the ninth-fewest yards to opposing running backs this year and only 10 rushing touchdowns, which does make this matchup if the Titans plan utilising Derrick Henry to full effect.

Unfortunately for the Browns though, their defence hasn’t been quite so strong in other areas.

Against the pass, Cleveland is tied for sixth in touchdowns allowed, while they’ve also been one of the easiest teams to score against in the red zone.

Tennessee has shown over the last month that they are far from a one dimensional offence as Ryan Tannehill and A.J. Brown continue to add to their highlight reel.

Aside from their strong 4-2 record at home, the Titans have also won three of their last five games against the Browns.

With the offence really clicking now, they should again prove why they are the biggest threat to the Chiefs in the conference.

Tip: Back the Titans to Win & Under 53.5 Total Points @ $2.75

One of the best betting plays is in action this week when the Colts head to Houston to face the Texans for the first time this season.

Indianapolis came up well short to the Titans last week in a game dominated by uncharacteristic defensive errors, but fortunately, at least from a betting perspective, this comes as good news considering the Colts have gone a perfect 3-0 following a previous loss.

Indy has been a tough team to get a read on this year, but they should have no trouble shutting down Deshaun Watson now that he’s missing his star wide receiver Will Fuller due to a positive PED test.

Houston’s win over the Lions on Thanksgiving was fun to watch, but when you consider this offensive line has given up 28 sacks in just 11 games, it’s hard to see the Texans holding out this outstanding Colts front seven.

Tip: Back the Colts to Cover the Line (-3 Points) @ $1.78

Even at 5-6, the Vikings still have plenty left to play for as they find themselves just two wins outside of the NFC Wild Card bubble behind the Cardinals.

Minnesota was lucky to survive last week against the Panthers as the Joey Slye missed the game-winning field goal, but there was also plenty to like about the way Kirk Cousins led the team downfield to take over the lead late in the game.

The Vikings shouldn’t need to rely on those same heroics this week when they take on a Jaguars team that has won only one game all year.

To be fair, outside of their blowout loss to the Steelers a fortnight ago the Jaguars haven’t lost by much recently, but it’s still hard to see them shutting down Dalvin Cook with so many key defenders on the injured list.

These two teams have met only six times since the Jags entered the league in 1998 with the Vikings winning on five occasions.

With a chance to improve to .500, Minnesota should be adding to that record.

Tip: Back the Vikings to Win & Over 52.5 Total Points @ $2.20

The Saints will be looking to pickup where they left off only two weeks ago when they face the Falcons for the second time.

New Orleans walked away comfortable 24-9 winners with Tayson Hill under centre back in Week 11, and judging by their blowout win over the Broncos last week, they should have no problem extending their winning record to nine games in a row.

Before we get too carried away though, there is a case to be made for the Falcons here.

Atlanta shocked the world last week with their own 43-6 win over the Raiders as the defence surprisingly stole the show with a handful of turnovers on Derek Carr.

Not surprisingly, the bookmakers have reacted accordingly by favouring the Saints by a very sensible -2.5 heading into Monday’s game.

On one hand, the Saints might be able to just run the ball down the Falcons’ throat like they did two weeks ago, but if Atlanta’s pass rush can get to Hill like they did to Carr last week, they might be able to keep this one close.

Tip: Back the Saints 1-13 @ $2.50

The Raiders answered some of their critics a fortnight ago when they hung tight with the Chiefs, but after last week’s complete no-show against the Falcons, it’s difficult to know what to expect from Vegas moving forward.

Fortunately, the Jets have popped up on the schedule just at the right time.

Still winless, New York looks likely to coast towards the No. 1 pick next year despite the fact Adam Gase plans to stick with Sam Darnold under centre for the remainder of the season.

The Jets managed nothing more than a field goal last week in Darold’s return against the Dolphins, and although this Raiders defence is easily one of the worst in the league, there’s just no way you can back New York to win with any kind of confidence.

Vegas has typically been a strong bounce-back bet this year going 2-2 straight-up as well as against the spread.

Now at 6-5, the Raiders really need to get a move on as they find themselves just outside the Wild Card picture, but they are worth forgiving on last week’s performance against Atlanta.

Like we’ve seen from several teams this year, sometimes games can just get away from you – particularly on the road.

Despite his turnover woes last week, Derek Carr has been outstanding at times this year, so we’re happy to give the Raiders a mulligan as they try to move one step closer to a playoff spot.

Tip: Back the Raiders 14+ @ $2.60

The Dolphins got back to winning ways last week with a blowout defeat over the Jets as they now set their sights on another of the AFC’s bottom dwellers with a chance to a step move closer to securing a Wild Card spot.

Miami have been installed at -11.5 against the Bengals, which at first glance does seem a little generous considering these two sides required overtime to decide last year’s meeting.

Cincinnati was far from disgraced last week against the Giants as Joe Burrow’s replacement Brandon Allen did enough to keep the Bengals competitive in their 19-17 loss.

That said, the Bengals’ secondary does look likely to struggle against a high-powered Dolphins offence that has had no problem scoring points this year.

Tua Tagovailoa remains questionable to play at time of publish with a thumb injury, so there’s a good chance we see Ryan Fitzpatrick under centre again this week.

Fitzmagic’s ‘live by the sword, die by the sword’ approach to passing the ball can get him into trouble at times, but it’s likely the Bengals come off second best here if the offence struggles to keep up.

Tip: Back the Dolphins to Cover the Line (-11.5 Points) @ $1.90

The Seahawks will lineup against another NFC East opponent for the second week in a row following their Monday Night Football triumph against the Eagles in Week 12.

Although it wasn’t pretty, Seattle managed to reclaim the lead in the NFC West, but they will need to keep their momentum rolling with the Rams and the Cardinals still hot on their heels.

The Giants, meanwhile, have just as much to play for.

New York’s narrow victory over the Bengals last week saw them improve to 4-7, keeping them in touch with Washington atop the division.

Without digging too deep, it’s obvious the Seahawks hold a huge offensive advantage over the Giants.

Seattle currently ranks fourth in the league in points scored, while New York comes in at No. 30.

On the defensive side of the ball though, the roles are reversed.

Seattle’s defence has been the leading cause for their midseason collapse, while the Giants have proven themselves a tough team to throw the ball against.

Its difficult to back against Seattle laying a double-digit spread, but the bookmakers might be underestimating New York’s defence a touch.

Tip: Seahawks Under 28 Points @ $1.92

A sure-fire blockbuster headlines the late afternoon window as we move one step closer to learning the fate of these two NFC West contenders.

After so much promise during October, the Cardinals suddenly have plenty of question marks surrounding them following back-to-back losses to the Seahawks and Patriots.

In equal fashion, the Rams are also a bit of a head-scratcher after losing to the 49ers for the second time this season.

Looking at the recent history between these two sides, it’s fair to say the Rams have enjoyed the better part.

Los Angeles has won six straight games against Arizona dating back to 2017, which largely explains the short price available for the Rams in the head-to-head market.

Also worth considering here is the fact the Rams are a perfect 3-0 following a previous loss this season.

We saw LA bounce-back from a questionable loss to the Dolphins back in Week 9 to beat the Seahawks a week later at home.

The same can’t be said for the Cardinals, who now own a 2-2 record following a loss.

While the defeat to the Niners last week came as a surprise, we’re happy to chalk it up to the genius of Kyle Shanahan against a familiar division opponent.

Considering Kyler Murray has been struggling to throw the ball, or even run of it late, this should be a statement win for the Rams.

Tip: Back the Rams 1-13 @ $2.50

These two sides find themselves at complete opposite ends of the spectrum heading into Monday’s game.

After blowing a 14-point lead against the Colts the week before, the Packers bounced back with an impressive victory last week against the rival Bears in another stunning display from Aaron Rodgers and company.

Philadelphia, on the other hand, lost their third game in a row last week to the Seahawks as they now find themselves a game behind Washington and the Giants in the NFC East.

These two sides actually have some interesting history against one another that dates all the way back to their NFC Wild Card game in 2011.

More recently, the Eagles got the better of the Packers last year at Lambeau Field in a memorable 34-27 victory, but with Carson Wentz struggling to complete a pass and the defence in disarray, obviously a lot has changed since then.

Aside from Rodgers and Davante Adams, Green Bay’s offensive line was the star of the show last week.

Rodgers wasn’t sacked once, let alone hit, in the win over the Bears, which makes this a real challenge for an Eagles defence that ranks second in the league in sacks.

For all the talk about the Packers’ defence, Mike Pettine’s crew has also stepped up in a big way.

Green Bay forced three turnovers last week on Mitch Trubisky, which doesn’t bode well for the interception prone Wentz, or the inexperienced Jalen Hurts.

Tip: Back the Packers 1-13 @ $2.40

The Patriots will be looking to build on their miracle win over the Cardinals last week when they head to Los Angeles to take on the Chargers.

Now at 5-6, the Patriots suddenly find themselves just two games out of a Wild Card spot in the AFC as they prepare for a few difficult weeks ahead with games against the Rams, Dolphins and Bills.

The Chargers have nothing left to play for at 3-8, but this does shape up as an important game in terms of the future.

