The regular season wraps up this weekend, with a pair of games on Saturday and the rest on Sunday. Several playoff spots are still up for grabs so it should be a fun weekend.
Here are my picks against the spread for Week 18.
Kansas City Chiefs (-9) at Las Vegas Raiders
Saturday, January 7th at 4:30 p.m. ET
The Kansas City Chiefs can secure the top seed in the AFC with a win over the Raiders, and are large favorites to do so. Las Vegas will have Jarrett Stidham under center once again, as Derek Carr sits at home and waits to be traded.
Kansas City should have little issue winning this game, but this line is too high considering the location of the game and the talent on the Raiders.
Score prediction: Chiefs 30, Raiders 23
Pick: Raiders +9
Tennessee Titans (+6) at Jacksonville Jaguars
Saturday, January 7th at 8:15 p.m. ET
The AFC South is on the line when the Jaguars host the Titans on Saturday. Jacksonville has won four straight games while Tennessee has dropped six in a row. The Titans are going to roll with journeyman Joshua Dobbs at quarterback.
The Jaguars are the superior team and I like them to win this game pretty easily to punch their ticket to the postseason.
Score prediction: Jaguars 27, Titans 17
Pick: Jaguars -7
Minnesota Vikings (-7) at Chicago Bears
Sunday, January 8th at 1 p.m. ET
This was shaping up to be an interesting game until the Bears pulled Justin Fields for an, ahem, hip injury. In reality, Chicago has all the motivation in the world to lose this game and try to snag the No. 1 overall draft pick.
The Vikings are likely going to finish as the No. 3 seed so there isn’t huge motivation on their end, so I really have no clue what’s going to happen. But I live by one betting credo: if Nathan Peterman is playing quarterback, wager against him.
Score prediction: Vikings 24, Bears 16
Pick: Vikings -7
New England Patriots (+7) at Buffalo Bills
Sunday, January 8th at 1 p.m. ET
The Bills got some great news when it was announced that Damar Hamlin was responsive on Thursday. The most important thing is that he is on the road to recovery, and that’s where the minds of the players will be this week.
Buffalo will need to regroup and get ready to face off against the Patriots in the finale. It’s hard to know how much the mental strain will affect them, and it’s honestly uncomfortable attempting to make a prediction on this game with that as a factor.
So I’m going to skip picking this game and simply wish a continued recovery to Hamlin.
Baltimore Ravens (+7) at Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, January 8th at 1 p.m. ET
The Bengals showed great class in the way they handled the Hamlin situation and now they will turn their attention to the Ravens. This would have been a heavyweight matchup if Lamar Jackson was healthy, but Cincy is clearly the superior team as it currently stands.
This line is high, especially considering the scoring total is set at only 42 points. Betting is now legal in Ohio and I’m sure plenty of Bengals fans will be wagering on their team, but I’d be wary of this spread. I think the Ravens will keep it close, with Cincy still picking up the win.
Score prediction: Bengals 24, Ravens 20
Pick: Ravens +7
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+4) at Atlanta Falcons
Sunday, January 8th at 1 p.m. ET
The Buccaneers are locked into the No. 4 seed, so they don’t have any incentive to win this game. The Falcons, though, are out of the playoffs so it’s meaningless to them as well.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Tampa Bay stars play little or none of the contest, but even the second-stringers should be competitive against a Falcons team short on talent.
Blaine Gabbert is good enough to help the Bucs cover, and a win at +165 moneyline odds is a worthwhile pick.
Score prediction: Buccaneers 20, Falcons 17
Pick: Buccaneers +4
Cleveland Browns (+2.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday, January 8th at 1 p.m. ET
The Steelers still have an outside shot at the playoffs and Kenny Pickett is playing some solid football. However, the Browns have the superior team and I’m a bit surprised that Pittsburgh is the favorite.
Cleveland doesn’t have as much motivation but every team enjoys playing spoiler. I like the Browns to win this game outright at +120 odds on the moneyline.
Score prediction: Browns 23, Steelers 21
Pick: Browns +2.5
New York Jets (+2.5) at Miami Dolphins
Sunday, January 8th at 1 p.m. ET
The Jets were favored but there is concern about Mike White’s availability, which has shifted the odds back toward the Dolphins. Miami is still in the playoff hunt and badly needs the win but will be without quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
I think the Dolphins get enough big plays from their talented skill group to win this game and cover.
