By Matt Stuart | Published | No Comments
Last week was my best week of the season, as I went 12-4 outright and 13-3 ATS. I missed on Eagles over the Seahawks, Falcons over Panthers, Titans over Texans, and Packers over Buccaneers. But hey what can ya do.
This week I am playing it safe again and relying more on the obvious strengths of each team as we enter the final stretch drive. This week gives us some very intriguing matchups. We are going to find out if the Cowboys can bounce back after an awful performance on the road last week against the Bills and at the same time we will see if the Dolphins can finally beat a team with a winning record.
The Lions and Vikings will try and settle the NFC North as they play the first of what will be two games over the next three weeks. Finally we get what some have coined as a Super Bowl preview on Monday night when the Ravens take on the Niners.
It truly is happy holidays for NFL fans.
Saints at Rams ( – 4.0) – 8:15 P/e (Prime Video)
Both teams are in playoff contention, but the Rama are one of the hottest teams in the NFL right now, while the Saints are just thankful to play in the dreadful NFC South
PICK – Rams 24 – Saints 17
Bengals ( – 3.0) at Steelers – 4:30 P/E (NBC)
The Bengals have won their last three games and backup quarterback Jake Browning has truly been one of the best quarterbacks in the game over that stretch. The Steelers are prime to simply be put out of their missery
PICK – Bengals 23 – Steelers 13
Bills (-12.5) at Chargers – 8:00 P/E (Peacock)
The Chargers will officially be eliminated from playoff contention at the end of this one and the Bills will be a step closer to reaching the playoffs for the fifth year in a row.
PICK – Bills 28 – Chargers 13
Colts at Falcons (-2.5) – 1:00 P/E (FOX)
The Colts have had an amazing turnaround from last season and are on the cusp of making the playoffs, while the Falcons season seems to be slipping away. Vegas may like the Falcons chances at home, but I don’t
PICK – Colts 21 – Falcons 16
Seahawks (-3.0) at Titans – 1:00 P/E (CBS)
Did the Seahawks save their season last week with that huge upset win over the Eagles. Can the Titans play playoff spoiler at home. Only time will tell.
PICK – Seahawks 23 – Titans 13
Lions ( -3.0) at Vikings – 1:00 P/E (FOX)
The Vikings no longer control their own destiny, but they have two games coming up against the Lions and if they win them both and get a little help they could still win the NFC North and add another chapter of misery for Lions fans.
PICK – Lions 24 – Vikings 20
Commanders at Jets ( – 3.0) – 1:00 P/E (CBS)
These are two bad team playing out the string. The loser could be winner in the long run and in terms of next years draft.
PICK – Jets 20 – Commanders 13
Packers ( – 5.0) at Panthers – 1:00 P/E (FOX)
The Packers were embarrassed a little at home a week ago, but they should be able to wipe that shame away against an historically awful Panthers offense.
PICK – Packers 23 – Panthers 10
Browns ( -3.0) at Texans – 1:00 P/E (CBS)
Without C.J. Stroud the Browns defense should be able to make Case Keenum look more uncomfortable in the pocket and I predict get a couple of big turnovers and a couple more big sacks.
PICK – Browns 24 – Texans 13
Jaguars at Buccaneers ( – 3.0) – 4:05 P/E (CBS)
The Jaguars are reeling and have lost three in a row. Their once solid footing to make the layoffs is now very much own shaky ground. The Buccaneers know that they simply need to win out and they will claim the NFC South and a home playoff game as their Christmas gift.
PICK – Buccaneers 26 – Jaguars 23
Cardinals at Bears ( -4.0) – 4:25 P/E (FOX)
The Bears have shown all the hallmarks of a bad team, the inability to close out and win close games. This week it’s a battle of two teams that are only pretending to want to grab a win, but in reality have set their sight on their futures that are tied to the off-season and next years draft.
PICK – Bears 20 – Cardinals 13
Cowboys at Dolphins ( -1.0) – 4:25 P/E (FOX)
The Dolphins are the only team in the NFL this season that has a winning record, but has not beaten a team with a winning record. The good news is that their next three opponents all have winning records, but that is also the bad news.
PICK – Cowboys 28 – Dolphins 24
Patriots at Broncos ( – 7.0) – 8:15 P/E ( NFL Network)
The Broncos playoff hopes depend on them winning out and getting some help, but the Broncos cannot afford another letdown performance against a Patriots team that has little path to a victory.
PICK – Broncos 23 – Patriots 13
Raiders at Chiefs ( -10.0) – 1:00 P/E (CBS)
The Chiefs haven’t lost to the Raiders since week five of the 2020 season. The Raiders have only the familiar spoiler role to play here and while I think this game is a little closer than Vegas thinks, the Chiefs will pull away in the second half.
PICK – Chiefs 28 – Raiders 17
Giants at Eagles ( – 13.5) – 4:30 P/E (FOX)
The Giants have lost three in row to the Eagles and I see little reason why that streak will not continue, even if the Eagles are reeling here a bit as of late.
PICK – Eagles 28 – Giants 17
Ravens at Niners ( – 5.0) – 8:15 P/E (ABC/ESPN)
The Ravens players have done the usual lets psych ourselves up be pretending to be offended by being underdogs on the road against the best team in the NFL and you know what it just might work. I think Baltimore gives the best team in the NFL a scare here, but the Niners pull it out late in the fourth.
PICK – Niners 24 – Ravens 20