Anthony Lynn suddenly finds himself on the hot seat following last week’s calamitous loss to the Bills and things aren’t about to get any easier against a Patriots team the Chargers haven’t beaten since 2008.

Neither of these two teams are particularly consistent or convincing this season, but with critics calling for Lynn’s head, you have to side with the Patriots to squeak out a narrow one.

Tip: Back the Patriots to Win @ $1.88

It’s fair to say this is one of the less exciting Sunday Night Football games on the schedule this season.

After defeating the Broncos 43-16 when they last met back in Week 7, the Chiefs are going for the clean sweep as they also look to extend their winning streak to seven games.

Despite the final scoreline last week, the Chiefs thoroughly dismantled the Bucs in their 27-24 win and there is everything to suggest Andy Reid’s side will do the same against this COVID depleted Broncos outfit.

Denver were hard done by last week being forced to play without a quarterback against the Saints as the managed a measly 37 yards of offence in the first half.

They should have at least have Drew Lock, Brett Rypien or Blake Bortles back under centre this week, but considering how flawless the Chiefs have been on offence of late and the fact Phillip Lindsay has again injured his knee, this one looks likely to get ugly.

Tip: Back the Chiefs to Cover the Line (-13.5 Points) @ $1.90

The Steelers are playing on the short backup this week after remaining undefeated with their 11th straight win on Wednesday against the rival Ravens.

Now with a three game buffer between themselves and the second-place Browns in the North, Mike Tomlin’s crew can move one step closer to securing the first seed in the AFC with a win against the Washington Football Team.

In case you’ve missed it, Washington actually leads the NFC East at 4-7 and another win would certainly help improve their chances of staving off the second-place Giants.

Unfortunately, Washington’s offence ranks bottom ten in points scored this season, which does pose a major problem against a Pittsburgh defence that has allowed the fewest points defensively in the league.

These two sides don’t together very often, in fact the last time they met was way back in 2016.

Even so, the Steelers have won each of their last three games against Washington, so really, this one isn’t worth overcomplicating.

Tip: Back the Steelers 13+

The Bills seem to have overcome some of their midseason troubles by winning four of their last five games, but it sto;; appears the bookies are having a tough time separating these two sides following San Francisco’s upset win over the Rams last week.

After battling through injuries for most of the season, San Francisco has finally received some good news from the casualty ward with several of its key stars returning to the side.

Buffalo, meanwhile, has got back to the winner’s circle last week in a strange game against the Chargers after losing a heart-breaker to the Cardinals the week before.

While this does shape up to be an interesting matchup from a coaching perspective, this game largely boils down to a near healthy 49er defence taking on one of the best offences in the league.

Josh Allen’s last two games have left a lot to be desired – especially considering he was once considered an MVP candidate.

Still, it’s worth noting Buffalo’s only loss in their last five games came on a miracle hail mary, so there’s a good chance the Bills’ offence proves too much for a 49er defence that is still far from full strength.

Tip: Back the Bills to Win @ $1.85

This should be a fascinating game on Wednesday between two sides that are now getting pretty desperate.

After losing to the Steelers last Thursday, the Ravens suddenly find themselves on the outside of the AFC Wild Card picture looking in.

The Cowboys, on the other hand, come into this game fresh from a bye week looking to make one late push towards the top of the NFC East after losing to Washington in blowout fashion on Thanksgiving Day.

Betting on this game is a little tricky, largely due to Baltimore’s COVID issues.

Lamar Jackson, J.K. Dobbins, Mark Ingram and handful of others remain questionable at time of publish, while RGIII’s knee injury could also potentially throw third-stringer Trace McSorley into the spotlight once again.

The Cowboys are relatively healthy, but it’s still hard to see them winning this game no matter who starts under centre for the Ravens.

Baltimore’s defence made life very tricky last week for the Steelers holding them to just 19 points. When you consider the Cowboys rank 23rd in points scored this season, none of this bodes particularly well for Mike McCarthy’s side.

Tip: Back the Ravens 1-13

2019

This week we give thanks to the scheduling gods ahead of a succulent 16-game slate of Thanksgiving action.

The bye weeks are officially done and dusted as we turn our full attention to the playoff race, and it doesn’t get any bigger than a potential Super Bowl preview between the 49ers and the Ravens on Monday morning.

It’s do-or-die time for teams like the Browns, Eagles, Bears and Rams this week, while all eyes will also be on the Cowboys, Packers and Raiders as they hope to rebound from disappointing losses.

Thanksgiving is one of the best dates on the football calendar, so if you’re looking for some winning bets, be sure to read our complete 2019 NFL Week 13 Preview below.

It’s only slim, but the Bears still stand a chance at making the playoffs.

Standing in their way on Friday is the Lions – a team struggling through injury. All accounts suggest Matthew Stafford will miss another week, if not the season, with back problems, while backup Jeff Driskel’s hamstring injury could also throw another spanner into the works.

The Lions have lost four straight games heading into this NFC North clash and as a result, have been installed as +2.5 underdogs.

Chicago, on the other hand, heads to Detroit fresh from a big home win over the Giants last week. It was far from a convincing victory as Mitch Trubisky threw a pair of picks, but the win still leaves the Bears with life at 5-6.

It’s difficult to find much faith in either of these teams right now, especially from a betting perspective. Chicago has won three-straight games over Detroit dating back to 2017, however the Bears’ offensive woes continue to allow opponents to keep games close.

With Detroit potentially down to its third-string quarterback and the turnover prone Trubisky still under center in Chicago, the only logical play here is the Unders.

Tip: Under 39 Points @ $1.92

It’s so easy to look at this game, and the odds, and completely overlook the Bills.

As if Buffalo’s 8-3 record doesn’t say enough, the Bills are also 7-3-1 against the spread this season – leaving Sean McDermott’s team looking well and truly over the odds ahead of their trip to Jerry World.

Not for the first time this season, the Cowboys now have some serious soul searching to do after their loss to the Patriots last week.

To be fair, Dallas was facing the best defence in the league, but the conservative play-calling has once again brought coach Jason Garrett under fire.

Last week the Cowboys’ biggest downfall came on third downs. The Cowboys couldn’t convert offensively, and they also had trouble stopping the Patriots when Tom Brady had the ball.

The bad news is the Bills have allowed the ninth-fewest third downs against this year, but the good news is Buffalo has also had its own troubles converting on third down offensively.

All in all, this points towards a low-scoring game. The Total has gone Under in 75% of Cowboys’ games following a previous loss, so while it mightn’t be exciting, we should be in for a defensive tussle.

Tip: Under 45 Total Points @ $1.92

Can the Falcons spoil the Saints party for the second time this season?

Only a month ago Atlanta went into New Orleans and won convincingly 26-9, shocking everyone as the defence played surprisingly well.

The Saints have had two weeks to stew on that result and have since made up for it with a pair of victories over the Bucs and Panthers. New Orleans is firmly in the driver’s seat for a first-round playoff bye, but they’ll still be hungry for revenge against one of their biggest division rivals.

Last week’s win over the Panthers was a big result for the Saints, but it wasn’t very convincing. The Saints gave up a whopping 12 penalties for 123-yards, gifting Carolina plenty of free field position and most importantly, points.

Penalties have been a large problem all year for the Saints, but they do have a chance to right their wrongs against an equally undisciplined Atlanta team.

It wouldn’t be surprising at all for the Saints to win this game by a big margin. Revenge is one thing, but Sean Payton has a reputation for making examples of opponents after a previously poor performance.

The Saints are 7-2 against the spread in their last nine games and 6-3 in their last nine against the Falcons. Favoured by only a touchdown, it’s worth taking New Orleans to make a statement at their current price.

Tip: Back the Saints to Cover the Line (-7 Points) @ $2.00

Last season it was Rams-Chiefs. This season it’s Ravens-Niners. Prepare yourself for the most anticipated game of the season.

Baltimore, or should we say, Lamar Jackson, put on a clinic last week in a 45-6 route over the Los Angeles rams.

The Ravens had no trouble running the ball against what was supposed to be an above-average defence, while Jackson also had himself a day tying a career-high with five touchdown passes.

Not to be outdone, the Niners also enjoyed a blowout win of their own against a similar NFC contender. San Francisco dominated the Packers 37-8 last week at home as the defence held Green Bay to just one third down conversion alongside five sacks on Aaron Rodgers. Now, the Niners will hope to bring the same kind of pressure to stop Jackson in his tracks.

This could turn out to be a Super Bowl preview, but it’s also a rematch of Super Bowl XLVII back in 2012. The Ravens got the last laugh over the Niners in a thrilling 34-31 victory, but a lot has changed at the quarterback position since then.

It’s fair to say that the Ravens have the upper hand offensively, while the Niners’ pass rush and secondary is a slight step above Baltimore’s. There are plenty of reasons San Francisco could win this game, but the two most important factors are this: the Ravens have home-field advantage, and the blitz won’t stop Jackson.

Pressuring Aaron Rodgers is one thing, but over-committing to the blitz against Jackson is another. People forget how accurate he is when it comes to throwing, so if the Niners bring pressure, don’t be surprised if he steps up and makes a play on a quick pass through the air.

We’ve already seen the Patriots struggle to put up a fight in Baltimore, so can we expect anything different from the Niners? In what is a huge test of Jimmy Garoppolo in a hostile environment, this one could get out of hand.

