Tag: Week 17

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens sports betting odds and lines, with Week 17 NFL betting picks, tips and best bets.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7) will make their final bid for a postseason berth Sunday of Week 17 against the AFC North-rival Baltimore Ravens (13-2) at M&T Bank Stadium. The game will kick off at 4:25 p.m. ET. We analyze the Steelers-Ravens odds and sports betting lines, while providing sports betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Steelers at Ravens: Week 17 preview, betting trends and notes

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  • The Ravens beat the Steelers 26-23 in overtime in Pittsburgh in Week 5. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson passed for 161 yards and rushed for 70. His 3 interceptions were a single-game season-high.
  • The Steelers enter Week 17 off of back-to-back losses to the Buffalo Bills (17-10) and New York Jets (16-10).
  • The Tennessee Titans (8-7) hold the tie-breaker over the Steelers for the second wild-card spot based on strength of schedule.
  • The Ravens have won 11 straight games with seven of those being decided by at least two scores. They clinched home-field advantage through the AFC playoffs.
  • Steelers third-string QB Devlin Hodges will get the Week 17 start after Mason Rudolph (shoulder) suffered an injury in Week 16.
  • Baltimore will rest Jackson and RB Mark Ingram (calf) in the regular-season finale, along with several veteran defensive starters.
  • QB Robert Griffin III will start for the Ravens. He appeared in six games this season, going 12-for-17 through the air with one touchdown and one pick. He hasn’t started a game since 2016.
  • The Ravens (18.1) and Steelers (18.3) rank third and fourth, respectively, in scoring defense. They’re two of the five teams in the NFL allowing fewer than 310 yards of offense per game.

Steelers at Ravens: Key injuries

Ingram is the main injury concern for Baltimore, but he was likely to rest this week regardless.

Steelers RB James Conner (thigh) may join Rudolph on the shelf for Week 17 after he left the Week 16 contest.

Steelers at Ravens: Odds, betting lines and prediction

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 8:50 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Ravens 20, Steelers 13

Moneyline (?)

Take the value with the RAVENS (+110). Even though they’ll be resting stars, they’re still the deeper and more talented group on offense. Baltimore is 6-1 at home this year while Pittsburgh (-133) is just 3-4 on the road. Hodges threw six interceptions against just a single touchdown over the Steelers’ last two losses and they briefly switched back to Rudolph last week.

Against the Spread (?)

The spread is set at 2.5 points with -110 odds on either side. Stick with the hosts on the moneyline rather than taking lower odds for just 2 points of insurance in the event of a loss. PASS on the spread.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Ravens to win outright on the moneyline returns a profit of $11. Backing them to cover +2.5 on the spread and stay within 2 points in a loss, tie or win outright would return $9.09 in profit.

Over/Under (?)

The best play is the UNDER 38.5 (-110). It was going to be a strong defensive battle even if both sides were fielding full rosters. Look for both QBs to struggle and Baltimore’s backup defenders to prove their worth in a defensive slog.

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Esten’s NFL betting record: 45-42

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Broncos are 3.5-point favorites vs. Raiders in Week 17

The Broncos are considered slight favorites at home against the Raiders in Week 17.

The Denver Broncos (6-9) are considered 3.5-point home favorites against the Oakland Raiders (7-8) in Week 17 of the 2019 NFL season, according to odds from BetMGM. The over/under for combined points scored between the two teams has been set at 42.5.

Last week, Denver scored 27 points in a 27-17 win over the Detroit Lions (3-11-1) and Oakland scored 24 points in a 24-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers (5-10). That’s 51 combined points from the Broncos and Raiders last week, which would be over this week’s over/under line.

Oakland leads the all-time series against Denver 65-53-2 but the Broncos have won three-straight games against the Raiders at home.

Oakland still has a chance to reach the NFL playoffs (they will need some help from other teams), but they will have to win in Denver to keep their hopes alive. The Broncos will be motivated to prevent their AFC West rival from reaching the postseason.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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The Beast is back: Seattle Seahawks sign running back Marshawn Lynch

Seattle Seahawks fans got an early Christmas present with the news the team has signed former superstar running back, Marshawn Lynch.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Seahawks fans, Seattle has officially signed running back Marshawn Lynch to the roster.

Lynch arrived in town for a visit and physical on Monday and coach Pete Carroll and the staff in the front office weren’t going to let him leave without a signed contract in hand.

