NFL FOOTBALL PICKS ATS - FREE WEEKLY EXPERT PREDICTIONS

Even the most-ardent Bills backer would have to admit the Colts have a certain indefinable quality that could make them more of a handful than what you see on paper. Between the coaching staff and Rivers, there's a lot of IQ and experience on that sideline. If something about the Bills is off, the Colts will pounce. I just think the Bills' story as a rising contender is more-complete, something that has been building the last few years and really starting to culminate into something major. How far they go remains to be seen, but I see them getting out of this with the win and cover on Saturday.

As you can see from my analysis above, there are far more concerns for Washington in this week 17 match-up. The availability of Smith will be very important towards improving those concerns mainly because Smith has been much better at protecting the football. The turnover battle will be extremely important in this match-up and could determine the outcome. However, I simply see far more realistic possibilities for the Eagles pulling this victory out. Washington has seemingly more motivation for this game and that seems to overvalue the public’s betting perception towards Washington’s favor. In reality, the Eagles have the more probable paths to victory with Hurts at quarterback and I think that is the play here.

It's not easy to make a spreads pick, even with all things considered. With Terry McLaurin likely out and Antonio Gibson iffy, the Washington offense is a reasonable cause of concern. But maybe they're lucky to be playing another team from what has been a highly-dysfunctional NFC East. Philly's offense will have more viable weaponry available for this game, but they're still an offense that doesn't fire often. And against this Washington defense, I suspect it will be a grind for Philly. I see Washington crossing the finish line a nose ahead for the big win in a low scoring game.

It appears the worm has turned in this rivalry. Buffalo is a division champion with a seemingly very bright future, while New England is probably playing out the end of its dynasty. The Bills are still chasing good seeding for the playoffs while the Patriots have little to play for, other than perhaps pride. Also, New England has allowed 436 yards on the ground over its last two games. And while the Patriots nearly beat Buffalo two months ago by rushing for 188 yards, we doubt they'll do that again. We're betting the Bills here, minus the points.

Tennessee is tough. They're a well-coached team that brings it every week. They can make some of their weaknesses show less when everything is clicking. But with the top seed in the offing in a season where it means more, the Packers might have a little more of an ax to grind in this particular matchup. I see a well-contested game where the Packers get a little separation late to get the win and cover at Lambeau on Sunday night.

These teams are headed in different directions as of late, and we usually love betting hot against cold.  However, we still believe Miami's offense is better with Fitzpatrick rather than Tagovailoa. Yes, the Dolphins are winning and covering with Tago, but that's been mainly thanks to the defense. Miami produced just 13 points against Denver a few weeks ago, 20 against the Jets, 19 against Cincinnati, and had zero at halftime last week. Las Vegas, meanwhile, may be 1-4 over its previous five games, but it was right in three of those losses. And even if Carr can't play, Mariota looked good last week. Finally, we're never shy about betting against the public flow. We'll take the Raiders and the points here.

Cardinals QB Kyler Murray is coming off, arguably, his best performance of his career. In last week's shootout with Philadelphia, Murray passed for 400 yards with three touchdowns and one pick. Murray also added another 29 yards and one touchdown on the ground. Meanwhile, WR DeAndre Hopkins was unstoppable with nine grabs for 169 yards and a touchdown. Obviously, we should not expect those same numbers this week. However, I don't see clear answers for stopping either Murray or Hopkins with the 49ers' current personnel. The Cardinals also have other options to attack on the offensive side of the ball, with Kenyan Drake, Christian Kirk, and others waiting for their opportunity for a big play. Overall, there are just too many options for Arizona to have success this week against an opposing offense that is having trouble keeping players on the field. Add in the circumstances and implications Arizona has riding on this game; I just can't see it any other way besides the Cardinals cruising to victory.</p>

I am going, to be honest; As a handicapper, it is never a best practice to judge a team solely by their last performance. However, the Saints appear to be "off" and less potent on the offensive side of the football. The Saints will get a better match-up this Sunday against the Vikings defense, but who will take advantage of the match-up? RB Alvin Kamara has been contained for nearly the entire 2nd half of the season, and with Thomas out, there is no clear go-to threat in the passing game. Meanwhile, Minnesota has an established repertoire on offense. RB Dalvin Cook is the centerpiece and has become one of the NFL's best backs. Meanwhile, the continued emergence of WR Justin Jefferson is a huge boost to the passing attack alongside Adam Thielen. Overall, the Vikings' offense is downright dangerous, and if they can just get a little help from the defense, this is an opportunity for the Vikings to surprise the general public. I would not be surprised by an outright upset from Minnesota. As a result, I will take the points with complete confidence and point out that Minnesota has always played the Saints exceptionally well, covering eight of the last 12 meetings.

