5 Best NFL Predictions Against The Spread: Week 1

What 5 NFL games appear to be the best bets and the best picks against the spread going into Week 1 of the 2021 season? Here you go. Enjoy.

What 5 NFL games appear to be the best bets and the best picks against the spread going into Week 1 of the 2021 season? Here you go. Enjoy.


Week 1 NFL Predictions, Game Previews 
Week 1 NFL Predictions, Schedule, Times, Lines, Previews
CFN Fearless Predictions & Game Previews
CFN Expert Picks: NFL

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

5. Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Rams

Line: Los Angeles -7.5
ATS Pick: Los Angeles

In Week 1, always like the underdogs by more than a touchdown – like Dallas on Thursday night against Tampa Bay – and always assume that the professional coaching staff on the big underdog side has something interesting ready to go to counteract what everyone knows is true.

In this case, just assume that Matt Nagy and the Bear coaches will find some way to overcome their abysmal offensive line to prevent Aaron Donald and company from jumping on Andy Dalton’s head all game long.

And about Dalton – he’s not going to be awful. It still won’t be enough.

The Bears will be okay, and the defense will have its moments, but Khalil Mack isn’t anywhere close to 100% – the line has to get to Matthew Stafford, or uh oh – and the Chicago offensive line really is going to be an issue.

LA won last year 24-10, and this time around it’s the opener in front of a whole lot of fans in the shiny stadium on Sunday night with the world watching.

Under pressure, Dalton throws a late pick that turns into Ram points to cover.

NEXT: Green Bay at New Orleans, Part 1

5 Best NFL Predictions Against The Spread: Conference Championships

What appear to be the 5 best bets and the best picks against the spread going into the NFL Conference Championships?

What appear to be the 5 best bets and the best picks against the spread going into the NFL Conference Championships?


NFL Playoffs Fearless Predictions, Game Previews 
CFN Fearless Predictions & Game Previews
CFN Expert Picks: NFL Playoffs

[jwplayer 3sfuE3m5]

Click on each game for the game preview and fearless prediction.

It’s argued that this is the best Sunday of the season. Conference Championship Sunday has two Super Bowl-level matchups, it’s all about the anticipation of what’s next, and this time around, we get two special games with four amazing quarterbacks.

What are the five best-looking bets on the board? It’s all about finding the potential value, so when it comes to these – as opposed to our Picks Against The Spread pieces which just looks at the games themselves – it’s all about confirming or denying something you already believe, or maybe sparking an idea for something that just might work.

Again, value, value, value. It might be a long shot, but let’s start with …

5. Tampa Bay at Green Bay

LOWEST SCORING TEAM: Packers +400, Chiefs +325, Chiefs +325, Bills +200
PICK: Packers +400
Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

As a warning, this pick goes against a whole lot of personal beliefs.

I believe Green Bay will win. I also believe that – and it’ll be a theme later in this – that the key to making these special types of investments is to take the most likely outcome that gives you value.

The most likely of the two outcomes in the two games is for the Bills to lose to the Chiefs. Tampa Bay vs. Green Bay is a wee bit more of a toss-up – even though the lines are close to the same for both home teams – assuming Patrick Mahomes really is okay.

So the smart call here for the lowest scoring team of the four is Bills +200. There’s good value even if it’s the worst among the four teams.

Yes, Green Bay has been an offensive powerhouse and yes, it just hung up 32 on – statistically – the best defense in the NFL in the win over the Rams. However, maybe there’s a shot that Tampa Bay just has this Packer thing figured out.

It seems like it was a million years ago, but in Week 6 the Buccaneers held Green Bay to its lowest scoring game of the season in the 38-10 win. The Packers couldn’t keep the Tampa Bay D line from hitting Aaron Rodgers, with the high-powered O only coming up with 201 yards.

Tampa Bay is No. 1 in the NFL against the run, eighth in scoring defense, and it’s coming off a brilliant performance against the Saints in the 30-20 win.

Remember, this bet isn’t necessarily about one side shutting down another. It’s about winning first, and then hoping the other game is bit more of a shootout.

You can’t go wrong with believing that any of the four teams make sense for this, but the world is offering you a shot at +400 ….

NEXT: Two running backs hitting 40 yards

5 Best NFL Predictions Against The Spread: NFL Playoffs Divisional Round

What 5 NFL games appear to be the best bets and the best picks against the spread – and more – going into the NFL Playoffs Divisional Round?

What 5 NFL games appear to be the best bets and the best picks against the spread – and more – going into the NFL Playoffs Divisional Round?


