Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
The five smartest wagers to take to the pay window for Week 17.
With a lot on the line in all realms of football, prop bets have to step up to keep up. This week’s picks are asking five Pro Bowl-pedigree players to do what they do.
We have a touchdown machine from the past restarting his engine, a pair NFC West elite players going over their projection, an under-fire quarterback going Under, and Taylor Swift’s boyfriend closing out 2023 on a high note.
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook
A snapshot look at the NFL betting lines and odds for Week 17 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 17.
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.
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The five smartest wagers to take to the pay window for Week 17.
This week’s bets have a little something for everybody – a game with one of the lowest Over/Under numbers hitting the Over, the high O/U number going Under, two defending conference champions taking care of their business at home, and a road underdog winning on the moneyline in primetime.
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook
A league-wide view into the best wagers to make for NFL Week 17 action.
With two weeks to go in the regular season, there is still a lot to be decided.
In the AFC, only the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins have assured playoff spots, but neither has yet locked down a division title. Seven teams are either 8-7 or 7-8, so there is plenty of uncertainty as to who will grab playoff spots. In the NFC, three division titles have been decided, but you also have seven teams that are either 8-7 or 7-8.
All 16 games in Week 17 involve at least one team that is still in the hunt for a playoff spot, which will make every win and every loss critical for those who are looking to keep their seasons alive deep into January.
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook
The Jets have won two of their last three but are huge road underdogs (7.5 points at -110 for both teams). The Browns defense is too strong for a Jets team that has been extremely inconsistent. Take the Browns and lay 7.5 points (-110).
This game has one of the bigger Over/Under numbers of the year (53.5 points at -110 for both Over and Under). We’ve been sucked into this trap too many times this season with games that are supposed to be high-scoring shootouts. When a 28-24 game is still under, the number is too high. Take Under 53.5 points (-110).
Very few double-digit favorites have covered this season, and the Bills are favored by a ton (12 points at -110 for both teams). The Bills have been hot lately, and the Patriots are going to struggle to score. In their last home game, Buffalo beat Dallas by 21 and can do the same to the Patriots. Take the Bills and lay 12 points (-110).
This game has a very low Over/Under (38 points for both Over and Under). Both teams have hit under this number in a lot of games. But both will be taking risks, because they have nothing to lose at this point in their seasons and can pull out calls from the back of the playbook. Take Over 38 points (-110).
The Colts are solid home favorites (3.5 points at -110 for both teams). The Raiders road victory last week against the Chiefs was their first road win since Week 1. The Colts should win, but the Raiders are getting too many points for a game that should be very close Take the Raiders plus 3.5 points (-110).
The Rams are big road favorites (4.5 points at -110 for both teams). The Rams have won five of their last six games, and their only loss came to the Baltimore Ravens. They have scored 28 or more points in their last five games, and the Giants just can’t keep up with them. Take the Rams and lay 4.5 points (-110).
The Eagles are massive home favorites (10.5 points at -110 for both). Eight of the Cardinals’ last 10 losses have been by 10 or more points, with their three most recent losses coming by 23, 16 and 11 points. Take the Eagles and lay 10.5 points (-110).
The Buccaneers are a standard home favorite (3 points at -110 for both teams). The Bucs are playing their best football of the season having won four straight, and they pounded the Saints 26-9 in New Orleans in their first meeting. Take the Buccaneers and lay 3 points (-110).
The Over/Under on this game is high (49. 5 points at -110 for both Over and Under). The 49ers were humbled by the Ravens last week and will look to put a beating down on the Commanders. They could hold them to 13 or fewer points, which will make hitting the Over more difficult. Take Under 49.5 points (-110).
The Jaguars have lost four straight but are still strong favorites (6.5 points at -110 for both teams). If Trevor Lawrence is ruled out, this number should drop. If he can play, expect Jacksonville to respond against the team with the league’s worst record with the Jaguars’ season on the line. Take the Jaguars and lay 6.5 points (-110).
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The Ravens have been beating people up and are solid home favorites (3.5 points at -115 Dolphins, -105 Ravens). Baltimore is likely going to try to control the ball and slow down the Dolphins, but that requires touchdowns scored to be an effective strategy. Baltimore should win, but the Dolphins should keep it close by being on the attack all game long. Take the Dolphins plus 3.5 points (-115).
