NFL Picks Week 17 Against The Spread – The Final Week of the NFL Season
The last week of the NFL regular season is here and while many teams have made the playoffs and may have been eliminated there are still some big games. There are 3 games where the winner will win the division and the home field advantage is still up for grabs in the NFC with the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks controlling their destiny. However, if they lose the Lions, Packers, and Cardinals still have a shot at home field.
Carolina Panthers (6-8-1) vs. Atlanta Falcons (6-9)
Betting Odds: Falcons -4 O/U 47.5
Each of these teams is under .500, but the winner will still make the playoffs as the NFC South champion. The Falcons are coming off a HUGE win over the Saints in New Orleans and to win this game they will need Matt Ryan to have another big game. While the Falcons rank dead last in the NFL in pass D they did hold the Saints to 14 points in their last game.
The Panthers have won 3 in a row and their D has only given up 40 points combined in that 3-game span. Cam Newton leads the offense and Jonathan Stewart rushed for over 120 yards in the Panthers last win.
The home team has covered the spread in the last 4 games between these 2 teams.
Pick Against the Spread: The Panthers won the first match up with the Falcons, but they will not do so again, as Atlanta will win and cover at home.
Detroit Lions (11-4) vs. Green Bay Packers (11-4)
Betting Odds: Packers -7.5 O/U 48
It all comes down to this game, as the winner will win the NFC North and if the Packers win they will also get a first round bye in the playoffs while the Lions need some help for that to happen. The Lions crushed the Packers at home in Week 3 this season. In that game Aaron Rodgers and Eddie Lacy were held in check, but each had solid games in the last Green Bay win.
The Lions have won 4 straight, but none of the teams had winning records. Green Bay is undefeated at home this season while 3 of the 4 Lions’ losses have come on the road.
The home team is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 games between these 2 teams and the favorite is 5-0 ATS in the last 5 games.
Pick Against the Spread: Look at the above betting trends and it is easy to see why the Packers are the betting pick in this one.
Arizona Cardinals (11-4) vs. San Francisco 49ers (7-8)
Betting Odds: 49ers -6 O/U 36.5
The Cardinals are down to their 3rd string QB, they were crushed in their last game, and they are the betting underdog this week. However, they are in the playoffs and if Seattle loses they not only get a bye, but also have a chance to get home field advantage in the playoffs.
The wheels have fallen off for the 49ers, who have lost 4 straight and will not make it back to the post-season. With a 3rd stringer under center the Cardinals will have to rely on their D to win like they did holding San Francisco to 14 points in their home win earlier this season.
While the 49ers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games facing the Cardinals they have failed to cover the spread in their last 4 home games.
Pick Against the Spread: Things cannot go more wrong for the 49ers, but they will suck it up in this game and get a little pride back, as they will win and cover the spread.
St. Louis Rams (6-9) vs. Seattle Seahawks (11-4)
Betting Odds: Seahawks -13 O/U 41
It is pretty easy for the Seahawks, as if they win they will win the NFC West and clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs. To say their D has been dominant lately would be an understatement, as in their 5 games winning streak they have given up an average of 5.4 points per game. However, they did lose to the Rams in St. Louis in the middle of the season.
The Rams have lost 2 in a row, but the big questions in this game is can they score on the Seattle defense and can their 14th ranked run defense contain Marshawn Lynch and the Seahawks rushing offense that ranks #1 in the NFL?
Pick Against the Spread for the Rams Seahawks playoff picture game: Giving 13 is a lot, but the Seahawks will give up few if any points and they will win and cover.
Cincinnati Bengals (10-4-1) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5)
Betting Odd for the Steelers Bengals game final week of the season: Steelers -3 O/U 48
Both of these teams are already in the playoffs, but the winner will win the division and have a chance for a first round bye. Cincy has won 2 in a row and 4 of their last 5 and they are coming off an impressive win over the Broncos in their last game. The Steelers have won 3 in a row and Ben Roethlisberger leads a passing offense that ranks 3rd in the league. The Bengals have had their issues on D this season and they have to play better than they did at home against the Steelers a few weeks back losing 42-21.
The Steelers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games against the Bengals.
Pick Against the Spread: Take the Steelers in this one, as Big Ben will have another big game and the Pitt D will find a way to get it done.
Please note that these predictions do not reflect the picks that John Price and his VIP clients receive.