NFL Playoffs Fearless Predictions, Game Previews 
CFN Fearless Predictions & Game Previews
CFN Expert Picks: NFL Playoffs
Divisional Round Weekend Schedule, Predictions

[jwplayer H9AsOySt]

Click on each game for the game preview and fearless prediction.

5. Los Angeles at Green Bay

LINE: Green Bay -4 (LA +250 ML)
MONEY LINE PICK: Los Angeles Money Line
Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

We’re going to start out the fun with two contradictory picks.

Why? Value.

If – and it’s a giant IF considering No. 4 on this list – you believe in the Rams to hold up and pull off the upset against Green Bay, the +250 on the Money Line might be the best value shot for the stars this weekend.

Cleveland is a +365 against Kansas City, but that’s a much, much riskier play considering the Browns don’t do any one thing at a high enough level to take the shot.

The Rams can really, really play defense.

Again, this is only if you’re a believer in Los Angeles in the first place. If you like it to make a push at +6.5, then perhaps you’re ready to go one step further.

The Browns needed the Steelers to melt down to get to the KC game, but the Rams just played better than Seattle to make the trip to Green Bay.

Of course there are a whole lot of things to worry about – more on that in a moment – but this is the No. 1 defense in the NFL, it’s No. 1 in fewest points allowed, and it’s No. 1 against the pass after not allowing more than 200 yards in each of the last six games.

There’s a chance this Ram D is about to rise up and be just that good against a Green Bay offense that’s been a machine all year, but had problems against Tampa Bay when Aaron Rodgers got bounced around in Week 6.

However, with ALL that said …

NEXT: Los Angeles at Green Bay

5 Best NFL Predictions Against The Spread: NFL Playoffs Wild Card Weekend

What 5 NFL games appear to be the best bets and the best picks against the spread going into the NFL Playoffs Wild Card Weekend?

What 5 NFL games appear to be the best bets and the best picks against the spread going into the NFL Playoffs Wild Card Weekend?


NFL Playoffs Fearless Predictions, Game Previews 
CFN Fearless Predictions & Game Previews
CFN Expert Picks: NFL Playoffs
Wild Card Weekend Schedule, Predictions

[jwplayer er1B3vFa]

Click on each game for the game preview and fearless prediction.

5. Indianapolis at Buffalo

LINE: Buffalo -6.5
ATS PICK: Indianapolis
Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

How Not To Start An Article Pumping Up The 5 Best NFL Playoff Picks …

This is a tough one to sell.

Buffalo has been amazing. It’s playing loose, it’s playing with swagger, and it’s playing like a team that’s on the ascension of something big as a 2 seed that in a just-and-right playoff system should be getting the week off.

From a rooting standpoint, you want this Buffalo team to win. It’s fun, it’s exciting, and the limited Bills Mafia in attendance will be going out of their collective minds.

Indianapolis isn’t just any 7 seed.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, in that same just-and-right playoff system the Colts aren’t even it it, but if they’re playing up to all of their capabilities, they become one awful matchup problem for these Bills.

In the NFC, New Orleans gets Chicago as the 7. The Colts really should be considered the 4th-to-5ish best team in the AFC.

The Buffalo running backs are fine and the rushing numbers are there, but the Colt D that hasn’t allowed more than 90 yards in five straight games.

The Indy pass defense isn’t totally awful, the offensive line is among the best in the league, Jonathan Taylor is rising up into superstar running back status, and Philip Rivers is a veteran who isn’t going to blink at the big game atmosphere and moment.

So forgive the lack of hard numbers, recent history, and data points to suggest that the Colts could hang within a touchdown of a Buffalo team that’s murdering everyone over the last six weeks.

Forgive the “feel” pick – the Colts keep this close. And if they don’t, all apologies, These other four picks should make up for it.

NEXT: Chicago at New Orleans point total

5 Best NFL Predictions Against The Spread: Week 17

What 5 NFL games appear to be the best bets and the best picks against the spread going into Week 17 Sunday? Here you go. Enjoy.

What 5 NFL games appear to be the best bets and the best picks against the spread going into Week 17? Here you go. Enjoy.


Week 17 Fearless Predictions, Game Previews 
Week 17 NFL Predictions, Schedule, Times, Lines, Previews
CFN Fearless Predictions & Game Previews
CFN Expert Picks: NFL

[jwplayer vfuCfJD6]

Click on each game for the game preview and fearless prediction.

5. New York Jets at New England

LINE: New England -3
ATS PICK: New England
Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

That’s pride kicking in.

New England might not be going to the playoffs, and it’s long been out of the Super Bowl hunt, but this is still a team full of players used to doing those big things.

No, you don’t go 6-9 in New England, and there’s a whole ton of rebuilding to do after it all fell apart, but this is still a better, stronger team that it showed over the last three weeks.