The move, albeit a desperate one for Seattle, comes on the heels of the losses of both starter Chris Carson and backup running back C.J. Prosise, who suffered season-ending injuries in the Seahawks’ Week-16 loss to the Cardinals. Carson is now out for the year with a hip fracture, Prosise with a broken arm.

The Seahawks followed up with the most prudent move possible, re-signing superstar Lynch just in time for the team’s battle against the 49ers for the Week 17 showdown. No other bruising back in the league could give Seattle the boost it needs to win the division Sunday night.

Although Lynch might be over a year removed from a football field, there’s no one else Seattle fans would rather see on the field in the prime-time matchup.

Lynch and the Seahawks are set to square off against San Francisco on Dec. 29 at 5:20 p.m. PT.

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NFL futures betting: AFC Champion odds, picks and best bets

Previewing the NFL AFC champion futures odds with 1 week left in the regular season, with NFL futures, betting odds, picks and best bets

Though there remains some jockeying to be done in terms of seeding, the teams that make up the top five spots in the AFC playoffs are locked in. The Baltimore Ravens are also locked into the conference’s top seed (and thus hold home-field advantage to the Super Bowl), and New England will likely finish with the No. 2 seed.

Today, we take a look at how to bet on the AFC in terms of who will emerge as the conference champion, and which teams present the most value for winning the conference. Here are the top five teams in AFC championship odds heading into the final week of the season.

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1. Baltimore Ravens (-112)

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson. (Photo credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports)

As you would expect, the Ravens are the favorites to win the AFC this season. Every game they will play up to the Super Bowl will be at home — which is only two games thanks to their first-round bye. They have the likely NFL MVP at quarterback in Lamar Jackson and a veteran team that is loaded with talent.

However, there just isn’t a ton of value in betting the Ravens here unless you are combing them in another parlay. At -112, the Ravens are a bet to avoid despite how much you make like them to advance to the Super Bowl.

2. New England Patriots (+250)

Patriots coach Bill Belichick. (Photo credit: Raj Mehta – USA TODAY Sports)

This number, +250, is larger than what we’re used to seeing the Patriots at to win the AFC with one week to go in the regular season. They will have a home playoff game in the divisional round, and that game will likely be against the Chiefs. A bye week would certainly help the Pats given their age, and if they get that then it’s tough to bet against them. The value here may be too good to pass up.

3. Kansas City Chiefs (+375)

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes. (Photo credit: Isaiah J. Downing – USA TODAY Sports)

Having to win three straight games — with at least one and likely two on the road — isn’t a recipe for success when it comes to getting to the Super Bowl. However, few — if any — teams have ever had a player like Patrick Mahomes on their roster.

The Chiefs have shown they belong with the AFC’s best, having beaten the Ravens and Patriots this season, making them are fascinating pick at +375. But for them to get to the Super Bowl, they will likely need to beat both the Nos. 1 & 2 seeds on the road. It’s certainly not impossible, but the odds just aren’t quite good enough to bet on them. You are better off betting the Kansas City moneyline each week rather than picking them now to win the conference.

4. Houston Texans (+1600)

Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins (10) and QB Deshaun Watson (4). (Photo credit: Christopher Hanewinckel – USA TODAY Sports)

The team with the fourth-best odds to win the conference is the Houston Texans. While they have been mighty inconsistent this season, they also have the talent to compete with just about any team. And when you compare their talent vs. the Chiefs to their odds relative to the Chiefs, there is a lot more value in betting the Texans to come out of the AFC. Consider betting on Houston as a potential longshot.

5. Buffalo Bills (+2500)

Bills RB Devin Singletary. (Photo credit: Mark Konezny – USA TODAY Sports)

You can make a strong case that the Bills are the third-best team in the conference despite being the No. 5 seed in the AFC. They have one of the best defenses in all of football, and their offense seems to be improving by the week. Unfortunately, their road to the Super Bowl will be incredibly difficult as they would need to win three straight games in three straight weeks and, barring a miracle, all three games will be on the road. And if the seedings hold, their opponent will have the better quarterback each time, too. The Bills are certainly a great story and a fun team, but don’t count on them making much noise in the playoffs.

Get some action on this game or others, place a bet with BetMGM today. And for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Marcus_Mosher and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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The 11 games that matter in Week 17 of the NFL season

11 games will affect playoff spots and seeding in Week 17 of the NFL Season.

