Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Cash in with these NFL Week 16 prop bets.
This week’s prop bets include five players: a pair of wide receivers and a quarterback hitting Over their projections, a running back staying Under his number, and a player who hasn’t scored a touchdown all season ending that streak.
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook
A snapshot look at the NFL betting lines and odds for Week 16 sports betting and DFS action.
A good way to start your weekly homework for DFS (daily fantasy sports) play is to analyze the early Vegas odds around Week 16.
These guys have a long history of making money off of setting the right game spread and points scored. So it can be an early indicator of teams to target due to high-scoring potential, and teams to avoid for the opposite reason.
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook
OFF = No odds currently listed.
The five smartest wagers to take to the pay window for the Week 16.
This week’s picks are all over the board. We have a game hitting Over the projection, a game going Under, a struggling franchise winning on the road, and a road favorite and home underdog covering the spread. Most don’t make sense … until they do.
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook
A league-wide view into the best wagers to make for NFL Week 16 action.
Week 16 is going to go a long way to determining playoff positioning for the top teams and draft slotting for the lesser teams because of the way the schedule lays out. Of the 16 Week 16 games, 14 of them will pit conference opponents, and seven of those will be division matchups.
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook
The Over/Under is pretty low (42 points at -110 for both Over and Under). In their last four games (all wins), the Broncos have scored 38, 29, 41, and 31 points. The Chargers have topped this number in each of their last four home games. Take Over 42 points (-110).
The Chiefs are slight home favorites (3 points at -110 for both teams). Patrick Mahomes will try to play through his injury and, while the Texans are in the playoffs, heading north to play outdoors is far from an ideal scenario. Take the Chiefs and lay 3 points (-110).
The Ravens are big favorites (6 points at -110 for both teams). The Steelers have won the last four meetings by scores of 16-13, 17-10, 17-10, and 18-16. The Ravens are capable of blowing them out but haven’t showed, losing eight of nine meetings since 2020. Take the Steelers plus 6 points (-110).
The Falcons are huge favorites (8.5 points at -110 for both). The move to Michael Penix Jr. should be a solid one, because the Giants have no film to look at, and New York’s offense isn’t going to threaten Atlanta’s defense. Take the Falcons and lay 8.5 points (-110).
The Lions are solid road favorites (6.5 points at -110 for both teams). In their eight-game losing streak, the Bears have scored 15 or fewer points five times. Even with key defensive injuries, the Lions have the horses to win by a touchdown or more. Take the Lions and lay 6.5 points (-110).
The Bengals are big favorites (7.5 points at -115 Browns, -105 Bengals). With Cleveland making another quarterback change, and the Bengals putting up 27 or more points in each of their last five games, the Browns just can’t hang with them. Take the Bengals and lay 7.5 points (-105).
[lawrence-related id=497737]
The Over/Under is low (42 points at -110 for both). The Titans defense is awful, allowing 27 or more points in six of its last nine games. The Colts aren’t much better, allowing 24 or more points in their last five games. Take Over 42 points (-110).
The Rams are road favorites (3.5 points at -110 for both). Three of New York’s four wins have come against the Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars. The Rams are hot and have momentum on their side, even in a bad road situation. Take the Rams and lay 3.5 points (-110).
The Eagles are iffy favorites (3.5 points at -105 Eagles, -115 Commanders). The Eagles are fighting for No. 1 seed in the NFC and are playing like it. In the last month, they have put down the Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers – much less already beating the Commanders before that. Take the Eagles and lay 3.5 points (-105).
The Over/Under is steep (47 points at -110 for both). The Panthers are taking baby steps toward respectability, and the Cardinals have wild up and down swings. This looks like a game decided by field goals, not touchdowns. Take Under 47 points (-110).
The Vikings are road favorites (-3 points at -110 for both). By Week 16 standards, the Seahawks have faced two teams with Super Bowl potential. They lost to the Detroit Lions by 13 and the Buffalo Bills by 21. Take the Vikings plus 3 points (-110).
Buffalo is a gigantic favorite that should be avoided. The O/U suggests the Patriots are going to do their part (46.5 points at -115 Over, -105 Under). Buffalo has a penchant for scoring 30-plus, but the Patriots won’t help. Take Under 46.5 points.
The Raiders are 1-point favorites. This is the most unwatchable game in the league, and if there is tanking for a QB in 2024, it should be on display Sunday. Take the Jaguars on the moneyline (-105).