Tip: Back the Ravens 14+ @ $3.04

There isn’t much separating these two 4-7 teams in the market.

Mathematically, the playoffs aren’t entirely out of the question for either side, but if you’ve been paying attention over the last month, you’ll know it’s much easier to find confidence in the Bucs than it is the Jags right now.

Not even Nick Foles has been able to put an end to the Jaguars’ three-game losing skid. Jacksonville failed to turn up to the contest last week against the Titans, while the Bucs, on the other hand, pulled off a big win over the division rival Falcons.

The likelihood of these two teams finishing anywhere close to .500 is slim, but even if their records suggest otherwise, this game could still turn out to be entertaining.

Both Jacksonville and Tampa Bay were pegged as potential dark horses entering the season, but neither has lived up to the hype. With that in mind, we should see both teams trying to prove a point this week, paving the way for a surprisingly high-scoring game.

Tip: Over 48.5 Total Points @ $1.92

Don’t look now, but the Tennessee Titans are still a sneaky chance to make the playoffs.

Two straight wins has the Titans sitting equal 6-5 with the Colts, setting up yet another pivotal AFC South game for the third week in a row.

The Colts lost 20-17 on Thursday Night Football well over a week ago, but Frank Reich’s side certainly wasn’t disgraced against the Texans. The defence did well to hold Deshaun Watson in check, only for Jacoby Brissett to struggle in his return from injury.

Speaking of quarterbacks, it appears the job is Ryan Tannehill’s to lose in Tennessee. The former Miami Dolphin gashed the Jaguars for 259-yards and two touchdowns last week in the Titans’ blowout 42-20 victory, while Derrick henry did the rest with a huge 159-yard day on the ground.

Like any division rivalry though, this is one is tough to pick. The bookmakers are having a tough time separating the two head-to-head but they have favoured the Colts with home-field advantage by 2.5 points.

Indy has won eight of their last 10-games over Tennessee including a Week 2 victory at Nissan Stadium. But on the flip side, the Colts will once again go without star running back Marlon Mack due to a handy injury.

The good news is the Colts’ running back committee carried the load just fine as Jonathan Williams rushed for 104-yards. Better yet, the Colts are also 3-1 against the spread following a previous loss, so back Indy, and Brissett, to rediscover some of their mojo.

Tip: Back the Colts to Cover the line (-2.5 Points) @ $1.92

The boot of Joey Slye cost the Panthers a chance at an upset over the division rival Saints last week, but more importantly, also put a line through any hope Carolina had of securing a last-minute playoff berth.

With nothing left to play, Ron Rivera’s team can now turn attention to at least ending the season on a high note as they prepare for a very winnable game against the 2-9 Redskins.

To their credit, Washington did pull off a big win over the hapless Lions last week at home but considering the defence has allowed the fifth-most yards-per-game, it’s safe to say Christian McCaffrey might prove a handful this week.

These two teams met last season in a 23-17 Redskins victory. Things have changed a lot since then though, especially at quarterback for both teams respectively.

The Panthers are 6-3 against the spread in their last nine games, while the Total has also gone Over in three of their five games following a loss this season. With that in mind, take the value on offer for the double.

Tip: Back the Panthers to Cover the Line (-10.5 Points) & Over 40.5 Total Points @ $3.80

The Eagles have looked like a 50/50 playoff bet all year, but after last week’s no-show against the Seahawks, it’s safe to say Philly are more pretender than contender at this point.

If you’re an Eagles fan, the good news is the season is far from over, though.

The Cowboys continue to leave the door ajar for the Eagles to pinch the division title, but there is work to be done if Doug Pederson’s side wishes to reverse their 5-6 record.

A road trip to Miami is also good news for the Eagles as they look to get back on track. The Dolphins proved no match for the Browns last week in a 41-24 loss, and the Eagles should feel confident in facing a defence that has allowed the most points in the league.

Since this is a cross conference showdown, you have to rewind back to 2015 to find the last meeting between the two. More importantly however, the Eagles are 4-1 against the spread in their last five road games in Miami.

With that said, the -9 line in favour of the Eagles looks a bit much when you consider how troubled Carson Wentz has looked. Instead of risking it at the line, take the Unders on the Eagles.

Tip: Eagles Under 27 Points @ $1.92

There is no two ways about it: this is a must-win game for the Raiders.

Oakland’s shock loss to the Jets last week has made life almost impossible from here on out. The Raiders need to win out if they wish to earn a Wild Card spot ahead of the Steelers, Colts, Browns or Titans, and judging by their schedule, that looks easier said than done.

Things look even tougher when you factor in the Chiefs are well-rested from the bye. Kansas City also has plenty to play for as they hope secure home-field advantage in the Wild Card game, or potentially secure the snatch the second seed in the AFC away from the Ravens.

Unlike other rivalry games, this one has typically been fairly easy to pick. The Chiefs have won nine of their last 10 against Oakland, including a 28-10 victory at the Black Hole back in Week 2.

That being said, the Chiefs are far from untouchable this season. Kansas City has won only two of their five home games so far, while the Raiders have covered the line in three of their four games this year following a previous loss.

Tip: Back the Raiders to Cover the Line (+10 Points) @ $1.85

The Giants square off against an NFC North opponent for the second week in a row as they hope to add to the Packers’ misery after last week’s no-show against the Niners.

New York lost 19-14 to the Bears last week in another flat performance from the offence. Daniel Jones threw for a pair of touchdowns, but the running game struggled to find room as Saquon Barkley finished with just 59-yards to his name.

Speaking of struggling on offence, that’s exactly what troubled the Packers last week in San Francisco. An Aaron Rodgers fumble on the opening drive set the tone in the 37-8 loss, while the defence was shredded by tight end George Kittle.

Despite the result though, the Packers have shown twice already this season that they are a force to be reckoned with following a previous loss. After a home defeat to the Eagles, the Packers bounced back the next week to beat the Cowboys on the road. Likewise, a loss to the Chargers was also followed by an eight-point win over the Panthers a fortnight ago.

The Packers are basically locked in for a playoff spot, but they have work to do if they wish to 1. Win the NFC North, and 2. Earn a first-round bye. That all starts this week at the Meadowlands, and if the trends are anything to go by, the Packers should bounce-back comfortably.

Tip: Back the Packers 1-12

Sometimes these meaningless games turn out to be the most entertaining… or at least we hope that’s the case this week.

Cincinnati is still searching for its very first win of the season under new head coach Zac Taylor. The chances of becoming the third team in NFL history to go 0-16 continue to increase by the week, and really, that’s just how the Bengals like it as they eye the No. 1 overall pick in next years draft.

The Bengals will welcome back Andy Dalton this week under center after a month on the sidelines. The same can’t be said for AJ Green however, who is still doubtful to make his debut.

Realistically this is a game the Bengals could win if they put their best foot forward, but they’ve drawn the Jets at the worst possible time.

New York has now won three games in a row thanks to a shocking upset over the Raiders last week which, for the first time all season, saw the Jets explode on offence.

NFL fans were reminded how good Sam Darnold can be when he’s afforded time in the pocket, while Le’Veon Bell did the same by finishing with over 100 yards from scrimmage.

Against a depleted defence like the Bengals, the Jets should pick up their fifth consolation win of the season as they build towards something much more meaningful next year.

Tip: Back the Jets 1-13

It’s now or never for the Rams this week as they look to rebound from a devastating loss to the Ravens at home.

Los Angeles had no answer to Lamar Jackson in their 45-6 Monday Night Football loss. Now at 6-5, the Rams now have to ensure they win out from here if they wish to secure the sixth seed in the NFC.

Standing in the Rams’ way this week is the division rival Cardinals. Arizona has lost four straight games as they return from the bye, but what you might not know is the Cardinals have quietly been a great upset pick after a previous week off.

Since 2015, the Cardinals are 4-1 straight-up following the bye week. There’s nothing to get excited about when it comes to Arizona’s defence, but Kyler Murray might be able to win this game himself if he can exploit the Rams the same way Jackson did last week.

Running back Chase Edmonds is also expected to play this week, adding another threat on the ground for the Rams to cover. Considering Jared Goff’s accuracy woes and the Rams’ regressing defence, this looks like the top upset pick of the week.

Tip: Back the Cardinals to Cover the Line (+3 Points) @ $1.92

There’s more at stake in this game than just revenge.

While talk show hosts will spend the week talking about the Myles Garrett melee, don’t forget both the Steelers and Browns are still a serious chance at a Wild Card spot.

The winner of this game will go a long way to securing a spot in the playoffs. The Browns have one of the easiest schedules in the league from here on out, while the Steelers face a much tougher stretch with games against the Bills and the Ravens still to come.

Cleveland won 21-7 against the Steelers a fortnight ago before Garrett’s late-game actions overshadowed the win. There will be plenty of feeling in this game, but with so much on the line, don’t be surprised if both teams keep their composure.

The Browns are -2 favourites in the market and, with a 4-1 record against the spread in their last five games, it’s hard to argue with the trends.

Of course, the Steelers have spoiled the Browns’ party before. Pittsburgh has also won seven of their last 10-games over Cleveland, while a Browns implosion with the playoffs within reach would be enormously on-brand.

