NFL Picks, Predictions Against the Spread for Week 16

The holidays are here, and the NFL is gifting us four consecutive days of NFL action. So, let’s see what the Week 16 NFL betting lines and odds present and make our NFL picks and predictions for Week 16.

NFL Picks, Predictions for Week 16: Opening betting lines, odds, and scores

As there is every week, Week 16 features several games with playoff implications. Many teams are looking to win convincingly and bounce back after bad losses, along with many teams on top that look to remain as such and cover convincingly. Take a look at the value in the besting lines and odds and bet accordingly.

Analysis of each game can be found below the table. The Week 16 NFL odds below are from the William Hill Sportsbook.

This table is best viewed in landscape mode if you are using a mobile device.

NFL Week 16 Picks and Predictions: Christmas Day

Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints (-7)

The Saints lost by three to the Chiefs this past week, but the game was much more in the Chiefs’ favor than the score would show. The Saints scored late to make the final look more respectable, having not had a first down in their first five drives.

The Vikings have lost two straight games, both of which were close and winnable against the Buccaneers and Bears, respectively. The Week 16 NFL odds like the Saints by a touchdown, but don’t sleep on the Vikings and their balanced and explosive offense. I have them riding to the bayou in a one-horse open sleigh and beating the Saints on Christmas day.

NFL Week 16 Picks and Predictions: Minnesota Vikings 27, New Orleans Saints 23

Week 16 NFL Picks: Saturday Special

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-7) at Detroit Lions

The Buccaneers are perhaps the most unpredictable team in the NFL. Such talent on both sides of the ball, yet they can both win and lose every game they play.

The Lions defense can’t seem to stop anyone or anything. The Titans did what they wanted both on the ground and through the air against Detroit. The Bucs should rebound from a shaky performance by doing much of the same.

Week 16 NFL Picks and Predictions: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 37, Detroit Lions 16

San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals (-3.5)

The 49ers’ roller-coaster season is nearly over. Their injury list is among the longest of all NFL teams, and they were officially eliminated from playoff contention with their loss to the Cowboys.

Arizona is very dynamic offensively, but their defense still has a knack for keeping teams in games. The Week 16 NFL betting lines favor the Cardinals, and they should beat the 49ers, but don’t expect San Francisco to just rollover.

NFL Week 16 Picks and Predictions: Arizona Cardinals 28, San Francisco 49ers 24

Miami Dolphins (-2) at Las Vegas Raiders

While sitting at 9-5, the Dolphins are fighting for their playoff lives. Their defense is great, but their offense lacks any big weapons, especially now with DeVante Parker and Mike Gesicki injured.

The Raiders need to win out and need a lot of help to get a wildcard spot following back to back losses. The Week 16 NFL betting lines like Miami, but their lack of offense will benefit the Raiders.

NFL Week 16 Picks and Predictions: Las Vegas Raiders 21, Miami Dolphins 17

Sunday Games

Chicago Bears (-7.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars

The Bears have won their last two games with Mitchell Trubisky at the helm and still have playoff life. While it may be grim, it’s still there.

The Jaguars are now the current owners of the No. 1 overall pick, and after what we saw against Baltimore, there is no reason to think they won’t keep it. The Week 16 NFL odds favoring the Bears by 7.5 may seem like a lot, but the Jaguars have gotten worse as the season has gone on, not better.

NFL Week 16 Picks and Predictions: Chicago Bears 27, Jacksonville Jaguars 13

Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers (-2.5)

The Colts are trying to overtake the Titans for the AFC South lead and are looking good in trying to do so. They beat the Raiders while putting up 44 points and defeated the Texans by a touchdown.

Pittsburgh may be beat up on defense but still field one of the more talented rosters in the league. This is a matchup of two very similar teams, with great defenses carrying their teams for the most part and offenses fielded by two veteran quarterbacks from the 2004 Draft class. That said, I’m going to side with the NFL Week 16 betting lines and pick the Steelers to win and cover.

NFL Week 16 Picks and Predictions: Pittsburgh Steelers 23, Indianapolis Colts 20

Atlanta Falcons at Kansas City Chiefs (-11)

The Falcons did what they do best and blew a huge lead to the Buccaneers. Who would’ve thought that Tom Brady would lead a huge comeback win over Atlanta? It isn’t like we’ve seen that before.

Kansas City, while victorious against New Orleans, looked a little slow offensively. Sure they led by 10 late in the game, but the dominance was more so by their defense through that game. Expect them to take out their frustrations on a Falcons team that can’t put the pieces together.

NFL Week 16 Picks and Predictions: Kansas City Chiefs 35, Atlanta Falcons 21

Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans (-8.5)

Houston, while their record is poor, has looked much better in the second half of the season. Losing some key players like Brandin Cooks and Will Fuller has hurt, but Deshaun Watson is quietly having the best season of his career.

