NFL Betting Preview: Week 16

The NFL season is down to just three weeks remaining, as fantasy football seasons come to a close and playoff implications reign supreme. All of these games come with great stakes, so if you are a big fan and your team is vying for the playoffs, maybe there is no need to lay some action on this week’s games.

Now if your team is long removed from the playoff picture, this is the perfect time to create a rooting interest for yourself and put some bets down on regular season football before it is too late.

Last week I went 7-7 on my best bet picks, moving my season record to 100-79. Hopefully we can have a more successful week this time around, as we all look to close out the final few weeks of the season on a positive note.

*All odds and betting lines provided by WynnBet

San Francisco 49ers (8-6) vs. Tennessee Titans (9-5)

Spread: SF (-3)

Money Line: SF (-165) TEN (+145)

Over/Under: 44 Points

The San Francisco 49ers path to the playoffs appears to be through the Wild Card at this stage of the season, but that is only due to them playing in the best division in football. The Niners have been playing great football for the better part of two months, winning five of their last six games and six of their last eight, after starting the season 2-4.

On the other hand, the Tennessee Titans played their best football early in the season when Derrick Henry was still healthy and have since looked like a far inferior team. Over the last four week, the Titans have lost three times, with their only victory coming against the Jaguars.

Best Bet:

Take the 49ers to win by more than a field goal and cover.

Cleveland Browns (7-7) vs. Green Bay Packers (11-3)

Spread: GB (-7.5)

Money Line: CLE (+285) GB (-350)

Over/Under: 45.5 Points

The Cleveland Browns playoff hopes are hanging on by a thread after they lost Monday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Now, on a short week, they have to travel into Lambeau and try to beat Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.

Desperation to save their season is the only thing that could possibly be in the Browns favor this week. Although the Packers still have a bye to play for even with their division already locked up.

Best Bet:

The Green Bay Packers are the better and healthier team right now, take them to cover.

Indianapolis Colts (8-6) vs. Arizona Cardinals (10-4)

Spread: ARI (-1)

Money Line: IND (+100) CLE (-120)

Over/Under: 49 Points

This is one of the best matchups of the week, as the Arizona Cardinals look to prove last week’s shocking loss to the Detroit Lions was not a sign of more things to come. Meanwhile the Colts are looking like one of the more dangerous playoff teams in the AFC, with Jonathan Taylor making a late push for the MVP after last week’s 170-yard performance in a win against the Patriots.

After starting the season 1-4, the Colts are 7-3 and have won five of their last six games. Arizona has lost three of their last five and doesn’t look like the same offense without DeAndre Hopkins, who is out for the rest of the season. Despite having a better record, the Cardinals point differential is actually slightly worse than the Colts, at +94 and +98 respectively.

Best Bet:

Take the Colts to pull off the upset on the road.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-4) vs. Carolina Panthers (5-9)

Spread: TB (-10.5)

Money Line: TB (-450) CAR (+360)

Over/Under: 43.5 Points

Right when the MVP train was picking up full steam for Tom Brady, he gets shut out for the first time in 15 years against the New Orleans Saints last week. This week, Brady must be thrilled to be able to take his frustration out on the Panthers, who are currently the worst team in their division.

The Panthers have lost four games in a row and would be better off chasing draft odds than wins at this stage of the season. Tampa should win this game in a landslide.

Best Bet:

Take the Bucs to cover.

Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) vs. Houston Texans (3-11)

Spread: LAC (-10)

Money Line: LAC (-450) HOU (+360)

Over/Under: 45.5 Points

The Houston Texans are not very good. Houston’s -165 point differential is one of the worst in the NFL, as they are just counting the days for this season to be over. Two of their three victories this year have come against the Jacksonville Jaguars and they have yet to win consecutive games once.

The Chargers are fighting for the playoffs and should come out firing against the Texans to put them away early. Only question is can they keep their foot on the gas to avoid the dreaded backdoor cover.

Best Bet:

Take the Chargers to cover the spread.

Detroit Lions (2-11-1) vs. Atlanta Falcons (6-8)

Spread: ATL (-6)

Money Line: DET (+210) ATL (-250)

Over/Under: 43 Points

This could actually be a really fun matchup. The Atlanta Falcons have proven to be the team that does well beating up on the other bad teams in the NFL this season. The thing is, Detroit plays a lot harder than most of the other bad teams.

While the Lions still very well could finish the season with the league’s worst record, last week they shocked the world with their upset of the Arizona Cardinals, giving them their second win in the last three weeks. Detroit is however still winless on the season when playing on the road.

Best Bet:

I wouldn’t bet on the Lions to win on the money line, but can they keep the game within six points? I think so.

Bet on the Lions with the spread.

Baltimore Ravens (8-6) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (8-6)

Spread: CIN (-2.5)

Money Line: BAL (+130) CIN (-150)

Over/Under: 45.5 Points

There is nothing like two division rivals squaring off when they are tied in first place at this stage of the season. The Baltimore Ravens have lost three games in a row, opening the door for the Bengals to get back in this division race.

The last time these two teams met, the Bengals beat the Ravens 41-17. That game was back in October, but considering this one is being played in Cincinnati, it is not surprising to see the Bengals favored in this game.

Best Bet:

Take the Bengals to win by a field goal and cover.