Score prediction: Dolphins 21, Jets 17
Pick: Dolphins -2.5
Carolina Panthers (+3.5) at New Orleans Saints
Sunday, January 8th at 1 p.m. ET
The Panthers nearly won the NFC South but blew a lead against the Buccaneers last week. The team will try to win the finale in order to give interim coach Steve Wilks a chance to get the full-time gig.
The Saints have the better collection of talent but I like the way Carolina has been playing down the stretch. The Panthers are the pick to pull off the upset behind a solid offensive performance.
Score prediction: Panthers 24, Saints 19
Pick: Panthers +3.5
Houston Texans (+2.5) at Indianapolis Colts
Sunday, January 8th at 1 p.m. ET
If the Texans lose, they get the No. 1 overall pick, but coach Lovie Smith pledges to go all out to win this game. It’s certainly not impossible, as the Colts have one of the worst offenses we have seen in years.
It would be a disastrously bad decision to win this game but I think the Texans are going to do it and fall to the No. 2 pick. Houston is playing better than Indy right now and will seemingly use all of their key players.
Score prediction: Texans 17, Colts 16
Pick: Texans +2.5
Arizona Cardinals (+14) at San Francisco 49ers
Sunday, January 8th at 4:25 p.m. ET
The Cardinals could be missing as many as eight of their original offensive starters, as they are a shell of the team that was hoping to make a return trip to the postseason. The 49ers, meanwhile, look like a juggernaut even with a third-string quarterback starting for them.
While San Francisco should win this game, Kliff Kingsbury has nothing to lose by getting creative in this one, since he’s likely to be fired by Monday morning. Kingsbury will go out in style, by helping us win some money with a cover.
Score prediction: 49ers 27, Cardinals 16
Pick: Cardinals +14
Dallas Cowboys (-7) at Washington Commanders
Sunday, January 8th at 4:25 p.m. ET
There is at least an outside chance that Dallas can still win the NFC East, and needs to win this game to do so. It’s extremely unlikely and players could get pulled at a certain point if it’s clear it won’t happen, so that has to be part of the calculus.
However, Washington is turning to Sam Howell in this game, as the rookie quarterback has a tough test against a talented defense. I think the Cowboys will storm out of the gates to control this game and cruise to the win.
Score prediction: Cowboys 27, Commanders 13
Pick: Cowboys -7
New York Giants (+14) at Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday, January 8th at 4:25 p.m. ET
The Giants are locked into their playoff spot while the Eagles need a win to wrap up the No. 1 seed. Jalen Hurts is making progress and could be back for this game, but even if he’s not, Philly will have plenty of firepower to cruise to the win.
However, will they cover this gargantuan spread? I think New York will be able to keep it close than 14 points, even if it takes a late back-door cover to get there.
Score prediction: Eagles 28, Giants 17
Pick: Giants +14
Los Angeles Rams (+6) at Seattle Seahawks
Sunday, January 8th at 4:25 p.m. ET
The Seahawks need to win their game and then root for the Detroit Lions to knock off the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football. There is speculation that Rams coach Sean McVay could be headed to the broadcast booth after this season, and there is little reason to believe Los Angeles can win this game.
I think this spread should be higher, as the Seahawks are both motivated and more talented than the Rams.
Score prediction: Seahawks 24, Rams 17
Pick: Seahawks -6
Los Angeles Chargers (+2.5) at Denver Broncos
Sunday, January 8th at 4:25 p.m. ET
The Chargers are the better team, but if the Ravens lose to the Bengals earlier in the day, Los Angeles will be locked into the No. 5 seed and can rest some players. Coach Brandon Staley hasn’t said he will do that, but it would be the prudent move, especially for those dealing with injuries.
Quarterback Justin Herbert has been nicked up this year and the Chargers may sit him if the game doesn’t mean anything. Therefore, I’m going with the Broncos to win this game and cover.
Score prediction: Broncos 23, Chargers 17
Pick: Broncos -2.5
Detroit Lions (+4.5) at Green Bay Packers
Sunday, January 8th at 4:25 p.m. ET
The Lions won’t have anything to play for if the Seahawks win earlier in the day. If Seattle loses, this game will determine the final playoff spot in the NFC. Either way, I think Detroit will be ready to go.
The Packers have played well of late and are solid favorites to make an improbable run to the postseason, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Lions pull off the upset. Detroit is playing good football and can go toe-to-toe with the Packers, even on the road. If the Seahawks and Lions win, Seattle is in.
Score prediction: Lions 24, Packers 21
Pick: Lions +4.5
Season record: 123-110-7