Home-field advantage counts for a lot in the NFL, particularly at Heinz Field. With four wins from their last five games, the current price on offer the Steelers looks too good to pass up.

Tip: Back the Steelers to Win @ $2.15

With playoffs out of the question the Broncos and Chargers can focus on the only thing that matters: AFC South bragging rights.

Denver put forward its worst performance of the season last week in a 20-3 loss to the Bills in Buffalo. The Broncos, now at 3-8, are almost a lock for a top five draft pick, but hot on their heels are the 4-7 Chargers who may want to consider tanking themselves.

Los Angeles has opened as -2.5 favourites this week at Mile High. The last we saw of the Chargers they were falling in a heap against the Chiefs on Thursday Night Football, but fresh from a bye week, hopefully Anthony Lynn’s side turns up ready to play.

Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case in recent memory. Since 2010, the Chargers are 4-5 straight-up following the bye week.

Broncos coach Vic Fangio still hasn’t decided on who will start under center this week, but whether it’s Drew Lock or Brandon Allen, it will be up to the defence to pull off an upset this week.

With Philip Rivers throwing interceptions for fun, take the Broncos to give their home fans something to cheer about.

Tip: Back the Broncos to Cover the Line (+2.5 Points) @ $2.00

Fresh from a 20-17 win over the Colts last week, the Texans now have a huge opportunity to distance themselves even further atop the AFC South.

Now at 7-4, this is a must-win game with the Colts and Titans both squaring off this week. The AFC South race is the most fascinating in the entire league, but unfortunately for Bill O’Brien’s team, the 10-1 Patriots are in town.

It was another less than convincing performance from New England last week in less than desirable conditions. Like all great teams do though, the Patriots still got the job done against the Cowboys winning 13-9 at home.

Defensively the Patriots, or should we say, Stephon Gilmore, were outstanding. Offensively however, Tom Brady was once again left frustrated as the Patriots tallied only 282 total yards and one touchdown.

Trusting the Texans is never easy, especially against elite AFC teams. If you peak at their schedule however, you might notice that after every Texans loss they’ve gone on to win back-to-back games.

Houston came up short to the Ravens by a wide margin a fortnight ago before beating the Colts last week. The Patriots have won nine of their last 10-games against Houston, but after three flat offensive performances, let’s just say they are due a loss.

Tip: Back the Texans to Win @ $2.40

This should be a good ol’ fashioned football game between two teams that love to lay it all on the line.

The Vikings return from a bye week with a new lease on life as they suddenly find themselves tied for the NFC North division lead alongside the Packers.

Seattle, meanwhile, is riding sky high on a four-game winning streak thanks to last week’s big win over the Eagles in Philadelphia.

This could turn out to be a potential NFC Championship preview, but before we look ahead, it appears the bookies are well in favour of the Seahawks at home this week.

Seattle has won seven of their last 10-games over the Vikings including last year’s forgettable 21-7 victory. You have to rewind all the way back to 2006 to find Minnesota’s last win at the Link, so for that reason alone, don’t overcomplicate this one.

Tip: Back the Seahawks to Cover the Line (-3 Points) @ $1.96

2018

There’s still five weeks to go, but we’ve got a pretty clear idea on the four Super Bowl contenders heading towards the playoffs.

As for the rest, the Wild Card picture in both the AFC and NFC is wide open, leaving plenty of questions left to be answered now that the bye weeks are said and done.

It’s back to regular scheduling this week, which means more odds, more multi’s, and hopefully, more upsets.

As always, you can find all 16 of our tips in our 2018 NFL Week 13 Preview below.

Dallas Cowboys (6-5):

The Cowboys’ 31-23 win over the Redskins on Thanksgiving has Dallas looking pretty fly with just five weeks remaining.

Having now scored 20-plus points in three straight weeks, Dallas’ offence has found new life thanks to much improved man blocking on the offensive line – which in turn has transformed the Cowboys into a serious NFC East favourite.

Running lanes have come easy for Ezekiel Elliott, evident in his third straight 100-yard rushing game last week. Things mightn’t come easy on Friday against the Saints, though – New Orleans have allowed the fewest rushing yards all season, something the Falcons found out the hard way last week.

In their defence, Dak Prescott looks much more confident now that he has go-to wide receiver Amari Cooper at his disposal. The two hooked up for 180-yards and a pair of touchdowns in the win over Washington last week, encouraging signs heading towards the postseason.

Dallas hold home field advantage here, but it won’t count for much. The Cowboys are 1-4 at AT&T Stadium in their last five games against New Orleans, and if they can’t establish the run early, it’s likely the Saints’ defence dictates terms.

New Orleans Saints (10-1):

Trouble seemed to be a brew for the Saints last week… for all of 10-minutes.

New Orleans took a commanding 17-3 lead into halftime against the Falcons, going on to win 31-17 to further tighten their stranglehold on the NFC South.

The Saints’ offence goes without saying, but it’s the defence that is really worth a mention. Matt Ryan was sacked six time last week, while the running game was held to just 26-yards on the ground.

Rushing the passer is everything in today’s game, and the Saints are one of the best. So far New Orleans has racked up 31 sacks on the season, but they’ve also allowed just 3.6 yards-per-carry, tied for the least in the NFL.

This will be a serious road test for the Saints on the prime time stage, but their 9-2 record against Dallas in their last 11 meetings is more than encouraging. So is the fact that Drew Brees continues to make a name out of no-name receivers.

Plug the holes, and force Dak to make throws from the pocket – if the Saints do just that, this shouldn’t be too complicated.

Tip: Back the Saints 7-12 @ $5.25

Atlanta Falcons (4-7):

If you missed the Falcons’ sorry display on Thanksgiving, lucky you, because Atlanta were no chance against the Saints.

The stats tell the full story: just 26 rushing yards on the day. That forced Matt Ryan to throw the ball 47 times, which resulted in 377-yards, two touchdowns and a pick.

Defensively the Falcons couldn’t keep up, and they were basically embarrassed by Drew Brees. You’d expect the future Hall of Famer to target guys like Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara, but instead, Brees made Atlanta’s secondary look basic by throwing touchdowns to no-name receivers.

Atlanta are 3-7 in their last 10 games against the Ravens, and even with home field advantage, it’s hard to see the defence having the legs to keep up with Lamar Jackson and the rest of Baltimore’s punishing ground game.

Baltimore Ravens (6-5):

At 6-5 the Ravens are still in this thing, and they have to feel pretty good about their chances with Lamar Jackson under centre.

The rookie quarterback ran for 71-yards and a score during last week’s blowout win over the Raiders, which complimented breakout running back Gus Edwards’ 118-yard game nicely.

Baltimore appear to be keeping the game-plan simple for Jackson when it comes to throwing, which is wise considering the Ravens don’t have a great deal of talent at the receiver position. Jackson attempted only 25 throws last week, two of which were picked, so it’s safe to assume the Ravens will be running plenty this weekend against Atlanta.

At the line the Ravens are 4-1 against Baltimore, so that seems to be the sensible play this week.

Tip: Back the Ravens to Beat The Line (-0.5 Points) @ $1.87

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7):

Give them credit, the Bucs fought hard for their 27-9 win over the Niners last week.

It shows on the stat sheet, as Tampa forced two turnovers and held San Francisco to just one third down conversion on the day, paving the way for Jameis Winston to enjoy the best start of his season throwing for 312-yards and a pair of scores.

Things won’t come so easy against the Panthers this week, though. Tampa’s defence has allowed the most passing touchdowns in the league this season, which doesn’t bode well against the likes of Cam Newton, D.J. Moore and Christian McCaffrey.

It doesn’t take much to pick apart San Francisco’s wonky secondary, but it’ll take a big game from running back Peyton Barber if the Bucs are to stand any chance this week.

As their 1-4 home record against Carolina suggests, the Bucs are probably a team you want to avoid.

Carolina Panthers (6-5):

Carolina are now in the midst of a very serious three-game skid, one that makes this week’s game against the Bucs extremely important in terms of the NFC Wild Card picture.

Last week’s 30-27 home loss to the Seahawks highlighted many of the same problems that have haunted the Panthers all season.

First and foremost, it’s hard to win games when you have back-to-back trips to the red zone in the first quarter but only walk away with a field goal. It’s also hard to win games you’re consistently stopped on short yardage situations that call for a simple run up the middle.

Speaking of running the ball, the Panthers somehow managed to lose despite Christian McCaffrey finishing with 237 scrimmage yards and two scores. Much of the blame there could be blamed on the defence, particularly on Seattle’s final game-winning drive, but it also lays in the hands of Cam Newton after throwing a crucial interception in the red zone during the fourth quarter.

As far as this week’s game goes, it’s must-win for the Panthers. Carolina are 5-0 at the line when playing on the road against the Bucs, but in case you haven’t been paying attention, the Panthers are 1-4 on the road this season.

Tip: Back Under 57 Total Points @ $1.91

New York Giants (3-8):

Somehow the Giants blew a 19-0 lead against the Eagles last week to lose by a field goal.

It was the lowlight of New York’s lost season, which is a shame considering the stat sheet looked pretty great for Eli Manning, Saquon Barkley and Odell Beckham Jr.