Pittsburgh is struggling a bit as of late, but it's still clearly the better team here, and it needs this one. Cincinnati is just an inferior opponent in this spot, maybe playing with its third-string QB. This looks like one of those games the Steelers lead by 10 points or so into the fourth quarter, then ice things down with a Roethlisberger touchdown pass or a defensive score. We're giving the points here with Pittsburgh.   

It's not an easy spot for the Browns. While it is Cleveland who is fancied as the far better team, it is the Giants who have been imminently more-superior from a betting sense, at 8-5, as opposed to 5-8 for the Browns—a staggeringly-poor ATS mark for a team that has overperformed by most people's estimations this season. I just think their paths intercept here in a way that better suits Cleveland. I see urgency setting in as Cleveland pulls away from a Giants' squad that has maybe hit a wall. I'll take Cleveland.

Cleveland carries Big Mo into Monday night, and we actually believe the Browns are the better team at the moment. Also, while we do not regard revenge as a reliable handicapping factor, it may come into play here. It's just a shame there won't be 67,000 screaming dawgs in the seats for this one. We're betting the Browns for the win.

I think the Steelers are in that period of the season that you see with many teams that get out to a fast start. And it doesn't mean they won't be a major factor in the postseason, but they have just hit a little lull. They're also playing teams that can better bring that to light lately—a revved up Washington team with a lot to play for and now a home Buffalo team that is peaking. I don't rule out the possibility that a Steelers' defense can have a major say in this game, but I see the greater effervescence on offense getting Buffalo to the winner's circle. I'll take the Bills.

A few things here prevent me from taking the obvious route. After all, the Chiefs won by 27 in Denver not too long ago, and the Broncos aren't flying high in light of all the injuries and now a dose of the virus complicating things further. Still, Kansas City is in a position to relax a little, a sense only enhanced by a second meeting against a team they smashed without even really having a good game across many fronts. Granted, banking on a letdown with the Chiefs hasn't really paid off great this year in spots. But in betting, these teams have been equally productive against the spread this season. And on Sunday night, the value appears to be with the Broncos. I'll take Denver and the points.

The Rams have to limit the turnovers. If they do that, I think they are the best bet in this match-up.

These teams played two tight, tough, low-scoring games last season, and while this one might not play low-scoring, we do believe it will be close. Also, following a big win last week, Seattle may be susceptible to a letdown. They ain't exactly playing great ball as of late, or this season, but we'll take the Eagles and the points here. 

For those going with Chicago, I get it. Their tough defense will keep this a grind, and maybe the Packers have slipped almost imperceptibly to make this the kind of game where having the points is a good thing. That could very well play out, but I see the other perspective having more possibilities and upside. In the end, the avenue to a cover is just so much narrower when the offense you're backing is almost guaranteed to be facing an uphill battle. I see the Bears struggling to put up points, as the Packers pull away for the win and cover at home this week.

I don't question the character or even the quality of the Ravens. In fact, this is a high-urgency spot against a team they were unfortunate to lose to earlier this month. I just think if one were to anticipate a letdown spot for the Steelers, the following game against Washington would be a better candidate for that. Against the Ravens, I see a hard-fought contest where their greater efficiency on offense, along with their superior defense, is enough to ride them to the win and the cover. At root, I think at a time where the Ravens need to be getting better, they're getting a little worse..

The Lions haven't been horrible in every game, and for them to deliver at home against a three-win team would hardly be earth-shattering. The Texans are out of their element and hardly reliable in this context. It's hard to shake the image of Detroit looking as awful as it gets last week. On the one hand, you don't want to get carried away with the Lions losing that way to a team that had lost five straight and was working with a first-time starting QB. But I think it is, in fact representative of something bad. I see the Texans passing-game resonating with good effect here, as the Texans get the win and cover in Detroit on Thanksgiving.