It doesn’t help that they played the Rams, Dolphins and Bills – three to the stronger defenses.

Meanwhile, the Jets haven’t been all that bad. They’ve won two straight and should’ve been on a run of three in the last four – the collapse against Las Vegas ruined that – and they’re coming off a brilliant defensive game against a depleted Cleveland that couldn’t get the O going. However …

After being embarrassed on national TV in a 38-9 loss to the Bills, the Patriots are about to close strong. The running game will work, Cam Newton will be fine, and the Patriots will meltdown offensively in the fourth.

Giving away three won’t be an issue.

NEXT: Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs

5 Best NFL Predictions Against The Spread: Week 16

What 5 NFL games appear to be the best bets and the best picks against the spread going into Week 16 Sunday? Here you go. Enjoy.

What 5 NFL games appear to be the best bets and the best picks against the spread going into Week 16? Here you go. Enjoy.


Week 16 Fearless Predictions, Game Previews 
Week 16 NFL Predictions, Schedule, Times, Lines, Previews
CFN Fearless Predictions & Game Previews
CFN Expert Picks: NFL

[jwplayer tfEp7mIX]

Click on each game for the game preview and fearless prediction.

5. Tennessee at Green Bay

LINE: Green Bay -3
ATS PICK: Under on the 54
Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

We start this week with a bit of a curveball.

Yes, like Green Bay -3 at home with the No. 1 seed in the playoffs all ready to be wrapped up, but this game will be about the total.

More to the point, this game is about the snow, the cold, and the frozen field – no, I won’t use frozen tundra, because by its very definition tundra is already frozen, at least at one sub-level, and I’m sticking with my belief to not use the repetitive term even though I’ve been honked at by geography and geology types that tundra doesn’t have to be frozen, and …

Sorry.

It’s going to (bleep)ing snow.

The forecast is for about a 90% chance of snow and around 15 mph winds by the time this thing kicks off. It’s going to be freezing, neither team will be happy, and this isn’t going to be a high-scoring shootout.

Now, the one concern when it comes to games like this will be field goals – neither side will want to kick them. Even so, even in normal conditions there might be a shot that these two could make it a wee bit more of a defensive slugfest than it might seem.

But get in fast if you’re getting in at all – this total is going to go down fast.

NEXT: Cincinnati at Houston

5 Best NFL Predictions Against The Spread: Week 15

What 5 NFL games appear to be the best bets and the best picks against the spread going into Week 15? Here you go. Enjoy.

What 5 NFL games appear to be the best bets and the best picks against the spread going into Week 15? Here you go. Enjoy.


Week 15 Fearless Predictions, Game Previews 
Week 15 NFL Predictions, Schedule, Times, Lines, Previews
CFN Fearless Predictions & Game Previews
CFN Expert Picks: NFL

[jwplayer mkZ7jWfO]

Click on each game for the game preview and fearless prediction.

5. Seattle at Washington

LINE: Seattle -6.5
ATS PICK: Washington
Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

Every once in a while you need to trust the process.

Seattle is the fun team. It’s the team with the big downfield passing game, the running game is working, and needs this to hold off Tampa Bay and Arizona in the playoff hunt.

There shouldn’t be much of a problem – the Seahawks should get in – but it could use a cushion. On the other side, Washington is probably locked in as the NFC’s four-seed because the East is so totally miserable.

However, the Giants are only one game back and get a battle with the Browns.

But that’s not why you called.

Seattle is better than Washington, and Seattle is MUCH better than a Washington Football Team with Dwayne Haskins at quarterback. However …

Haskins just wasn’t that bad before losing his gig. He wasn’t consistent, and the coaching staff seems to be trying to send a message, but he can play enough to be bay against a Seattle pass defense that’s good for giving up more 200 yards on a regular basis. It would be nice to get more than 6.5 because Alex Smith is out and Haskins is in, but that’s what it is.

And why?

Turnovers.

Here’s where you’re trusting in the process, and the trends.

Washington is on a strong four-game winning streak thanks to its run defense and takeaways. It forced eight turnovers over the last four games, and out of the six wins, five of them came in the five games when it came up with multiple takeaways.

Seattle has turned if over more than twice four times in the last eight games and lost all four.

NEXT: New York Jets at Los Angeles Rams

5 Best NFL Predictions Against The Spread: Week 14

What 5 NFL games appear to be the best bets and the best picks against the spread going into Week 14? Here you go. Enjoy.

What 5 NFL games appear to be the best bets and the best picks against the spread going into Week 14? Here you go. Enjoy.


Week 14 Fearless Predictions, Game Previews 
– Week 14 NFL Predictions, Schedule, Times, Lines, Previews
CFN Fearless Predictions & Game Previews
CFN Expert Picks: NFL

[jwplayer G7iU4W7U]

Click on each game for the game preview and fearless prediction.

