NFL Picks Against the Spread 2018: Week 16 Games

Before the sixteenth Sunday of the 2018 NFL regular season kicks off, let’s have some fun by taking a look at the spreads for today’s games. (Click here for NFL Week 16 picks without regard to the spread.)

Here are suggestions when trying to beat the odds. You can find all of today’s NFL betting lines and over/unders via SB Nation’s odds page. My season record so far is 104-115-5 after going 7-7-2.

NFL Week 16 Games

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys (-7): There is just no way the Cowboys are going to lose this game. They aren’t chokers. They’re not going to get torched by DeSean Jackson. They’re not going to be in danger of not covering this spread. Lock city. Guarantee of the week. PICK: Cowboys -7

New York Giants at Indianapolis Colts (-9): The Colts are among the teams playing their best football at this late stage in the season. The Giants, who got shut out last week, stink. And even more so without Odell Beckham Jr. Frank Reich versus Pat Shurmur is a huge mismatch in Indy’s favor. PICK: Colts -9

Houston Texans at Philadelphia Eagles (-1): The Texans are 9-21 as road underdogs in the Bill O’Brien era. The Eagles are 15-4 as home favorites in the Doug Pederson era. With this game essentially being a pick ‘em, the trend is in Philly’s favor. Houston will struggle to protect Deshaun Watson from Philly’s pass rush. And Nick Foles just wins!™ PICK: Eagles -1

Jacksonville Jaguars at Miami Dolphins (-3.5): What a gross matchup. I don’t know why you’d want to bet on this stupid game. Both teams stink but the Dolphins have stunk a little less than the Jags have. Keep in mind Jacksonville lost to Josh Johnson last week. PICK: Dolphins -3.5

Green Bay Packers (-2.5) at New York Jets: I do think there’s some upset potential here. It’d be quite the accomplishment for 21-year-old Sam Darnold to out-duel Aaron Rodgers. Wouldn’t count on it, though. PICK: Packers -2.5

Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns (-9): Look at the Browns being huge favorites! I’d much rather bet on Baker Mayfield than Andy Dalton. Cincy has been pretty awful outside of last week’s home win over Oakland, one of the worst teams in the league. Plus, the Browns are still playing to keep (very unlikely) playoff hopes alive! PICK: Browns -9

Minnesota Vikings (-6) at Detroit Lions: Kirk Cousins is a huge choker but he does usually beat the bad teams. The Lions are a bad team. Unfortunately, there’s just no way the Vikings will help the Eagles by losing this game. PICK: Vikings -6

Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots (-14.5): The Bills’ defense is good enough to allow Buffalo to cover. Hard to see the Pats losing three straight in December, though. PICK: Bills +14.5

Atlanta Falcons (-2.5) at Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton is out and the Panthers, who have lost six in a row, are playing on a short week. Maybe Taylor Heinicke has some magic in him but I’ll believe it when I see it. The Falcons scored 40 last week. There’s some offense left in there somewhere. PICK: Falcons -2.5

Chicago Bears (-4.5) at San Francisco 49ers: After beating Denver and Seattle, is San Fran about to win three in a row? Nah. Chicago’s defense is going to make life tough on Nick Mullens. PICK: Bears -4.5

Los Angeles Rams (-14) at Arizona Cardinals: Jared Goff has really sucked lately. The Rams have some real issues. With that said, I think they’ll find a way to get back on track against an Arizona team that’s looking awfully lifeless. PICK: Rams -14

Pittsburgh Steelers at New Orleans Saints (-6): There’s some question to whether the Saints have peaked too early. I don’t think that’s so much the case as it is the Saints not being a great road team. New Orleans will rebound at home. Pittsburgh’s not a good road team, either. PICK: Saints -6

Kansas City Chiefs (-1.5) at Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks are so good at home. It’s very tempting to take them when they’re getting points at CenturyLink Field. I was going to pick the Seahawks, but then I saw this:

Yikes. PICK: Chiefs (-1.5)

Denver Broncos (-3) at Oakland Raiders: The Broncos have struggled recently. They’re still better than the Raiders. PICK: Broncos -2.5