NFL Week 18 Odds and Predictions: Best Picks Against the Spread
Here’s a quick look at all Week 18 NFL games.
Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos, Saturday
Denver was eliminated from wild-card contention with Sunday’s 34-13 loss at the Chargers as backup QB Drew Lock started a second straight game for an injured Teddy Bridgewater. Could be this is the last game as Broncos coach for Vic Fangio. Kansas City’s eight-game winning streak was snapped in 34-31 upset at Cincinnati. The Chiefs no longer control their destiny for the AFC’s top seed. They must win this game and have the Titans lose at Houston, which almost surely isn’t happening. The Chiefs beat the Broncos 22-9 in Week 13 as the Kansas City defence forced three turnovers, including a pick returned for a score.
Pick ATS: Denver (alternate line or +10.5)
Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles, Saturday
Both teams are in the playoffs, now it’s just a matter of seeding. Dallas is the NFC East champion but lost any shot at the NFC’s top seed with Sunday’s home loss to Arizona. The Eagles earned a wild-card spot when Minnesota lost on Sunday night. With both these clubs for sure playing the opening weekend of the post-season, a lot of guys may sit this out. The Cowboys beat the Eagles 41-21 in Week 3. Dak Prescott threw for three scores and Ezekiel Elliott ran for two.
Point spread: Cowboys -2.5
Pick ATS: Philadelphia
New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta was eliminated from playoff contention with Sunday’ 29-15 loss in Buffalo. Might this be Matt Ryan’s final game with the Falcons? New Orleans kept its playoff hopes alive with an 18-10 home win over Carolina. The Saints must win this game and have the 49ers lose at the Rams to earn a playoff spot. The Saints were upset by the Falcons 27-25 in Week 9, the first New Orleans game after losing starting QB Jameis Winston for the season. Younghoe Kim hit a 29-yard field goal as time expired.
Pick ATS: New Orleans
New York Jets at Buffalo Bills
The Jets were eliminated from the playoffs weeks ago but they played quite well Sunday before losing in the final minute to Tampa Bay. The Bills crushed Atlanta and will be AFC East champions with a win or New England loss at Miami. Buffalo is in the playoffs regardless. The Jets were routed by the Bills 45-17 in Week 10. Mike White was the New York starting QB that day and had four picks.
Pick ATS: New York (alternate line of +17.5)
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns
Cincinnati won the AFC North with Sunday’s 34-31 upset of the Browns as Joe Burrow had another monster game with 446 yards passing and four scores – Ja’Marr Chase set an NFL rookie receiving yardage single-game record with 266 and also had three scores. The Bengals have an outside shot at the AFC’s top seed with a win but they’d need a lot of help and it’s not likely. Cleveland is out of the playoff chase and on a short week after visiting Pittsburgh on Monday. The Browns crushed the Bengals 41-16 in Week 9. A 99-yard interception return for a TD by Cleveland’s Denzel Ward really changed that one.
Pick ATS: Cincinnati
Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions
Green Bay spanked Minnesota 37-10 on Sunday night to clinch the NFC’s top seed. Oddsmakers clearly are still deciding what number to set here as it’s off the board as of this writing. Detroit gets the top pick in the 2022 NFL Draft if it loses and Jacksonville upsets Indianapolis. The Packers beat the Lions 35-17 in Week 2 behind four TD passes from Rodgers.
Point spread: TBA
Pick ATS: Detroit
New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins
Miami was eliminated from the playoff hunt with Sunday’s 34-3 loss at Tennessee. New England snapped a two-game skid with a 50-10 blowout of Jacksonville. The Pats are in the playoffs and would win the AFC East with a win and Bills loss to the Jets, which isn’t happening. The Patriots lost to the Dolphins 17-16 in Week 1, Miami’s second straight win in the once-lopsided series.
Pick ATS: New England
Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings
It is widely expected that both head coaches, Chicago’s Matt Nagy and Minnesota’s Mike Zimmer, will be fired not long after the finale. Both teams are playing out the string – Minnesota was clobbered in Green Bay on Sunday night to be eliminated from playoff contention. Unvaccinated QB Kirk Cousins missed it in COVID protocols. The Vikings beat the Bears 17-9 in Week 15 even though Chicago largely dominated statistically.
Point spread: Vikings -2.5
Pick ATS: Minnesota
Washington Football Team at New York Giants
Both these NFC East teams are playing out the string. The WFT beat the Giants 30-29 in Week 2 on a 43-yard field goal as time expired. New York was offsides on the previous play when Washington missed a kick.
Pick ATS: New York
Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Could this be the final game as Panthers coach for Matt Rhule? Carolina lost its sixth straight game Sunday, 18-10 in New Orleans and managed only 178 yards. I wonder if the Bucs may rest Tom Brady and some others because they already clinched the NFC South and can’t earn the NFC’s top seed. Then of course there’s the whole Antonio Brown fallout after he quit on the team in Sunday’s comeback win over the Jets. Brown will not be playing for the Bucs or probably in the NFL again. The Bucs routed the Panthers 32-6 in Week 16.
Point spread: Bucs -9
Pick ATS: Carolina
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars
Indianapolis was upset Sunday by the Raiders and can’t win the AFC South now but would clinch a wild-card spot with a victory. Jacksonville gets the No. 1 overall pick in the draft for the second year in a row with a loss. The Colts beat the Jaguars 23-17 in Week 10 as Jonathan Taylor rushed for 116 yards and a TD.
Pick ATS: Jacksonville
Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens
Perhaps the final game in the Hall of Fame career of Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger. Pittsburgh still had slight playoff hopes entering Monday’s home game vs. Cleveland but must win out and get unlikely help. Baltimore technically has a wild-card shot but needs a win and a minor miracle from other games.
The Steelers beat the Ravens 20-19 in Week 13 as Baltimore went for a two-point try at the end and failed.
Pick ATS: TBA
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans
Tennessee routed Miami on Sunday and with Kansas City’s loss, the Titans now would be the AFC’s top seed with a victory here. Houston is playing out the string and reportedly will bring back coach David Culley next season. The Titans were shocked by the Texans 22-13 in Week 11 as Ryan Tannehill was intercepted four times.
Pick ATS: Houston
San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams
San Francisco easily beat Houston on Sunday and earns a wild-card spot with a victory here or a Saints loss in Atlanta. Those games kick off at the same time. The Rams can’t earn the NFC’s top seed but would win the NFC West with a victory or Arizona loss at home vs. Seattle. The 49ers beat the Rams 31-10 in Week 10 as San Francisco rushed for 156 yards.
Pick ATS: Los Angeles
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals
Might this be the last game in a Seahawks uniform for QB Russell Wilson? This writer believes Wilson is traded. Not out of the question that Coach Pete Carroll could retire. Seattle is playing out the string, while Arizona is in the playoffs. It would win the NFC West with a victory and Rams home loss to the Niners. The Cardinals beat the Seahawks 23-13 in Week 11 as backup QB Colt McCoy threw for 358 yards and two scores with Kyler Murray hurt.
Pick ATS: Arizona
Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders
Sunday night game. This is the lone win-and-in matchup in Week 18 – either would get an AFC wild-card spot with a victory and the loser is out. The Bolts snapped a two-game skid with an easy 34-13 home win over Denver on Sunday with several players back from COVID protocols, while the Raiders pulled a big upset at Indianapolis, 23-20. The Chargers beat the Raiders 28-14 in Week 4 behind three TD passes from Justin Herbert.
Pick ATS: Los Angeles (alternate line of -2.5)