The Dolphins are favored, but the dead-in-the-water 49ers aren’t dead yet. Both teams had Super Bowl aspirations that have long since expired. The Niners have been there before. Take the 49ers on the moneyline (+100).
The Bucs are strong road favorites (4 points at -110 for both teams). The Cowboys won’t be in the playoffs, but being a 4-point dog at home against a pedestrian Bucs team doesn’t seem right. Take the Cowboys plus 4 points (-110).
The Packers are huge favorites (14.5 points at -120 Saints, -110 Packers). Green Bay will likely finish third in its own division, but that doesn’t mean they can’t beat down a lesser team that wants nothing to do with Lambeau in December. Take the Packers and lay 14.5 points (-110).
Use our staff’s weekly pick’em against the spread and straight up for the win.
NFL picks are provided for straight up (moneyline) and against the spread (ATS) NFL pick pools.
Each week’s spread picks are graded by the line as of when the person entered their picks. This will create situations in which a movement of the line can result in two participants having the correct pick but with different teams chosen during an individual game.
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook
DMD – David Dorey, SG – Steve Gallo, HS – Harley Schultz, CC – Cletis Cutts, CJB – Cory Bonini, HCG – HC Green, KH – Kevin Hickey
The five best NFL player prop bets to make for the upcoming week.
For this week’s picks, we take a couple franchise running backs – one going Over, one going Under – an elite receiver showing why he’s elite, a MVP showing how to elongate drives against a division opponent, and a revenge play touchdown.
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook
A snapshot look at the NFL betting lines and odds for Week 16 sports betting and DFS action.
A good way to start your weekly homework for DFS (daily fantasy sports) play is to analyze the early Vegas odds around Week 16.
These guys have a long history of making money off of setting the right game spread and points scored. So it can be an early indicator of teams to target due to high-scoring potential, and teams to avoid for the opposite reason.
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook
OFF = No odds currently listed.
[betwidget_betmgm]
The five smartest wagers to take to the pay window for Week 16.
This week, we pick five games that have four with significant playoff implications and one that involves two teams that will only get the playoffs by buying tickets. We have a huge favorite covering double digits, a team locking down its first division title in 30 years, two potential Super Bowl matchups, and a “for relatives only” game between two teams hopelessly out of the playoff chase.
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook
A league-wide view into the best wagers to make for NFL Week 16 action.
I’m not sure long-term history will remember 2023 in the way those trying to configure title-winning fantasy football lineups will, but one thing that can be time-capsuled and unsurfaced 10 years from now is who was starting at QB to help you craft your playoff roster.
That list includes Jake Browning, Mitchell Trubisky, Easton Stick, Gardner Minshew, Joe Flacco, Case Keenum (most likely), Nick Mullens, C.J. Beathard (maybe), Bailey Zappe, Aidan O’Connell and Tommy DeVito.
With friends like that, who needs enemies? Good luck for those chasing down a title with a second-, third-, or fourth-string QB being asked to bring it home for you. In the meantime, let’s see how these backup quarterback situations fit in from a betting perspective.
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook
The Over/Under is quite high (46 points at -110 for both Over and Under). Of the Saints’ seven losses, they have scored fewer than 20 points in five of them. The Saints don’t have a win against a quality team and will struggle to put points on the board, which will play to the strengths of the Rams defense. Take the Under (-110).
The Bengals are a minimal road favorite (2 points at -110 for both the Bengals and Steelers). This is more of an indictment of the Steelers, who have scored 18 points or fewer in their last five games and their last two home losses have come to the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots. Cincinnati is much better than both those teams. Take the Bengals and lay 2 points (-110).
The Bills are massive favorites (12 points at -110 for both teams). Buffalo saved its season over the last two weeks by beating the Kansas City Chiefs and beating up the Dallas Cowboys, respectively. With the loss of Justin Herbert, the Chargers are on life support and their blowout loss to the Raiders may be a portent of things to come to close the season. Take the Bills and lay 12 points (-110).
The Over/Under is relatively high (44.5 points at -110 for both Over and Under). While both teams are capable of scoring enough points to go over this number, both are at their best when they’re running the ball. If either team can string together a couple of long drives, it will make it difficult to combine for 45 or more points. Take Under 44.5 points (-110).
The Seahawks are small road favorites (2.5 points at -115 Seahawks, -105 Titans). Seattle has struggled over the last month-plus, but its last four games have been against the Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers (twice). The Seahawks saved their season last week with a win against Philly, and the Titans have lost their last two home games. Momentum has swung. Take the Seahawks and lay 2.5 points (-115).