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-12) vs. New York Jets (3-11)

Spread: NYJ (-1)

Money Line: JAX (+100) NYJ (-120)

Over/Under: 41 Points

This is probably the worst game on the slate this weekend, as these two teams are both competing more for draft picks than they are to win these games. The Jaguars are on a six-game losing streak, where they have been beaten by at least two touchdowns in five of those games.

The New York Jets actually came close to earning a victory last weekend, before getting outscored 21-7 in the second half to lose in Miami 31-24. Still, the Jets might be trying to win this one at home a little more than the Jags.

Best Bet:

Take the Jets to win by more than a point.

Los Angeles Rams (10-4) vs. Minnesota Vikings (7-7)

Spread: LAR (-3)

Money Line: LAR (-145) MIN (+125)

Over/Under: 49 Points

After watching the Minnesota Vikings sloppy victory over the Chicago Bears on Monday night, it is really hard to expect much out of them on a short week this Sunday. Minnesota was the beneficiary of some terrible football by the Bears, otherwise they likely lose that game.

Now the Vikings have to face one of the top teams in the NFC, who are currently enjoying a three-game winning streak. The Rams are tied with the Cardinals in the NFC West and still have a playoff bye to play for as well.

Best Bet:

The Vikings might need this one more than the Rams, but that doesn’t mean they are going to get it. Take the Rams.

Buffalo Bills (8-6) vs. New England Patriots (9-5)

Spread: NE (-2)

Money Line: BUF (+115) NE (-135)

Over/Under: 43.5 Points

While it is still going to be cold in Foxborough on Sunday, it is going to be nothing compared to the last time these two teams met. Three weeks ago, the Patriots beat the Bills in a game where their starting quarterback only threw three passes. This was due to the crazy weather, which made it impossible to do anything in the air when trying to combat the wind.

If the Bills can now turn this one into a little bit more of a shootout, they have a great chance to pull off the upset. But if the game once again starts off with not a lot of points in a battle of field position, expect Belichick’s Patriots to play disciplined football to beat Buffalo yet again.

Best Bet:

The Buffalo Bills can still win this division if they win this week. Take Buffalo with the two-point spread.

New York Giants (4-10) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (7-7)

Spread: PHI (-9.5)

Money Line: NYG (+340) PHI(-430)

Over/Under: 40.5 Points

The New York Giants have lost by double-digits in each of their last three games and in four of their last five games. Now that starting quarterback Daniel Jones is shut down for the season, you can expect nothing but L’s as New York closes out another disappointing year.

Best Bet:

Take the Eagles to win by a landslide.

Chicago Bears (4-10) vs. Seattle Seahawks (5-9)

Spread: SEA (-6.5)

Money Line: CHI (+240) SEA (-280)

Over/Under: 42.5 Points

I referenced the Chicago Bears game against the Minnesota Vikings earlier, but it is worth repeating just how poorly they played on Monday night. Stupid penalty calls, muffed punts and a bunch of turnovers on downs. Their defense actually played really well, but the offense just wasn’t there.

Only problem is you can say the same thing about Seattle in their matchup against the Rams, where they scored just 10 points. These two offenses are so inept that the best bet is probably to expect a really low-scoring game.

Best Bet:

Take the under.

Denver Broncos (7-7) vs. Las Vegas Raiders (7-7)

Spread: Pick’em

Money Line: DEN (-110) LV (-110)

Over/Under: 42 Points

These two teams are sitting in identical places with three games remaining, as both are on the outside looking in for a playoff spot, while still being in striking distance to land one. The Raiders beat the Browns on a last-second field goal on Monday night, which kept their playoff hopes alive, but they have been very inconsistent all season.

Denver lost their last game against the Cincinnati Bengals, but consistently find a way to keep games close. If you look at point differential this season, there is a clear favorite here. The Raiders are -74 on the season, whereas the Broncos are sitting at +42. Vegas did win the first matchup between these two teams though back in October.

Best Bet:

Take the Broncos to win this pick’em.

Washington Football Team (6-8) vs. Dallas Cowboys (10-4)

Spread: DAL -10.5

Money Line: WSH (+375) DAL (-475)

Over/Under: 47 Points

If the Dallas Cowboys beat the Washington Football Team on Sunday night, they can clinch the division on prime time in front of their fans. One interesting development though is the fact that Washington’s starting quarterback Taylor Heinicke has cleared COVID protocols and is looking to suit up on Sunday.

This makes the Football Team far more competitive, so that line is likely to come back down a bit as we get closer to Sunday.

Best Bet:

As long as the spread is in the double-digits, jump on Washington to keep this one close.

Miami Dolphins (7-7) vs. New Orleans Saints (7-7)

Spread: NO (-3)

Money Line: MIA (+145) NO (-165)

Over/Under: 38.5 Points

On one hand, the Miami Dolphins are in the midst of a six-game winning streak that has them right back in the thick of the playoff race. At the same time, all of these wins they have been piling up have come against some pretty bad teams, outside of an impressive win against the Baltimore Ravens.

While these two teams have the same record, their point differential tells a different story. The Dolphins are -27 on the season and the Saints are +28. If the Dolphins come out of the gates flat, like they did last Sunday against the Jets, there is a good chance this winning streak they are on will come to an end.

Best Bet:

Take the Saints to win this one at home by more than a field goal.