NFL Week 17 Odds, Overview & Pick for Each Game

As we head into the last week of the 2018 regular season, the NFL playoff picture became significantly clearer. In the AFC, the Chiefs, Texans, Patriots and Chargers have clinched playoff spots, although only the Patriots have clinched a division title. Houston fell out of the second spot thanks to a loss to Philadelphia, and the AFC West is also still in play thanks to the Chiefs and Chargers losing again. The AFC North is also up for grabs, as Baltimore could clinch the division if they beat Cleveland next week, knocking out Pittsburgh, or they could end up missing the postseason if they lose and Pittsburgh wins. In the NFC, New Orleans has clinched home field throughout the postseason. The Bears, Cowboys and Rams won the other three divisions, and Seattle clinched a wild card after beating Kansas City. The Vikings and Eagles are still alive for the second wild card, and if Philadelphia wins and Minnesota loses, the Eagles would knock out the Vikings. As we move into the last week, here are our NFL betting thoughts on each matchup. As always, home teams are in all caps.

NFL Week 17 Odds, Overview & Pick for Each Game

While the 49ers and Raiders race for better spots in the 2019 NFL Draft, they can’t climb the ladder in @BairNBCS‘ latest NFL Power Rankingshttps://t.co/BredO779ph pic.twitter.com/fuKBjXGR10

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Sunday, December 30 (1:00pm ET games)

BUFFALO (-3.5) over Miami

Miami lost to Jacksonville last week and got knocked out of the postseason. Now the Dolphins head to Buffalo for a meaningless Week 17 against a Bills team that looks motivated for next year, as Josh Allen has improved with each passing week since returning from a shoulder injury.

GREEN BAY (-7.5) over Detroit

Detroit’s offense has imploded. It looked like Green Bay’s had too, but then they came back for a most unlikely overtime win over the Jets last week. This might be Aaron Rodgers’ swan song, and he won’t take it lightly against an NFC North foe.

KANSAS CITY (NL) over Oakland

The Chiefs might rest a bunch of their starters — although they might not, since they need a win to clinch the West. Either way, I don’t expect much effort out of the Raiders.

N.Y. Jets (+13.5) over NEW ENGLAND

Will the Patriots win? Yes. Can their defense hold off Sam Darnold and the Jets by two touchdowns? I’m not sure, given that the Patriots only beat Buffalo by 12 last week.

NEW ORLEANS (NL) over Carolina

The Saints might rest some key contributors against the Panthers, but as poorly as Carolina has finished the season, that might not matter.

Dallas (+7) over N.Y. GIANTS

Dallas has clinched the NFC East, and they can’t improve on their #4 seed in the postseason. However, Jerry Jones has said that the team won’t rest their starters, and the Cowboys do strangely well against the Giants in recent years.

Sunday, December 30 (4:25pm ET games)

Chicago (+6.5) over MINNESOTA

The Vikings need this win to get into the postseason, and there’s nothing the Bears would rather do than freeze out their NFC North rivals. The Vikings have picked up two straight quality wins, but the Bears still have one of the best defenses in the league.

L.A. Chargers (NL) over DENVER

The Chargers should roll in this AFC West matchup with the division title at stake, but they should have rolled over Baltimore as well.

L.A. RAMS (-10) over San Francisco

The Rams rolled by 22 this past week, and they get to take on a Niners team that is still largely rebuilding. The Rams don’t want to fall into a tie with Chicago for the second seed since the Bears hold that tiebreaker.

SEATTLE (NL) over Arizona

The Seahawks are the hottest team in the NFC right now and just took down Kansas City at home. The Cardinals are about to get a hide-tanning in the Pacific Northwest.

WASHINGTON (+7.5) over Philadelphia

The Eagles almost lost Nick Foles to a stinger, and with Carson Wentz still questionable due to back issues, the Philadelphia offense is hanging by a thread. They visit a Washington team that hung tough with Tennessee until the late going. Can the Philadelphia defense keep Washington from doing much with the ball? Maybe. But these NFC East games are often closer than this line would indicate.

Cincinnati (+16.5) over PITTSBURGH

Will the Steelers win? Yes. Can their defense stake them to a 17-point win? It’s hard to say now that they have been pushed to the brink of elimination.

Cleveland (+6) over BALTIMORE

The Ravens have a stout defense — but so do the Browns. The Browns beat Baltimore in Cleveland and with a win, the Browns can knock Baltimore out of the playoffs. I think the Ravens win late, but they don’t cover.

Sunday, December 30, 8:20pm ET

Indianapolis (NL) over TENNESSEE

The Colts just keep winning and winning. The Titans? They beat Washington by nine despite losing Marcus Mariota to an elbow injury last week. I’m not sure the Titans can beat the Colts with Blaine Gabbert running the offense, though.