5. Tennessee at Jacksonville

LINE: Tennessee -7.5
ATS PICK: Tennessee
Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

Pick against Jacksonville at your own risk.

The Jaguars haven’t been all that bad with Mike Glennon at the helm, the running game has worked, and the defense has been just good enough to hold  on. With Glennon in, the Jags lost to Cleveland by two and in overtime to Minnesota by a field goal.

Now they’re at home against a Tennessee team that just got ripped apart by Cleveland.

Call that a foreseeable clunker.

The Titans have been going full bore for weeks with two games against Indianapolis and an overtime battle at Baltimore and Cleveland came out smoking in a 41-35 win.

The Titans only beat Jacksonville by three at home in Week 2, so why like them by 7.5?

The Jaguar run defense has been awful. It was bad then, it’s struggling even more now, and Tennessee is coming off a shockingly bad game on the ground with just 62 yards. The three turnovers had something to do with it.

It’s all a long-winded way of saying that last week won’t happen twice in a row.

NEXT: Green Bay at Detroit

5 Best NFL Predictions Against The Spread: Week 13

What 5 NFL games appear to be the best bets and the best picks against the spread going into Week 13? Here you go. Enjoy.

What 5 NFL games appear to be the best bets and the best picks against the spread going into Week 13? Here you go. Enjoy.


Week 13 Fearless Predictions, Game Previews 
Week 13 NFL Predictions, Schedule, Times, Lines, Previews
CFN Fearless Predictions & Game Previews
CFN Expert Picks: NFL

[jwplayer G7iU4W7U]

Click on each game for the game preview and fearless prediction.

5. Jacksonville at Minnesota

LINE: Minnesota -10
ATS PICK: Jacksonville
Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

This is the apology pick.

Last week, our No. 1 NFL pick against the spread was Cleveland -7 over Jacksonville. It wasn’t asking for the world considering the Browns are good at professional football and Jackson really, really isn’t, but the pick was mostly based on one key element.

Mike Glennon.

The Jacksonville starting quarterback hadn’t done much of anything in years, and he wasn’t all that great when he was the starter at Chicago, and Tampa Bay, and Arizona, and Oakland.

The guy threw 31 passes in two seasons and then he was being thrown into an ugly situation as the Jaguars pushed that much harder in the Trevor Lawrence Sweepstakes. And then a funny thing happened …

He wasn’t miserable.

He wasn’t great – hitting 20-of-35 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns – but he didn’t throw any picks, he kept pressing, and the Jaguars almost pulled it off in a 27-25 loss.

The Vikings have the parts back, the receiving corps should go off on a Jaguar secondary that gives up the most yards per attempt in the NFL, and …

The Vikings can’t stop the run lately.

It’s a big 10-point spread against a Jaguar team that got rocked with regularity earlier in the season, but kept all these losses to ten points or fewer in four of the last five games.

Week 13 NFL Predictions, Schedule, Times, Lines, Previews

NEXT: Indianapolis at Houston

5 Best NFL Predictions Against The Spread: Week 12

What 5 NFL games appear to be the best bets and the best picks against the spread going into Week 12? Here you go. Enjoy.

What 5 NFL games appear to be the best bets and the best picks against the spread going into Week 12? Here you go. Enjoy.


Week 12 Fearless Predictions, Game Previews 
Week 12 NFL Predictions, Schedule, Times, Lines, Previews
CFN Fearless Predictions & Game Previews
CFN Expert Picks: NFL

[jwplayer R6gv5bw6]

Click on each game for the game preview and fearless prediction.

5. Cincinnati at New York Giants

LINE: New York Giants -6
ATS PICK: New York Giants
Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

And with this, we begin this week’s theme of taking EVERYONE – or, almost everyone – who’s going against a bad quarterback situation.

Of course it doesn’t always work perfectly – Carolina embarrassed us last week with the shut out win over Detroit even with PJ Walker at the helm – but if you’re trying to figure out the easiest variable to pick against, it’s obvious to go against the QBs.

However, it’s the New York Giants.

They’ve won their last two games, and the defense has been terrific, but how go do you feel giving away six points to anyone with an offense that’s going to sputter and struggle to get to 24 points?

The Giants are coming off a bye week, the Bengals have to move on from Joe Burrow with either Ryan Finley or Brandon Allen giving it a go – likely Allen – and that’s a problem considering the O is last in the NFL in rushing yards per attempt and aren’t going to hit 100 yards on the ground.

Week 12 NFL Predictions, Schedule, Times, Lines, Previews

NEXT: New Orleans at Denver