New York are 1-4 at home this season and have struggled to find any consistency on the defensive side of the ball.

A lot relies on Mitch Trubisky’s status for the Bears, but given their defence has allowed the second-fewest rushing yards in the league, it looks unlikely the Giants will be able to rely on Barkley like they normally do.

Chicago Bears (8-3):

The Bears haven’t wrapped up the division just yet, but a win against the Giants will go a long way towards a playoff berth.

Chicago have now won five straight following their victory over Detroit on Thanksgiving, a game that saw the defence execute with precision in the second half.

A repeat performance from Kyle Fuller and Roquan Smith, both of which combined for 19 tackles last week, should be enough to stifle the very little offence the Giants possess.

Quarterback Mitch Trubisky remains questionable ahead of this game, although the Bears will feel confident with Chase Daniel under centre.

The veteran backup looked just fine last week against Detroit, hurling two killer touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to seal the game.

It’s worth noting Chicago are 5-16 in their last 21 road games, however the Giants have been one of the league’s worst teams at home. This should be a low-scoring Bears win.

Tip: Back the Bears to Beat The Line

Miami Dolphins (5-6):

The Dolphins had every chance to pinch a win on the road against the Colts last week but failed to make the most of their opportunities.

Even after intercepting Andrew Luck twice, Miami struggled to walk away with anything more than a field goal to go on and lose 27-24.

Stats wise, it wasn’t a bad day for Ryan Tannehill in his return to the starting role. Instead, it was the defence that let Miami down (again) as the secondary allowed Luck to march all the way down to the 42-yard line to set up the game winning field goal in just seven plays.

Miami are now under .500 for the first time this season, and after looking like a potential AFC Wild Card contender a fortnight ago, we’ve finally seen this chameleon show its true colours.

It might appear like the Dolphins have an easy match up this week to get things back on track, but their recent record against Buffalo suggests otherwise. Miami are 3-7 in their last 10-games against the Bills.

Buffalo Bills (4-7):

For all of the jokes and criticism that’s surrounded the Bills this season, Buffalo have done quite well to put up four wins given the circumstances.

It was a feel good moment for rookie quarterback Josh Allen last week after finishing with 259 scrimmage yards and a pair of touchdowns in the three-point win over Jacksonville.

Likewise, wide receiver Robert Foster got in on the action catching for 94-yards and a score, leaving Bills fans optimistic about two of their brightest young draft picks from the 2017 class.

With so much attention on the quarterback carousel each week, we’ve also forgotten Buffalo’s defence. Did you know it has allowed the fewest passing yards in the league?

This trip to Miami will pose a few challenges against the Dolphins, particularly when it comes to stopping the run game against the ageless wonder Frank Gore.

It will, however, play into the hands of the secondary, but more importantly offer plenty of opportunities for Allen to make magic with his feet. The Dolphins have allowed the fourth most rushing yards this season, so expect plenty of run/pass options on the way to Buffalo’s second consecutive win.

Tip: Back the Bills To Win @ $3.10

Jacksonville Jaguars (3-8):

Jacksonville’s downward spiral reached rock bottom last week as the Jags lost their seventh straight game, this time to the previously 3-7 Buffalo Bills.

It was a game cornerback Jalen Ramsay had talked up for all the wrong reasons. The star corner was left with egg on his face after taunting Bills rookie quarterback Josh Allen on Twitter during the offseason, but really, the entire Jacksonville roster looked foolish against a much-lesser opponent.

In the aftermath, the Jags have since benched starting quarterback Blake Bortles and fired offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. That means Cody Kessler will start this week, which is hardly ideal matching up against one of the league’s best defensive units.

The Jags are 4-8 in their last 12 games against Jacksonville, and with Leonard Fournette also suspended, it’s hard to see them scoring points, let alone winning this game.

Indianapolis Colts (6-5):

The Colts have quickly become a serious threat in the AFC, and it looks as though they are well on their way to an AFC Wild Card berth following last week’s win over Miami.

Andrew Luck continues to delight, but it’s his resiliency that makes him so much fun. After throwing back-to-back picks in the first half, the Colts’ main man led the game winning drive with just seconds remaining to set up the game winning field goal.

Likewise, the defence continues to make plays, forcing two fumbles and holding the Dolphins to just four third down conversions last week.

The pass rush alone is enough to strike fear in Cody Kessler’s eyes, but as their 8-4 record against Jacksonville suggests, this is usually match up the Colts get the better of.

Tip: Back the Colts to Beat The Line (-4 Points) @ $1.91

Houston Texans (8-3):

With their eighth straight win last week, the Texans set a new franchise record beating the Titans 34-17.

Houston started the game slow, but came on strong in the second quarter to pile on 17-points. It was in large part thanks to the efforts of Deshaun Watson and Lamar Miller on the ground – both contributed for a combined 232-yards and two touchdowns.

So long as we’re talking about the positives, you can’t look past the Texans’ defence. Christian Covington enjoyed a career day against Tennessee last week, tallying 2.5 of Houston’s six sacks on Marcus Mariota.

There’s still the same old offensive line concerns, and once again wide receiver Keke Coutee looks to be troubled with hamstring problems. But still, the Texans are working together as a team rather than relying on individual efforts.

Cleveland Browns (4-6-1):

The Browns won’t make the playoffs, but they have to be satisfied with last week’s win over the Bengals.

The game held extra meaning against former head coach Hue Jackson, as well as plenty of post-game spiciness from Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield.

Speaking of the rookie, Mayfield played the game of his life last week. Throwing for 258-yards and four touchdowns, it’s safe to say the Browns made the right decision in last year’s draft, but there’s no denying the task that lays ahead of him this week.

Houston are 6-1 in their last seven games against Cleveland, while the Browns are a miserable 1-4 on the road this year.

Even worse, Cleveland have allowed the fourth-most passing yards and the fifth-most rushing yards on defence through 12 weeks.

Tip: Back the Texans 13-18 @ $5.50

Cincinnati Bengals (5-6):

The Bengals have now lost three straight and it doesn’t appear the end is in sight.

Quarterback Andy Dalton is done for the season after sustaining a thumb injury during last week’s loss to the Browns, which leaves the Cincy with little to no hope matching up against Denver’s stingy defence this week.

The Bengals will also go without A.J. Green for the sixth straight week, leaving the bulk of the work in the hands of Tyler Boyd and Joe Mixon.

Considering the Bengals are 3-7 in their last 10 games against Denver, this all looks less than ideal.

Denver Broncos (5-6):

Two straight wins suddenly has the Broncos in the AFC Wild Card hunt once again.

Last week’s victory over the Steelers was a great example of what a strong defence can do as the Broncos held Pittsburgh’s elite running game to just 75-yards on the day.

A crucial red zone interception on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sealed the game for Denver, and if it goes without saying, if they bring similar pressure on the edge this week, they should have no trouble taking care of the Bengals on the road.

Denver are 15-4 in recent history against Cincinnati, and as we already know, the Bengals can’t stop the run to save themselves. Expect plenty of Peyton Lindsay in this one.

Tip: Back the Broncos 7-12 @ $5.00

Detroit Lions (4-7):

Detroit sunk to new lows last week losing to an understrength Bears team on Thanksgiving.

It was a bad day all around for the defence, but it was a dismal day for quarterback Matthew Stafford, who threw two crucial picks in the second half to set Chicago up for the win.

The Lions’ season has gone from one extreme to the next, and it’s obvious how much this team misses rookie running back Kerryon Johnson on the ground.

It’s doubtful Johnson returns to the team this week, which will once again leave the ball in the hands of Stafford against the Rams’ well-rested, wrecking ball, pass rush that has grown a reputation for strip sacks.

Perhaps the only good news for the Lions is home field advantage. Detroit are 4-1 at Ford Field against LA, but keep in mind, they haven’t faced the Rams since 2016.

Los Angeles Rams (10-1):

The Rams dug deep to pull out the 54-51 win in Week 11’s College Football game against the Chiefs.

It was a memorable showdown between two of the league’s most high-scoring offenses, but the scary part is, Los Angeles a well-rested and primed for a deep run toward the Super Bowl.

If the shootout against the Chiefs taught us anything, it’s this: the Rams can win quite comfortably without Todd Gurley.

The MVP favourite had a quiet night by his usual standards, but somehow Jared Goff was able to bide time in the pocket and continually find the likes of Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks down field.

But of course, the defence. Aaron Donald, the league’s leading sack-getter, is well on his way to a second consecutive Defensive Player of the Year award, which is a scary thought for Matt Stafford after his gruesome pick six last week against the Bears.

There’s not a whole lot else to say here. The Rams have all the pieces, and really, the Lions should be thinking ‘tank’ right now.

Tip: Back the Rams to Beat The Line (-9.5 Points) @ $1.87

Green Bay Packers (4-6-1):

The Packers’ second straight loss to the Vikings last week might signify the end of an era in Green Bay.

Fans have been calling for the head of Mike McCarthy for weeks, and although the long-time play-caller should be safe until the end of the season, it looks as though the Packers are in for an overdue shake up.

It was more of the same from Green Bay last week as McCarthy made a range of poor decisions. Fourth and short caused the Packers problems, and for a team that was once built on the quick passing game, it feels like the creativity has been completely sapped out of the offence.

