No need for an intro. You know the drill. Away we go with the Week 14 football picks against the spread.
Las Vegas Raiders (-6.5) at Los Angeles Rams
Thursday, December 8 at 8:15 p.m. ET
Well this is a fun one to predict as we start things off. It’s either going to be John Wolford or a fresh-off-the-plane Baker Mayfield at quarterback for the Rams. Los Angeles put up a good fight against the Seahawks last week but I think this one gets ugly.
Chandler Jones woke up from a season-long slumber last week and I think the pass-rush will be a problem for the Rams. Las Vegas is playing well of late and I think it eventually takes control of this one and cruises to the win.
Score prediction: Raiders 27, Rams 13
Pick: Raiders -6.5
Minnesota Vikings (+2) at Detroit Lions
Sunday, December 11th at 1 p.m. ET
The Vikings are road underdogs despite a 10-2 record, as the oddsmakers do not feel like they are elite. I agree, as the talent level on these teams is pretty close to even.
I think Minnesota’s close-game luck ends here, as the Lions are the pick to win this game and continue their late-season push to get into the postseason conversation. I expect plenty of points as each side should be able to throw the ball successfully.
Score prediction: Lions 31, Vikings 27
Pick: Lions -2
New York Jets (+9.5) at Buffalo Bills
Sunday, December 11th at 1 p.m. ET
The Bills won’t have Von Miller the rest of the way but they are still a dominant outfit. The Jets have a good defense but I’m not sure any team in the NFL can slow down Buffalo when things are going well.
It’s been an up-and-down season for Josh Allen, but I foresee a good game for him here while the defense hounds Mike White. A double-digit margin is likely.
Score prediction: Bills 27, Jets 17
Pick: Bills -9.5
Philadelphia Eagles (-6.5) at New York Giants
Sunday, December 11th at 1 p.m. ET
For some reason there is a bit of Eagles pushback of late, as the 49ers and Cowboys have been getting plenty of love as NFC contenders. But Philly is still a great team that has been flexing its muscle all season long.
The Giants are at home and if they can jump out to an early lead this game can be competitive. However, I like the Eagles to move the ball easily on the Giants and score some points, which will put the onus on Daniel Jones to make things happen. That’s not a good think for New York backers.
Score prediction: Eagles 30, Giants 19
Pick: Eagles -6.5
Cleveland Browns (+6) at Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, December 11th at 1 p.m. ET
It’s interesting that the spread is this high, but Deshaun Watson was pretty terrible in his debut against Houston. The Bengals are a complete team and get this game at home, so I do think they win, but Cleveland’s offense has a really high ceiling the rest of the way.
I think the Browns’ ground game will be efficient in this matchup to keep Cleveland close enough for the cover.
Score prediction: Bengals 27, Browns 23
Pick: Browns +6
Houston Texans (+17) at Dallas Cowboys
Sunday, December 11th at 1 p.m. ET
This is the biggest spread of the year, as the Cowboys are projected to demolish the Texans. It’s hard to disagree, as Dallas arguably has a top-5 defense and offense, while Houston is easily the worst team in the NFL.
But this still feels too high to me. The Texans are going back to Davis Mills, and if he can make just a couple of key throws, Houston should cobble together enough points for the cover.
Score prediction: Cowboys 28, Texans 13
Pick: Texans +17
Jacksonville Jaguars (+4) at Tennessee Titans
Sunday, December 11th at 1 p.m. ET
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is dealing with a sprained toe, but the expectation is for him to play in this matchup. If that happens, I am all over Jacksonville at this spread.
Tennessee might have the slightly better personnel but the Jaguars can throw the ball, which tips the scales in their direction. I like the upset at +155 on the moneyline.
Score prediction: Jaguars 23, Titans 21
Pick: Jaguars +4
Baltimore Ravens (+2.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday, December 11th at 1 p.m. ET
The Ravens will be turning to Tyler Huntley in this matchup as Lamar Jackson is expected to sit out. While it’s a downgrade, Baltimore still has a very good all-around team, and Huntley is one of the better backup quarterbacks in the NFL.
The Steelers have improved of late but their pass-rush is going to get mitigated by the Ravens’ style of play. I like the Ravens to win this game on the road as the slight underdog.
Score prediction: Ravens 21, Steelers 17
Pick: Ravens +2.5
Kansas City Chiefs (-9) at Denver Broncos
Sunday, December 11th at 4:05 p.m. ET
This is a pretty tall task for the Chiefs, who will need to score plenty against a Denver defense that has been excellent this season. But even though they lost last week to the Bengals, the offense was still dynamic behind Patrick Mahomes.
I don’t think the Broncos will be able to slow them down, and we all know by now that Russell Wilson isn’t going to win a shootout. I like the Chiefs to pull away with steady offensive firepower and a big takeaway or two from the defense.
Score prediction: Chiefs 30, Broncos 17
Pick: Chiefs -9
Carolina Panthers (+4.5) at Seattle Seahawks
Sunday, December 4th at 4:25 p.m. ET
The Seahawks’ defense has regressed a bit in recent weeks but Geno Smith is still playing at a high level. Even though Sam Darnold found some success in Week 12 against the Broncos, it’s still Sam Darnold.
He’s not the type of guy I want leading the way when a rally is needed. I think the Seahawks pull away for this win and easily cover.
Score prediction: Seahawks 24, Panthers 16
Pick: Seahawks -4.5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+3.5) at San Francisco 49ers
Sunday, December 11th at 4:25 p.m. ET
The oddsmakers are showing a lot of faith in Brock Purdy, the rookie seventh-round pick tasked with keeping the 49ers afloat following the season-ending injuries to both Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo.
Purdy won’t be asked to do too much and I think he will be fine because the 49ers have a good offensive line and crazy talent at the skill positions. Additionally, the defense is elite and set to face off with a scuffling Bucs offense. I would love for this line to drop to a field goal margin, but am still taking the 49ers to cover.
Score prediction: 49ers 21, Buccaneers 17
Pick: 49ers -3.5
Miami Dolphins (-3.5) at Los Angeles Chargers
Sunday, December 11th at 8:20 p.m. ET
The Chargers are on the periphery of the playoff hunt but judging by advanced metrics, they have not been a very good team this year. Injuries are a huge part of it, and the defense will still be missing myriad key pieces in this matchup.
Wide receiver Mike Williams could be back for this game, which means maybe Los Angeles can score enough to keep up. But I think the Dolphins’ pass attack will be too efficient.
Score prediction: Dolphins 31, Chargers 24
Pick: Dolphins -3.5
New England Patriots (-2) at Arizona Cardinals
Monday, December 12th at 8:15 p.m. ET
The Cardinals have been a bad team all year long but finally got Hollywood Brown, Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins on the field together last time out. Arizona lost to the Chargers, but the offense looked solid for much of the game and Murray finished with a top-5 quarterback performance that week, per ESPN.
The Patriots’ defense is a bigger challenge but the threat of Hopkins on one side, Brown on the other and Murray’s rushing ability will be too much.
I like the Cardinals to pull the upset, as I don’t believe the New England offense is talented enough to score consistently, even against a bottom-tier Arizona defense. The moneyline odds sit at +110 at DraftKings.
Score prediction: Cardinals 27, Patriots 20
Pick: Cardinals +2
Last week’s record: 8-7
Overall: 103-86-6
