Best Bet
1. San Francisco 49ers (-12.5) vs. Detroit Lions
The Lions will starting Drew Stanton at QB on Sunday and that’s not good for Detroit. A poor road team as is, they’re heading into San Francisco where the Niners blew out the Cardinals two weeks ago and forced seven turnovers in the process.
Expect a dominating defensive effort in Week 16 and a convincing, two TD win for the Niners.
Next In Line
2. Green Bay Packers (-14) vs. Seattle Seahawks
The only thing to be concerned about here is whether last week’s 37-36 loss in Pittsburgh took the wind out of their sails. If they are able to put that loss behind them, this will be a rout. The Seahawks have mailed in the season after being annihilated by Houston and Tampa (at home) in consecutive weeks and are not going to be happy about playing in the frigid Lambeau Field.
Green Bay, still fighting for a Wild Card Berth, will win convincingly on Sunday and cover the two TD point spread the sportsbook currently has them at.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+14) vs. New Orleans Saints
While the Saints want to have a strong performance after suffering their 1st loss of the season, they’ve already wrapped up the NFC’s top seed and are not about to expose their key players to injury in the 2nd half of this game. Look for Tampa, coming off a solid road performance in Seattle, to keep this one within reach for 60 minutes.
4. Washington Redskins (+6.5) vs. Dallas Cowboys
See Money Line Analysis
Others We Like
Cleveland Browns (-3) vs. Oakland Raiders
The 38 point over/under is probably a safe bet too. The Raiders, opting to go with Charlie Frye at QB, are running into a Browns team which is playing surprisingly well right now. They’ve beaten the Steelers and Chiefs as underdogs in back to back weeks and will win their 3rd straight game – and cover the point spread – on Sunday.
Denver Broncos (+7) vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles will win this game, but it will not be by a TD. The Broncos, probably looking ahead to this game in their loss last week to Oakland, were playing very well (up to that point) and will get back on track this week.
The Eagles, excellent offensively, have holes in their defense and Denver, behind Kyle Orton and Brandon Marshall, will keep this close.
Minnesota Vikings (-7) vs. Chicago Bears
The Vikings will probably get back to their roots on Monday and run the ball first, pass second. Favre’s been tremendous this season but it all starts with Adrian Peterson. Some of his best games have come at Chicago’s expense.
Jay Cutler should also be good for a few picks which might lead to a defensive score. Regardless, expect a convincing win for the Vikings on Monday Night.
Money Line
Washington Redskins (+220) vs. Dallas Cowboys
Although the Skins rolled over and died on Monday Night, if there’s one team on the schedule that they always get up for, it’s the Cowboys. The Skins could be 0-14 and still play Dallas competitively.
The Cowboys are coming off an impressive win over the Saints and have quieted their “can’t win in December” talk for the time being.
But this game could be a trap, situated between the Saints game and their crucial game with the Eagles next week. That one could decide their playoff fate and they haven’t exactly played their best ball in December recently.
Offensively, look for Washington to utilize the short passing game to set up the running game. Campbell will use quick strikes to WR Santana Moss, WR Devin Thomas and TE Fred Davis, who’s really come on of late, and then mix in the run. Dallas is vulnerable against the passing game.
Defensively, look for Haynesworth and the front seven to clog the running lanes and take Barber and Co. out of the game. They’ll want to turn Dallas one dimensional and force Romo to drop back 40 times. If they can do this, it’ll put more pressure on him and could lead to turnovers.
Regardless of Washington’s showing on Monday, this will be close throughout, and with the point spread only at 6.5, we think the sports betting world agrees. So look for Dallas, who’s made a habit of losing winnable games in December, to blow another late season opportunity here.