Whenever Aaron Rodgers throws for less than 200-yards, you know it’s time for concern. A trip back to Lambeau is exactly what Green Bay needs, and with a 5-0 home record against the Cardinals, it’s hard to see them losing this one even with plenty of off-field distractions going on.

Arizona Cardinals (2-9):

It was a miserable day for Arizona last week as they fell 45-10 to the Chargers. The season can’t end quick enough for the Cardinals who managed just 149-yards of offense on the day, but first, they’ll have to travel to Green Bay to face a Packers team down on luck.

Arizona’s biggest problem this season has been a lack of talent and defence. They allowed Philip Rivers to complete 25 straight passes last week, tying an NFL record on the way to a 259-yard, three touchdown game.

For rookie quarterback Josh Rosen, it was another week to forget. The former first round pick threw a pick and was sacked twice in the loss, which doesn’t fill you with confidence matching up against a Packers defence led by star corner Jaire Alexander.

Arizona have allowed the third-most rushing yards in the league this season, so expect the Packers to run it down their throat on the way to what should be an easy win.

Tip: Back the Packers 7-12 @ $4.50

Oakland Raiders (2-9):

The good news: Derek Carr’s ankle injury appears to be nothing serious.

The bad news: there’s still five weeks remaining of this torturous season.

Carr has been sacked a career-high 35 times, three of which came last week during the blowout loss to the Ravens. At one point, Carr limped off the field, but in a true test of character, he returned on the next offensive series.

Oakland don’t have a whole lot about them right now. There’s zero running game, no wide receivers to throw to, and a defence that has allowed the most rushing yards in the NFL.

Matching up against the league’s most high-powered offence, you don’t have to be a genius to realise this spells a long day for the Raiders, and a great day for Kareem Hunt.

Kansas City Chiefs (9-2):

Kansas City returns from their 102-point shootout against the Rams a fortnight ago, a game that left us with plenty to think about.

The Chiefs may have lost, but they showed tremendous fight to come back from a 13-point deficit to engage in a shootout against this year’s Super Bowl favourite.

It was also the coming of age for defensive end Chris Jones, who now has nine sacks to his name through 12 games played.

The Chiefs defence needs all the help it can get, so Jones’ contribution is encouraging heading toward the playoffs. This week, expect to see plenty of big plays from Jones against the Raiders, as well as the rest of Kansas City’s pass-rush.

As for the offence, the less said the better. The Chiefs should have no trouble running the read-option against this lacklustre Raiders defence, and with Oakland struggling to contain the run, make sure you back Kareem Hunt for a touchdown or three.

Tip: Back the Chiefs 13-18 @ $4.75

Tennessee Titans (5-6):

It looked like the Titans were on their way to an upset on the road over the Texans last week. Tennessee came out firing in the first quarter to take an early lead, but ultimately Houston’s defence had the last laugh.

Quarterback Marcus Mariota was sacked six times in the 34-17 loss, while Mike Vrabel’s defence was torn apart by Deshaun Watson and Lamar Miller on the ground.

The Titans won’t have quite as many problems to deal with this week against the Jets and it’s fair to say that pressure on the pass rush should win them this game. Given both sides emotional highs and lows in the win/loss column though, the Points market is the only real play here.

New York Jets (3-8):

The Jets were in the hunt last week against the Patriots, at least up until half time.

It was a tale of two halves for New York as New England went on to take complete control in the second half.

Time of possession cost the Jets the most, alongside a pretty average day from fill-in starter Josh McCown. Fortunately, the Jets now meet a Titans side looking to bounce back from a devastating loss of their own.

New York are 7-3 in their last 10 games against Tennessee, but it’s worth waiting to see if Sam Darnold is scheduled to return this week. If the Jets receive their starter back fit and healthy, they’re a good bet at the line.

Tip: Over 41 Total Points @ $1.87

Seattle Seahawks (6-5):

The Seahawks’ triumph over the Panthers last week confirmed out worst fears: Seattle are back and they mean business.

Dangerous would be an understatement right now, because nobody wants to face this Seahawks offence. Russell Wilson threw for 339-yards and two touchdowns last week, but the running game has found new life behind Chris Carson, Mike Davis and Rashaad Penny.

On defence, things are just as concerning. Seattle forced five fumbles against the Panthers last week, and held them to just three third down conversions.

The Seahawks are 5-0 in their last five games against the Niners, and also hold a similar undefeated record in home games against San Francisco.

To think, this was once an annual highlight on the NFL calendar – now it’s likely to be a Seattle blowout as they firm into the NFC Wild Card favourite.

San Francisco 49ers (2-9):

It’s hard to win football games when your opponent has a 10-minute possession advantage. It’s also hard to win when your quarterback throws two interceptions and is sacked four times.

That was the story of the Niners’ blowout loss to the Bucs last week, a game that signified just how dismal San Francisco’s defence has become.

Even with Richard Sherman healthy, the Niners gave up 412-yards to Tampa Bay and allowed them to convert 60% on third down.

San Francisco have nothing more to play for than a Top 3 draft pick right now, which looks highly likely heading into this game against the up and about Seahawks.

You have to rewind back to 2011 to find San Francisco’s last road win in Seattle, and it doesn’t look like that streak is about to come to an end anytime soon.

Tip: Back the Seahawks to Beat The Line (-10 Points) @ $1.91

New England Patriots (8-3):

Things looked a little hairy for the Patriots come half time last week, but they still went on to win comfortably by 15-points against the Jets.

The win has New England in the driver’s seat heading into the playoffs, although they do face a tough test this week with the Vikings coming to town.

New England’s defence has allowed the eighth most passing yards in the league this season, which causes concern matching up against Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs. The Patriots have enjoyed a few cruisy weeks recently, but New England do need to be mindful of Minnesota’s fast-paced offence.

The last time these two teams met was in 2014, a game the Patriots won 30-7. It’s doubtful we see a similar blowout this time around, although it is worth nothing the Vikings are 2-3-1 in their last six games on the road.

For New England, much of this game will come down to Sony Michel. The Packers showed last week that despite Minnesota’s strong run defence, you can still run the ball against the Vikings if you’re willing to go inside and fight for yards, so plenty of New England’s scoring opportunities will rest on the rookies’ shoulders.

This should be the game of the week, and a close one at that.

Minnesota Vikings (6-4-1):

The Vikings statement win over the Packers last week has Minnesota two games behind the Bears in the division with five weeks to go. But really, we’re still unsure if this team is a contender or a pretender just yet.

It’s now or never for Mike Zimmer’s team, and as far as ‘line in the sand’ games go, there’s no better way to find something out about yourself than by playing the Patriots in Foxboro.

The Vikings haven’t travelled to Gillette Stadium since 2010, so it’s safe to say this will be an unfamiliar hunting ground for Minnesota.

To add further intrigue, Minnesota are also 1-4 in their last five trips on the road in New England, which places plenty of pressure on quarterback Kirk Cousins.

To his credit, Cousins made some clutch throws against the Packers last week, and it certainly helps having a healthy Dalvin Cook in the backfield.

If the Vikings are to win this game though, their hopes rely entirely on the defence, a unit that held Aaron Rodgers to just 198-yards a week ago.

The Vikings aren’t as flashy as they were a season ago, but they seem to be relishing this underdog role. Keep in mind, they also sacked Rodgers four times last week, and we’ve already seen Tom Brady crack under pressure once or twice this season.

Tip: Back the Vikings To Win @ $3.20

Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3-1):

The Steelers’ six-game winning streak came to an end last week against the Broncos, although they did have every opportunity to win the game.

It came to a red zone pass from Ben Roethlisberger that was ultimately intercepted in the end zone by Broncos corner Chris Harris. That was just one of Big Ben’s two picks on the day in a game the Steelers would probably like to forget from a discipline and fundamentals standpoint.

What appeared to be lacking last week for the Steelers was their two biggest playmakers – James Conner and Antonio Brown. Neither had a quiet day, but both managed less than 100-yards, which basically left Pittsburgh playing left-handed thanks to some great work by Denver’s defence.

There’s no use dwelling on it though, it’s simply something to learn from. The Steelers face an equally tough defence this week in the Chargers, a team that just held the Cardinals to only 149 total yards.

The Steelers are 6-1 in their last seven homes games against LA, so that counts for something. As we’ve seen on numerous occasions this year though, the Steelers need to limit the turnovers if they are any shot at winning this game at home.

Los Angeles Chargers (8-3):

Philip Rivers joined some fairly mediocre company last week by tying Ryan Tannehill’s consecutive completion record.

No knock on Rivers, he’s a huge chance to win the MVP award now, but more importantly, the Chargers defence is playing at the level we came to expect at the beginning of the season.

Finally having Joey Bosa back is a huge plus for this team as they make a serious push towards the playoffs. Bosa finished with two sacks last week against the Cardinals, which should make life tough for Ben Roethlisberger and James Conner if he plays at full speed again this week.

Los Angeles haven’t played in Pittsburgh since 2012, a game they won by 10-points. The Chargers are 4-1 on the road this year, but they’ll have to make do without star running back Melvin Gordon this week who suffered an MCL sprain in the win over the Cardinals.

Tip: Back Over 51 Total Points @ $1.91

Philadelphia Eagles (5-6):

The Eagles are still in the NFC playoff hunt, sorta.