The Texans have been erratic but remain solid home favorites (4.5 points at -110 for both teams). Houston is winning but not blowing teams out. The Titans’ last three losses have each been by three points, and too many of their games come down to the final couple of minutes. Take the Titans plus 4.5 points (-110).
The Over/Under is one of the lowest on this week’s schedule (41.5 points at -110 for both Over and Under). The Seahawks have scored 20 or fewer points in their last three games and five of their last six. The Steelers have scored 20 or fewer points in seven of their last nine games. Too many things point to a field position game. Take Under 41.5 points (-110).
The Broncos are a standard home favorite for a division game (3 points at -105 Chargers, -115 Broncos). The Broncos benching Russell Wilson will result in another matchup of unproven backup quarterbacks. In that instance, you take the best defense and that’s Denver. Take the Broncos and lay 3 points (-115).
The Chiefs have been brutal but remain strong home favorites (7 points at -110 for both teams). Those laying points on the Chiefs have been burned too often, but Patrick Mahomes & Co. need to have a game where all three phases click and they look like the defending champs. Take the Chiefs and lay 7 points (-110).
The Vikings’ quarterback play has been brutal over the last month, and the young Packers are trending in the right direction, winning four their last six. This is an elimination game for the loser, and the Vikings are missing too many key players to compete. Take the Packers on the moneyline (+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.
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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
Since White was named starter the line has moved pretty hard in the Jets’ favor. They are now 2.5 point favorites instead of the Seahawks.
The Seattle Seahawks have just two games left in their 2022 season and odds are they’ll need to win both of them to make the playoffs. Next up on the schedule is a home game against the New York Jets on New Year’s Day. According to USA TODAY Sports Data, Seattle is only favored by one point for that matchup.
The Jets (7-8) are also hanging on for a chance to grab a wild card spot in the AFC. They’ve gotten here on the strength of their defense, which is the fourth-best scoring unit in the league and ranks No. 6 in DVOA. The problem for Robert Saleh’s team is they don’t have a good quarterback. Zach Wilson has not made the leap in Year 2 the way Trevor Lawrence has, having thrown more interceptions (7) than touchdowns (6) so far. It’s been so bad that at the moment Saleh has not named a starter for this week’s game.
As for the Seahawks (7-8) their problem has been atrocious run defense combined with a string of over-aggressive play from quarterback Geno Smith. They have lost five of their last six games.
However, Seattle leads the all-time series 12-8 and has won the last four matchups between these teams.
Update:
Jets quarterback Mike White has been cleared to play and will be starting against the Seahawks this week. White has been New York’s main backup behind Wilson this year. In 2022 he’s 1-2 as their starting QB with three touchdowns and two picks. White also went 1-2 in three starts last season.
Update:
Since White was named starter the line has moved pretty hard in the Jets’ favor. They are now 2.5 point favorites instead of the Seahawks.
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While it doesn’t inspire much confidence after what happened yesterday, Seattle is heavily favored over Detroit for their Week 17 matchup.
The Seattle Seahawks are not having a fun time in 2021. Yesterday’s stunning collapse against Chicago dropped their record to 5-10 on the season. It’s starting to seem like this team could lose to virtually anybody in any given game. That theory will be put to the test this week when they host the worst team in the conference in the Detroit Lions (2-12-1).
While it doesn’t inspire much confidence after what happened yesterday, Seattle is heavily favored over Detroit for their Week 17 matchup. According to Tipico Sportsbook, the Seahawks are 7.5 point favorites.
For what it’s worth, history hasn’t been kind to the Lions in this series. They are just 5-10 against Seattle all-time and have lost the last three meetings.
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According to the latest odds at BetMGM, the Panthers are 6.5-point underdogs against the Saints for this matchup.
There’s only one game left to play for the Carolina Panthers this season. They will close out the 2020 campaign at home against the New Orleans Saints, who just clinched their fourth-straight NFC South championship. As expected, New Orleans is a heavy favorite heading into Week 17. According to the latest odds at BetMGM, the Panthers are 6.5-point underdogs against the Saints for this matchup.
New Orleans is coming off a convincing Christmas Day revenge game against the Minnesota Vikings. Alvin Kamara rolled behind a dominant offensive line, scoring six rushing touchdowns in a 52-33 victory. That brings their record on the season to 11-4, one game behind the Green Bay Packers for the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Meanwhile, Carolina just beat the Washington Football Team, improving to 5-10 in the process. They lost earlier in the season to New Orleans, though. If they somehow manage to win this time, they’ll match our preseason 6-10 prediction.
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