The Over/Under is high for a division game (47 points at -110 for both). The Lions have gone over this number in four of their last five games and the Vikings have the passing weapons to try to come back if they fall behind early. If Detroit gets ahead, they don’t let up. Take Over 47 points (-110).
The Over/Under is very low (37 points at -110 for both). The Commanders haven’t scored more than 20 points in the last four games, and the Jets, while struggling, have a strong defense. New York has needed a strong defense because the offense has scored 13 or fewer points in seven of the last eight games and have been under this number in seven of the last nine. Take Under 37 points (-110).
[lawrence-related id=485912]
Despite losing their last two games, the Packers are solid road favorites (4.5 points at -115 Packers, -105 Panthers). The Packers have scored 20 or more points in their last five games and the Panthers have averaged 12 points a game in their last eight games. Of their 12 losses, Carolina has been beaten by more than seven points in nine of them. Take the Packers and lay 4.5 points (-115).
The Over/Under is low on this game (40 points at -110 for both). The Browns defense is elite, and it looks like C.J. Stroud (concussion) is going to be out again this week. Points will be at a premium and there are likely to be more field goals than touchdowns with both offenses hobbled. Take Under 40 points (-110).
The Jaguars have lost three straight games, and the Bucs have won three straight, but Jacksonville is the better team. If Trevor Lawrence plays, the Jaguars are capable of stringing together wins, and they need to stop the skid they’re in now. They will be willing to take risks and attack on both sides of the ball. (If Lawrence plays) Take the Jaguars on the moneyline (-105).
The Over/Under is pretty low given the two quarterbacks (43.5 points at -110 for both Over and Under). There is the chance to hit over this number, but this will be a game of field position. Expect a splash play or two for one of them to lock down a win between two teams making business decisions to not risk another injury to a franchise QB. Take Under 43.5 points (-110).
The Dolphins are small home favorites (1.5 points at -110 for both Cowboys and Dolphins). The Cowboys have been through a meat grinder in recent weeks, and the Dolphins haven’t had a signature win against an elite opponent, losing to the Bills, Eagles and Chiefs. But all those games were on the road. This one isn’t. Take the Dolphins and lay 1.5 points (-110).
Denver is a solid favorite (6.5 points at -110 for both teams). The Patriots simply can’t put up points consistently. They have scored 17 or fewer points in 11 of their last 13 games and aren’t a team built to come from behind. Take the Broncos and lay 6.5 points (-110).
The Chiefs remain stiff favorites despite uncharacteristic recent struggles (10 points at -110 for both teams). The Chiefs have dominated the Raiders in this series lately, including a 31-17 road win in Week 12. There will be plenty who take the Raiders, but the Chiefs are due for a game where they hit in all three phases. Take the Chiefs and lay 10 points (-110).
Despite three straight losses, the Eagles are huge favorites (12 points at -110 for both teams). The Eagles last six games have been against the Chiefs, Bills, 49ers, Seahawks and the Cowboys twice. The Giants will be their weakest opponent since October, and they’ll show there’s still some steam left in the engine. Take the Eagles and lay 12 points (-110).
The 49ers are solid home favorites (4.5 points at -110 for both). In their last six games, the 49ers have won by 31, 13, 18, 23, 12 and 16 points. This may be a game that will be replayed in the Super Bowl in February. I wouldn’t feel comfortable laying this many points to the Ravens, but the 49ers are the best team in the league right now and can force the road to the Super Bowl coming through Northern California by stepping up in primetime. Take the 49ers and lay 4.5 points (-110).
Use our staff’s weekly pick’em against the spread and straight up for the win.
NFL picks are provided for straight up (moneyline) and against the spread (ATS) NFL pick pools.
Each week’s spread picks are graded by the line as of when the person entered their picks. This will create situations in which a movement of the line can result in two participants having the correct pick but with different teams chosen during an individual game.
New BetMGM customers can sign up today and get a First Bet Offer up to $1,500 using bonus code USAT. Just download the BetMGM app, deposit at least $10 and place your first wager on any game. If your first bet loses, you will receive bonus bets in the amount of your bet (up to $1,500). Just make sure you use bonus code USAT when you sign up. Bet Now!
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. CO, DC, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, MS, NJ, NV, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA). 21+ to wager. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms & Conditions. US promotional offers not available in DC, New York or Ontario.
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook
DMD – David Dorey, SG – Steve Gallo, HS – Harley Schultz, CC – Cletis Cutts, CJB – Cory Bonini, HCG – HC Green, KH – Kevin Hickey
