With 14 weeks of games in the books a few pieces of the post season puzzle are in place and a few more will probably be in place after this week. Indianapolis, New Orleans, and Minnesota are in. San Diego, Cincinnati, Arizona, Philadelphia, and Green Bay can punch their ticket with a win and some help.
Looking at NFL streaks, two things stand out in 2009: The Saints and Colts. It was quite a story two years ago when the Patriots were trying to march through the NFL regular season at 16-0 as it hadn’t happened in 35 years. Now, just two years later, a pair of teams are threatening to do it!
While the playoff picture got a little murkier in the AFC over the weekend, the Arizona Cardinals will try to make it much cleaner for sports betting fans in the NFC if they can get a win over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night.
Packers vs. Bears (+3)
(O/U) 41
Sunday, December 13 1:00 PM ET
The Green Bay (8-4 SU, 7-4-1 ATS, 6-6 O/U) are on a Philly-sized cheesesteak roll NFL pro football betting enthusiasts!
The Packers have won four consecutive games and looked better than ever in their dominating 27-14 Monday Night Football win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 13.
Jets vs. Buccaneers (+3)
(O/U) 37
Sunday, December 13 1:00 PM ET
The New York Jets (6-6 SU, 6-6 ATS, 5-6-1 O/U) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-11 SU, 4-8 ATS, 6-6 O/U) don’t have much left to play for except pride at this point of their respective regular seasons.
Just one month ago, the Houston Texans (5-7 SU, 5-6-1 ATS, 4-8 O/U) were looking like a likely playoff participant easily en route to recording the first winning season in franchise history.
Now, four weeks – and four consecutive losses – later, the Texans are just trying to get back in the win column while tying the 8-8 regular season record the team has posted in consecutive seasons.
The Indianapolis Colts have met all challenges this season, mostly in convincing fashion, thanks in large part to quarterback Peyton Manning, the most studious player in the game in my estimation.
This week, the Colts will face another stiff test when they battle the Denver Broncos in an AFC matchup that could turn out to be the best game on the docket for Week 14.
The New Orleans Saints (12-0 SU, 8-4 ATS, 7-5 O/U) dodged a huge bullet in their 33-30 overtime win over the Washington Redskins in Week 13.
The may not be as fortunate this week against a banged-up, but desperate Atlanta Falcons (6-6 SU, 7-5 ATS, 7-5 O/U) team that would love to take their division rivals down a peg or two this week.
In order to keep their dimming postseason hopes alive for another week in the competitive NFC, the Carolina Panthers (5-7 SU, 5-7 ATS 5-7 O/U) must accomplish a feat they haven’t been able to in nearly two months – win consecutive games.
Depth is such an essential element of success in pro and college football, and one that is easily overlooked. Big college programs have this as a huge advantage over small schools. Because of injuries, Oregon had to use backup QB Nate Cost in the middle of the season, and he played well in a win over UCLA.
Indianapolis is 12-0 and on the verge of locking up home field throughout the playoffs in the AFC. New Orleans survived a scare but held on the beat Washington to move to 12-0, clinching the NFC South and is in prime position to secure home field throughout as well. With four weeks to go, everything else concerning the post season is still undecided.
How about a sportsbook warmup before the weekend’s NFL and NCAA football action? The Steelers and Browns aren’t exactly a hot matchup but Pittsburgh sure has a lot to play for. Is there any chance their injuries – and possibly the elements – doom them again?
Sports betting fans have a legitimately exciting Monday Nighter to watch for the third consecutive week as playoff contenders from both conferences meet at Lambeau Field. Many NFL pundits have dubbed the Ravens “The defense of the decade” but that aging group has a major test against Mr. Rodgers tonight.
NFL Week 13 Betting – Eagles (-5) at Falcons
Eagles (-5½) vs. Falcons
(O/U) 44
Sunday Dec. 6 1:00 PM ET
Simply put, NFL betting enthusiasts, Sunday’s matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles (7-4 SU, 6-5 ATS, 8-3 O/U) and Atlanta Falcons (6-5 SU, 7-4 ATS, 7-4 O/U) has the possibility of turning out to be the best matchup of the week.
NFL Week 13 Parlay – Buccaneers vs. Panthers (-5½)
(O/U) 40
Sunday, Dec. 6 1:00 PM ET
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-10 SU, 4-7 ATS, 6-5 O/U) and Carolina Panthers (4-7 SU, 4-7 ATS, 5-6 O/U) will both be looking to bounce back from losses in Week 12.
After 12 weeks of football, 11-0 Indianapolis is the first team to officially clinch their division and in the case of 11-0 New Orleans and 10-1 Minnesota it is just a matter of time. Every other division is still up for grabs with some races being much closer than others. New England, Cincinnati, and Arizona all have a two game lead, while San Diego and Dallas each lead by one.