Philly pulled off a comeback win over the Giants last week to salvage what’s left of this lost season, but it’s certainly hard to read too much into a victory over a previously 3-7 team.

The biggest problem for the Eagles remains the offensive line. Carson Wentz was sacked three-times last week which also helped contribute to his interception, although it was encouraging to see Josh Adams rush for 84-yards alongside a strong game from Corey Clement.

There’s still a lot not happening for the Eagles though, especially in the air. Alshon Jeffery’s production is way down, and you don’t have to be a mathematician to realise Philly are giving up the fifth most passing yards defensively.

Fortunately, the Eagles do return home this week, but it mightn’t mean much considering the Redskins are 5-2 against Philly in their last seven games.

Washington Redskins (6-5):

It looked like the Redskins had the division locked up prior to Alex Smith’s injury a week ago, and we’ve already had a taste of what life is like with Colt McCoy under centre.

In a nutshell, McCoy is capable of making throws and plays with his feet, but he doesn’t cope well under pressure, both physically and mentally.

The Redskins had their chances last week against Dallas, but simply couldn’t hold on to the ball. The Cowboys’ defence recorded three turnovers on their way to a 31-23 win, all of which came in the form of interceptions against McCoy.

Philly’s defence isn’t quite as deadly as the Cowboys, in fact, it’s recorded the second fewest turnovers all year.

This game for the Redskins will come down to protecting McCoy and finding Jordan Reed and Josh Doctson whenever and wherever possible. If Washington can see full production out of Adrian Peterson, this will be theirs to lose.

Tip: Back the Redskins at the Line

2017

There is now just over a month left in the NFL regular season and the battle for positions in the NFL Playoffs is on in earnest.

The Philadelphia Eagles can secure the NFC East Title with a win over the Seattle Seahawks, the New England Patriots will win yet another AFC East crown with a victory against the Buffalo Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers can potentially claim the AFC North.

We have analysed every game set to take place this weekend and our complete 2017 NFL Week 13 tips can be found below.

This is a huge game for the NFL Playoffs chances of both these teams.

The Dallas Cowboys have been nothing short of woeful without Ezekiel Elliot in recent weeks, but they are still set to start this clash as narrow favourites.

Dallas have won only four of their past seven games as home favourites for a clear loss and they are 3-4 against the line in this scenario.

The Washington Redskins returned to winning form with a victory over the New York Giants, but they are another team that is tough to trust from a betting perspective.

They have won two of their past six games as away underdogs and a middling 3-3 against the line in this scenario.

It is impossible to back either of these teams with any real confidence and this is a game that I am more than willing to stay out of.

No Bet

The Kansas City Chiefs have lost five of their past six games, but they will still go into this clash as clear favourites.

Kansas City’s offence has fallen to pieces in the second half of the season and a team that once looked like a Super Bowl contender is now a shell of itself.

The Chiefs have won only three of their past five games as away favourites, but they have covered the line in each of these wins.

The New York Jets have also lost five of their past six games, but they did play well against the Carolina Panthers last weekend.

New York have won four of their past eight games as home underdogs and they are 6-2 against the line in this scenario.

The real value in this clash lies in the Total Points betting market and the Over is a great betting play.

The Over has saluted in six of the past nine home games played by the Jets and has also been a profitable betting play in Chiefs games this season.

Back Over 44.5 Points

A win for the New England Patriots will secure the AFC East Title and they are clear favourites to do just that.

New England have won seven games on the trot and their form away from home has been particularly impressive.

The Patriots have won their past eight games as away favourites and they are 7-1 against the line in this scenario.

Tyrod Taylor’s return helped Buffalo return to winning form against the Kansas City Chiefs, but they obviously face a much tougher assignment against the Patriots.

The Bills have won only one of their past three games as home underdogs and their record against the line isn’t any better.

The Patriots will win this game comfortably and the line of eight points will not be anywhere near enough.

Back New England To Beat The Line (- 8 Points)

There is very little between these struggling sides in betting.

The Denver Broncos have now lost seven games in a row following their defeat at the hands of the Oakland Raiders, but they will still go into this clash as narrow favourites.

Denver have won only one of their past three games as away favourites and they have covered the line in only one of their last eight games on the road.

The recent record of the Miami Dolphins have been no better and they have lost five games in a row.

Miami have won one of their past five games as home underdogs and they are 1-1-3 against the line in this scenario.

Both these teams are playing simply awful football and this is a clash that I am more than happy to stay out of.

No Bet

It is the Chicago Bears that will start this clash as favourites.

The Bears were simply no match for the Philadelphia Eagles last weekend and they slumped to their fourth consecutive defeat.

Chicago have lost three of their past nine games at home, but they are 6-1-1 in front of their own fans.

The big quarterback change has finally taken place for the San Francisco 49ers and Jimmy Garoppolo will start this game under centre.

There is no doubt that Garoppolo is a big upgrade on CJ Beathard and he looked good against the Seattle Seahawks last week.

Whether Garoppolo will be able to lead San Francisco to just their second win of the season is a genuine question mark – they have won only one of their past seven games on the road, but they are 4-3 against the line as away underdogs.

This is a game that the market has got just about right and I am more than happy to stay out from a betting perspective.

No Bet

The Baltimore Ravens must win this game to keep the race for the AFC North Division Title alive.

Baltimore go into this clash on the back of wins over the Green Bay Packers and Houston Texans and they will start this clash as favourites.

The Ravens have won five of their past six games as home favourites, but they are only a middling 3-3 against the line in this scenario.

The Detroit Lions went down to the Minnesota Vikings last weekend and they continue to be a frustrating side for their supporters.

Detroit have won three of their past seven games as away underdogs for a clear profit, but their record against the line is no better.

This is another game where the value lies in the Total Points betting market.

Backing the Over in games involving either of these sides has been a profitable betting play all season long and the Total Points line of 41 points does not seem like enough.

Back Over 41 Points

This is a huge game between two of the best teams in the NFC.

Atlanta have gotten themselves right back into the NFL Playoffs mix with three wins on the trot and they will start this clash as favourites.

The Falcons have won seven of their past ten games as home favourites and they are 6-4 against the line in this scenario.

The Minnesota Vikings made it seven wins on the trot with a strong win over the Detroit Lions and the performance of quarterback Case Keenum continues to be a revelation.

Minnesota have lost their two games as away underdogs this season and failed to cover the line in each of these defeats.

This is a big test for Minnesota and I think they will flunk it – Atlanta are a great bet to cover the line.

Back Atlanta To Beat The Line (-3 Points)

The Tennessee Titans remain locked in a battle for the AFC South Title with the Jacksonville Jaguars and they will start this clash with the Houston Texans as clear favourites.

The Titans have won five of their past six games and they keep finding ways to win without performing particularly well.

Tennessee have now won six of their past seven games as home favourites and they are 4-1-2 against the line in this scenario.

The Houston Texans went down to the Baltimore Ravens last week and they have lost four of their past five games.

Houston have won only two of their past nine games as away underdogs, but they are 5-4 against the line in this scenario.

This is a game that the Titans should win, but the line of 6.5 points is a touch excessive and this is a game that I am willing to stay out of.

No Bet

The Jacksonville Jaguars suffered a disappointing defeat at the hands of the Arizona Cardinals last weekend, but they will still start this clash as clear favourites.

Jacksonville need to keep winning to keep in touch with the Tennessee Titans and they have won two of their past three games as home favourites, but they are 1-2 against the line in this scenario.

The Indianapolis Colts have won only one of their past six games, but they have actually played some solid football in that period and have suffered narrow defeats at the hands of the Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans.

Indianapolis have won three of their past eight games as away underdogs for a small profit and that are not without a chance in this game.

There is not as much between these two teams as the current betting market suggests and the Colts can cover the line with a big start.

Back Indianapolis To Beat The Line (+9.5 Points)

The Los Angeles Chargers are the shortest-priced favourites in the NFL this weekend.

Los Angeles have recorded two big wins over the Buffalo Bills and the Dallas Cowboys in the past fortnight and they are now right back in the Playoffs picture.

Winning at home has been an issue for the Chargers and they have won only one of their past four games as home favourites for a clear loss.

The Cleveland Browns have not won a game since they beat the Chargers last season and it has been tough to be inspired by their recent efforts.

Cleveland have covered the line in only four of their past 15 games and it is impossible to back them with any real confidence.

This is a horror clash from a betting perspective and another clash that I am happy to stay out of.

No Bet

The Los Angeles Rams remain on top of the NFC West and they head into this clash with divisional rivals the Arizona Cardinals as clear favourites.

Los Angeles returned to winning form with a confidence building win over the New Orleans Saints and they flogged Arizona 33-0 when they met earlier this season.

The Rams have won both their games as away favourites this season, but they 3-4 against the line on the road.

Arizona produced one of their best performances of the season to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars and they have shown some signs of life over the past month.

The Cardinals have won two of their past four games as home underdogs and they have been a profitable play against the line in this scenario.

Arizona can trouble this Los Angeles outfit and they are a solid bet to beat the line with a generous start.

Back Arizona To Beat The Line (+6.5 Points)

This is one of the biggest games in the NFL this weekend and the winner will be in the box-seat to claim the NFC South title.

