Essential Week 13 betting notes for NFL Sunday
The Chiefs are one of the hottest teams in football, winning five straight, while covering the spread in each game.
New York Jets at New York Giants (+2, 46.5)
* Cornerback Darrelle Revis is expected to miss his second straight game due to a concussion. "Just got to move on," Odell Beckham Jr. said of missing out on the matchup. "We've still got to play the Jets. It would have been fun to go against a guy like that, and it's unfortunate that he's not playing, but maybe we'll get that matchup down the road. We're still focused on playing the Jets. This is a game we need to win."
* Chris Ivory recorded his third score in four weeks with a 31-yard scamper to seal the win last week and faces a Giants' rushing defense that is yielding 100.5 yards per contest (4.1 yards per carry). On the other side of the ball, the top-ranked Jets' rush defense set a franchise record by limiting the Dolphins to just 12 yards on the ground last week and faces a Giants' rushing attack that is 28th in the league.
Arizona Cardinals at St. Louis Rams (+4, 43)
* Impressive victories over Arizona and Seattle were part of a 4-3 (4-3 ATS) start for the St. Louis Rams, who then fell off with a four-game losing streak (0-3-1 ATS).
* Rookie running back David Johnson is expected to take over for Chris Johnson and Ellington as the team’s top option in the backfield, and the team doesn’t expect much drop off. “I think running back is one of the easier ones (to replace),” coach Bruce Arians told reporters.
Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Pick, 46)
* The Falcons kept pace with Carolina in the NFC South for a month, winning their first five games and six of their first seven (4-3 ATS) before enduring a four-game skid (0-4 ATS) that prompted a players-only meeting on Monday. “I think that’s a good part of a team, to have good, solid leadership, guys that voice stuff to get it all going in the same direction,” quarterback Matt Ryan told reporters.
* Atlanta’s losing streak began with a 23-20 overtime loss at home against Tampa Bay in Week 8, starting a string of three wins in five games (3-2 ATS) for the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay had its two-game winning streak snapped with a 25-12 loss at Indianapolis last week but is just one game behind Atlanta and Seattle for the second wild card.
Seattle Seahawks at Minnesota Vikings (+2, 42)
* The Seahawks, usually known for their defense, have been riding their offense to victories as of late, averaging 33.33 points per game over their last three contests, cashing the over in each.
* After having their streak of eight consecutive covers in a row snapped, the Vikings cashed once again for bettors last week, topping the Atlanta Falcons 20-10 as 2-point road dogs. They are the second best bet in the NFL this season at 9-2 ATS.
Houston Texans at Buffalo Bills (-3.5, 41.5)
* The resurgent Texans defense has allowed just 7.25 points per game during their four game winning streak, covering the spread in each.
* Time is running out for Buffalo, which may be further short-handed against the Texans, as defensive end Mario Williams remains questionable with a foot injury and Kyle Williams was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday.
Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins (-3.5, 42)
* "December football is when football matters, and we’re relevant in December," said Ravens coach John Harbaugh, who owns a perfect 5-0 (5-0 ATS) record versus the Dolphins. "That's what we needed to be."
* Although it shares the same 4-7 mark as Baltimore, Miami hasn't shown much fight lately with losses in two straight and four of its last five. Ryan Tannehill threw for 351 yards and three touchdowns in Miami's 38-20 setback to the AFC East-rival New York Jets last Sunday, with offensive coordinator Bill Lazor being relieved of his duties the following day.
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns (+8.5, 43.5)
* After a short two-game losing streak, the Bengals got back on track last Sunday, thumping the Rams 31-7. Even despite the loses the Bengals remained the league's best bet at 9-1-1 ATS this season.
* The quarterback carousel made yet another turn this week as Pettine announced that Austin Davis will be the 24th starter for the club since 1999. "He deserves this opportunity," Pettine said of the 26-year-old Davis, who gets the nod after Josh McCown broke his right collarbone on Monday while former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel tries to escape the doghouse.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans (-2.5, 43.5)
* The Jaguars, just 1-4 (3-2 ATS) on the road, are paced by quarterback Blake Bortles, who has thrown 22 touchdowns but 13 often-costly interceptions.
* Tennessee is 0-6 (2-4 ATS) at home on the season and has lost 11 straight at the not-so-friendly confines in Nashville. The Titans’ last home win was a 16-13 decision over the Jaguars in Week 6 of last season.
San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears (-7.5, 43)
* The San Francisco 49ers seek their first road win of the season when they visit the home-challenged Chicago Bears on Sunday. San Francisco fell to 0-5 (1-4 ATS) away from Levi's Stadium in Week 11, when it suffered a 29-13 setback against Seattle.
* Chicago dropped to 1-4 (2-3 ATS) at Soldier Field with Week 11's 17-15 loss to Denver. The Bears also have had trouble scoring recently, recording 15 and 17 points in their last two games, but are coming off a four-point win at Green Bay that put them in position to get to .500 for the first time since they were 3-3 on Oct. 12, 2014.
Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers (+3.5, 43)
* Brock Osweiler has stepped in for an ineffective and injured future Hall of Fame quarterback and has righted the ship for the Denver Broncos. Osweiler will look to lead the AFC West-leading Broncos to their third straight victory when they visit the division cellar-dwelling San Diego Chargers on Sunday.
* While Denver is making decisions with an eye on the postseason, San Diego simply was happy to snap a six-game skid with a 31-25 victory at Jacksonville last week. Philip Rivers threw for four touchdowns in that contest, but has tossed 10 interceptions while losing six of his last seven meetings with his AFC West rival.
Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders (+3, 44.5)
* After losing five of its first six contests this season, Kansas City has gone on a winning streak that reached five games with a 30-22 triumph over Buffalo in Week 12, covering the spread in each of those games.
* The Raiders, who are looking to reach the .500 mark in the month of December for the first time since 2011, have lost three of their last four meetings with the Chiefs.
Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints (+6.5, 50)
* The Carolina Panthers have won 15 consecutive regular season games dating back to Dec. 7, 2014, going 11-4 ATS in that stretch. They are 5-0 SU/ATS on the road this season.
* The Saints have lost three straight, failing to cover in each of those games, following a three-game winning streak and are coming off a 24-6 defeat at Houston.
Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots (-8.5, 49)
* While the absence of Sam Bradford may partially explain the three-game skid (0-3 ATS), Philadelphia's defense has been shredded for 45 points in each of the last two games by a pair of offenses that rank among the bottom half in the league.
* The Patriots' bid for a perfect season was derailed in an overtime defeat at Denver last week, but they have gone 56 consecutive regular-season games without suffering back-to-back defeats.
Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers (-7.5, 49)
* The 40-year-old Hasselbeck has been a savior while subbing for an injured Andrew Luck, improving to 4-0 after guiding Indianapolis to a 25-12 win over Tampa Bay last week.
* The Steelers got a scare of their own at quarterback when Ben Roethlisberger was knocked out of last weekend's loss at Seattle with a concussion, but he received medical clearance this week. Pittsburgh is among four AFC teams tied with 6-5 records battling for the final two postseason slots.