Even without knowing the result of the Packers-Vikings showdown on Monday Night Football in Week 16, we do know that 11 games will have some form of playoff implications in Week 17. That’ not bad for the NFL when in reality every playoff spot except two is locked up.

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Broncos aim to spoil Raiders’ playoff chances in Week 17

The Raiders can still make the NFL playoffs but the Broncos aim to prevent that from happening.

The Raiders would need some help from other teams but they still have a chance to reach the 2019 NFL playoffs. The first order of business for Oakland will be defeating the Broncos in Denver.

The Broncos have already been eliminated from playoff contention but they have rallied behind rookie quarterback Drew Lock, who is 3-1 as a starter. Denver will aim to spoil the playoff hopes of its division rival in Week 17.

Beating the Raiders would be extra special for nose tackle Shelby Harris, who was cut by Oakland in 2016 before going on to record career highs in tackles (47) and sacks (six) with the Broncos. He has also knocked down eight passes this season, more than any other defensive lineman in the NFL.

“Being a former Raider myself, we definitely want to knock them out of the playoff hunt,” Harris said after Sunday’s 27-17 win over the Lions. “We’re going to go in there and play our game. They have a lot riding on the game, so they are going to come out swinging, but we want to end the season on a good note, so we’re also going to come out swinging.”

Sunday’s game will begin at 2:25 p.m. MT and will air on CBS.

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Cowboys Week 17 game flexed for maximum embarrassment potential

The NFL has decided the world has not had enough of watching the Dallas Cowboys roller coaster after all. With all but three games originally set for the early kickoff slot of noon central, the league looks to maximize ratings as much as possible. …

The NFL has decided the world has not had enough of watching the Dallas Cowboys roller coaster after all. With all but three games originally set for the early kickoff slot of noon central, the league looks to maximize ratings as much as possible. They wave the 12-day rule and wait until the results of most of Week 16 have been completed before looking to find the matchups with the most impact on the playoff field.

By virtue of their 17-9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16, the Cowboys find themselves in the position of having to win and get help in order to make their way into the playoffs. The Eagles will be in if they defeat the New York Giants for the second time in four games.

 

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Seahawks vs. 49ers Week 17 matchup flexed to primetime Sunday night

The Week 17 matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers has been officially flexed to the Sunday night game on NBC.

The Week 17 matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers has been officially flexed to the Sunday night game. Kickoff has been moved from 1:25 p.m. PT to 5:20 p.m. PT and will now be aired on NBC.

Additional Week 17 schedule changes will be announced later Sunday afternoon or Monday.

Here is the current new game-day lineup for Week 17.

Sunday, December 29
Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens 10:00 a.m. PT CBS
New York Jets at Buffalo Bills 10:00 a.m. PT CBS
New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers 10:00 a.m. PT FOX
Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals 10:00 a.m. PT CBS
Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys 10:00 a.m. PT FOX
Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions 10:00 a.m. PT FOX
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans 10:00 a.m. PT CBS
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars 10:00 a.m. PT CBS
Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs 10:00 a.m. PT CBS
Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings 10:00 a.m. PT FOX
Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots 10:00 a.m. PT CBS
Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants 10:00 a.m. PT FOX
Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10:00 a.m. PT FOX
Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos 1:25 p.m. PT CBS
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams 1:25 p.m. PT FOX
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks 5:20 p.m. PT NBC

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Seattle’s Week 17 matchup with San Francisco will decide division

The Seattle Seahawks’ Week 17 game against the San Francisco 49ers will decide the winner of the NFC West and possibly the entire NFC.

The Seattle Seahawks currently possess the No. 1 seed in the NFC, but their final position in the 2019 NFL postseason standings will hinge on the outcome of their Week 17 contest with their bitter rivals, the San Francisco 49ers.

No matter what happens or what the final score is in Seattle’s upcoming matchup with the Cardinals, they will remain at most or least a game apart from San Francisco heading into the final game of the regular season. Both teams are currently neck-and-neck at 11-3, which means that their showdown will be the game that decides the winner of the NFC West and possibly the entire conference.

Both the Seahawks and 49ers have dealt with a large number of significant injuries, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Despite this, they have also managed to stay competitive with most of their opponents, doing whatever it takes to seize victory from the jaws of defeat.

This will make the final battle all the more anticipated. The Seahawks’ rivalry with the 49ers is officially back on after a half-decade of dormancy and Week 17 will be the biggest regular-season game for both teams in quite some time.

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