The New Orleans Saints had their winning run ended by the Los Angeles Rams, but they will still go into this clash as clear favourites.

New Orleans have won five of their past six games as home favourites and they are a profitable 4-2 against the line in this scenario.

The Carolina Panthers made it four wins on the trot with a win over the New York Jets and their offence has really found its mojo in the past month.

Carolina have won four of their past six games as away underdogs for a big profit and they are 5-1 against the line in this scenario.

Games between these two sides are typically high-scoring affairs and the Total Points line of 48.5 points does not look like anywhere near enough – more than 48 points have been scored in four of the past six games played by these rivals.

Back Over 48.5 Points

This is another huge game.

The Philadelphia Eagles continue to be the benchmark in the NFL and they are clear favourites to secure the NFC East Title with a victory.

Philadelphia have won their two games as away favourites this season and they have covered the line in both of these fixtures.

The Seattle Seahawks remain one game behind the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West and they need to win games like this one to close that gap.

Seattle have won six of their past nine games at home for a loss and their record against the line is a poor 4-5 in this scenario.

Backing the Eagles in just about every scenario has been a profitable betting play this season and they can continue on their winning ways.

Back Philadelphia To Beat The Line (-5.5 Points)

The Pittsburgh Steelers have won their past five games against the Cincinnati Bengals and it is no surprise that they will go into this clash as clear favourites.

Pittsburgh have won six games on the trot, but they have been far from convincing during a large part of this winning streak and they were a touch lucky to get the win over the Green Bay Packers last week.

The Steelers have won six of their pat seven games as away favourites for a clear profit and they are 4-3 against the line in this scenario.

Cincinnati have won two games on the trot, but the Steelers represent a much tougher challenge than the Denver Broncos or the Cleveland Browns.

The Bengals have won only one of their past eight games against the Steelers as home underdogs and their record against the line in this situation isn’t much better.

Pittsburgh can win this game comfortably and the line of five points will not be enough.

Back Pittsburgh To Beat The Line (-5 Points)

2016

We are now into the final month of the NFL season!

There will be plenty of betting interest in every single game on Monday and there will be NFL Playoffs consequences for a wide range of games.

The weekend of football concludes on Tuesday morning when the New York Jets face the Indianapolis Colts and you can find our thoughts for every single game below!

Dallas continued their historic unbeaten run with a polished performance against the Washington Redskins and they are clear favourites to make it 11 wins on the trot.

Dallas have now won six of their past eight games away for a home for a clear profit and they have an identical record against the line in this scenario.

Minnesota’s chances of making the playoffs took another hit when they went down to the Detroit Lions last weekend and this is almost a must-win game.

The Vikings have won one of their past three games as away underdogs and they have generally struggled when giving away a start.

Dallas should be able to record another comfortable victory and the line of three points will not be where near enough.

Back Dallas To Beat The Line (-3 Points)

This is one of the most interesting games of the weekend and it is the Atlanta Falcons that will start as clear favourites.

Atlanta have won three of their past four games, but they are 2-3 as home favourites for a clear loss and they have covered the line in just one of their past five games in this scenario.

Kansas City scored a thrilling overtime victory over the Denver Broncos last weekend and they remain on track for a playoffs appearance.

The Chiefs have won two of their past four games as away underdogs for a clear profit and they are well over the odds to win again this weekend.

Back Kansas City To Win @ $2.60

The Detroit Lions have won six of their past seven games, but it is the New Orleans Saints that will go into this clash as clear favourites.

The Saints have struggled as favourites over the past 12 months and they have a record of 3-4 in both head-to-head and line betting markets.

Detroit continue to defy expectations this season and they have won three of their past five games as away underdogs for a clear profit.

The Lions continue to be underrated from a betting perspective and they are well over the odds at their current price.

Back Detroit To Win @ $3.10

The New England Patriots are the shortest-priced favourites of the weekend and the market suggests that they will have no problems disposing for the Los Angeles Rams.

New England produced controlled performances against both San Francisco and the New York Jets – with their record as home favourites over the past 12 months now 5-3 in both head-to-head and line betting markets.

Los Angeles were completely outmatched by the New Orleans Saints last weekend and their season continues to go from bad to worse.

The Rams have still won three of their past five games as away underdogs for a clear profit and they have an identical record against the line.

New England should be able to get the job done, but the line of 13.5 points is excessive and the Rams are more than capable of covering the line.

Back Los Angeles To Beat The Line (+13.5 Points)

The Jacksonville Jaguars have lost six games on the trot and it is no surprise that the Denver Broncos will start this clash as clear favourites.

Denver have won only two of their past four games as home favourites and they have an identical record against the line.

Jacksonville have not won a game since they beat Chicago in October and they have lost their past two games as home underdogs.

Both these teams are tough to trust from a betting perspective and I am more than happy to stay out of this clash.

No Bet

The Green Bay Packers returned to winning form against the Philadelphia Eagles last weekend and will start this clash with the Houston Texans as clear favourites.

Green Bay have been a tough team to trust from a betting perspective this season and they have won only four of their past seven games as home favourites for a clear loss.

Houston have lost two games in a row and they have really struggled away from home this season.

They have won just two of their past seven games as away underdogs for a clear loss, while they have an identical record against the line.

This is a game that the market looks to have got just about right and I am more than happy to stay out from a betting perspective.

No Bet

This is a crucial game for both these sides that remain in the Playoffs mix in the AFC.

Baltimore have won three of their past five games as home favourites for narrow loss, but they do have the same record against the line for a profit.

Miami made it six wins on the trot with their fighting victory over the San Francisco 49ers and they are now a genuine chance to score one of the wildcard places in the AFC.

The Dolphins have won two of their past five games as away underdogs and they are 3-2 against the line in this scenario.

Miami have riding a real wave of momentum and they are definite value to continue their winning streak this weekend.

Back Baltimore To Win @ $2.40

There is no doubt that these are two of the worst teams in the NFL.

Chicago have won just one of their past seven games, but they will still go into this clash as narrow favourites.

The Bears have lost their past four games as home favourites and their record in front of their home fans is very poor.

San Francisco have not won a game since the opening round of the season, but they have produced some credible performances in recent weeks.

The 49ers have won just one of their past eight games as away underdogs for a clear loss and their record against the line is not much better.

It is impossible to have any faith in either of these two teams and this is another game that I am more than happy to stay out of.

No Bet

The Oakland Raiders are the form team in the AFC and they will start this clash with the Buffalo Bills as clear favourites.

Oakland have now won four of their past five games as home favourites for a clear profit, but their record against the line in this scenario is a very poor 1-4.

Buffalo have won their past two games and they continue to be a team that is capable of some excellent football when they perform at their best.

The Bills are 2-3 as away underdogs this season for  a narrow loss and they are 2-1-2 against the line in this scenario.

Oakland are playing some excellent football and I am confident that they can improve their poor record against the line.

Back Oakland To Beat The Line (-3 Points)

The New York Giants have won six games in a row, but they will still go into this clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers as clear underdogs.

New York have generally been a team that have performed to market expectations – they have lost their past three games as away underdogs and have a poor record against the line in this scenario.

Pittsburgh head into this clash on the back of two excellent performances against the Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts.

The Steelers have won five of their past six games as home favourites for a clear profit and their record against the line in this scenario is 4-2.

Pittsburgh are incredibly tough to beat in front of their home fans and they are a solid bet to beat the line of six points.

Back Pittsburgh To Beat The Line (-6 Points)

It has been a season to forget for the Arizona Cardinals, but they will still go into this clash as clear favourites.

They head into this clash on the back of losses at the hands of both the Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons, with their record as home favourites now a non-profitable 6-1-3 and they are 3-7 against the line in this scenario.

Washington narrowly went down to the Dallas Cowboys last weekend and they need to return to winning form to remain in the Playoffs race.

The Redskins are one of the best betting teams in the NFL and they have now won five of their past seven games as away underdogs, while they have covered the line in each of these games.

Washingtonb are outstanding value at their current price of $2.20 and are arguably the best betting play of the weekend.

Back Washington To Win @ $2.20

This is set to be one of the most exciting games of the weekend.

It is the San Diego Chargers that will start this game as favourites and this is not a position in which they have thrived over the past 12 months – they have won just two of their four games in this scenario.

Tampa Bay produced an outstanding defensive effort to beat the Seattle Seahawks last weekend and they are sure to have taken a great deal of confidence from that performance.

The Buccaneers have won four of their past six games as away underdogs for a clear profit and they have the same record against the line.

Tampa Bay are another excellent value bet and they are more than capable of getting the job done.

Back Tampa Bay To Win @ $2.60

This was a number of experts predictions for the NFC Conference Championship, but the form of the Carolina Panthers will ensure this is not the case.

Seattle will start this clash as clear favourites – despite their poor loss to Tampa Bay last weekend – and they have won six of their past seven games as home favourites, while they are 3-1-3 against the line in this scenario.

Carolina suffered another heart-breaking defeat at the hands of the Oakland Raiders last weekend and winning away from home has proven to be an issue.

The Panthers have won just three of their past nine games on the road ad their record against the line is extremely poor.

Seattle should be able to get the job done, but there is no value at their current price.