The Bengals have eyes toward the offseason. Without Joe Burrow, they have no offensive explosiveness, and their defense isn’t much more impressive. The Week 16 NFL odds like the Texans, and so do I.

NFL Week 16 Picks and Predictions: Houston Texans 30, Cincinnati Bengals 14

New York Giants at Baltimore Ravens (-9.5)

Baltimore has scored 40 points in back to back games. Their offense has looked sharp as they continue to try and earn a wildcard spot in the crowded AFC playoff race.

The Giants now find themselves in must-win games in the final two weeks of the season if they want to win the NFC East. With the health of Daniel Jones being a question mark going up against a hot Baltimore team, they could see their playoff hopes vanish.

NFL Week 16 Picks and Predictions: Baltimore Ravens 27, New York Giants 14

Cleveland Browns (-10.5) at New York Jets

The Browns are on a roll and have won 10 games for the first time since 2007. Baker Mayfield has stepped up in a much-needed way and given this offense balance.

The Jets won a game! Oddly enough, their fans probably aren’t celebrating as they may have just lost out on the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes. The Jets winning two games in a row against playoff teams would be the exclamation point on 2020, but I don’t expect to see it.

NFL Week 16 Picks and Predictions: Cleveland Browns 33, New York Jets 17

Carolina Panthers at Washington Football Team (-2.5)

Washington started off slow against the Seahawks but mounted a comeback before coming up short and falling to 6-8. Hopefully, for their sake, Alex Smith is back because their offense is clearly better with him under center.

Carolina kept things close with Green Bay in Lambeau to the shock of most and has been a tough outing all season long. While they won’t be playing in January, they would love to play spoiler to Washington. The Week 16 NFL betting lines like Washington, but Carolina gets the upset.

NFL Week 16 Picks and Predictions: Carolina Panthers 21, Washington Football Team 20

Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers (-3)

Denver was the recipient of a 30 point loss at home to Buffalo, and my goodness, did their defense look bad. Anything the Bills wanted, they got, and it was like that for all 60 minutes.

The Chargers actually won a close game against the Raiders. Can they win two in a row? The Week 16 NFL odds seem to think so, and with the way Denver has looked, they should be able to pull it off and avenge their blown 24-3 lead from earlier this year.

NFL Picks and Predictions: Los Angeles Chargers 31, Denver Broncos 27

Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks (-2.5)

This is the most important game of the weekend, and it will all but determine who wins the NFC West. The Rams were upset by the Jets and their offense, as they usually do in their losses, looked bad. The inconsistencies of Jared Goff plagues this team and keeps them from being elite.

Seattle has won two straight, and their run game looked very solid against Washington. I like how they are looking right now, and even their defense is playing a bit better. Seattle gets the win and clinches the division.

NFL Picks and Predictions: Seattle Seahawks 28, Los Angeles Rams 27

Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys (Pick)

I’m surprised this game is a pick ’em with how well the Eagles have played the last two weeks. They may not have got the win against Arizona, but Jalen Hurts played great and had them in it up until the final play.

Dallas has kept their hopes of winning the division alive and are now 5-9 after defeating the 49ers. That said, I like the way Jalen Hurts looks, and I think the Eagles bounce back to get their fifth win of the year.

NFL Picks and Predictions: Philadelphia Eagles 24, Dallas Cowboys 21

NFL Picks and Predictions: Sunday Night Football

Tennessee Titans at Green Bay Packers (-4)

Tennessee is clicking on all cylinders right now. Sure their defense isn’t much to marvel at, but between Derrick Henry rushing for however many yards he wants to every game and Ryan Tannehill going with a more bombs away approach as of late, they are fun to watch.

Aaron Rodgers very well may be the MVP of the league this year, and a trip to Lambeau in December when the Packers are hot is probably the last thing a team in a tight division race wants to go up against. I like the Week 16 betting lines going with Green Bay as four-point favorites and give the Packers the win at home.

NFL Week 16 Picks and Predictions: Green Bay Packers 35, Tennessee Titans 32

Monday Night Football

Buffalo Bills (-6.5) at New England Patriots

Normally we are used to the Patriots having clinched the division and the Bills having nothing to play for at this time of the year. Oh, how the tables have turned. Buffalo is arguably the most complete team in the NFL at this very moment, and certainly the hottest. Josh Allen and the offense are in full swing and borderline unstoppable.

The Patriots’ offense is whatever the opposite of unstoppable is. Cam Newton and company looked bad against Miami and have looked that way for the majority of the season. Losing this game would solidify the Patriots’ first losing season since Bill Belichick’s first season in charge, and I think we get that in blowout fashion this week, contrary to what the Week 16 NFL odds say.

NFL Week 16 Picks and Predictions: Buffalo Bills 37, New England Patriots 13

You can follow Jarrett on Twitter @JBaileyNFL and PFN @PFN365.