Each Friday of the 2018 NFL season, we’ll be picking every game (except for Thursday Night Football, of course) against the spread.
Here are the picks for Week 13.
Chicago Bears (-4) at New York Giants
The Pick: Bears
It’ll be Chase Daniel under centre for the second straight week for Chicago, but the Bears defence will cause trouble for New York. A four-point spread feels like a no-brainer.
Los Angeles Rams (-10) at Detroit Lions
The Pick: Rams
The Rams are just 3-6 against the spread in their last 10 games and Detroit has had some big wins at home, so I’ve flip-flopped on this pick. In the end, though, L.A. will likely be too much for the banged-up Lions to handle.
Baltimore Ravens at Atlanta Falcons (-1.5)
The Pick: Falcons
Despite a solid two-game span for Lamar Jackson, wins at home over the Bengals and Raiders don’t exactly inspire confidence and the Falcons tend to score a lot in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals at Green Bay Packers (-14)
The Pick: Cardinals
This spread is simply too large for me to be comfortable taking a 4-6-1 team, no matter how bad their opponent is.
Carolina Panthers (-3.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Pick: Panthers
The last three weeks have not been pretty for the Panthers, but I’m betting on them bouncing back in Tampa Bay. Otherwise, Carolina’s playoff hopes are all but toast.
Indianapolis Colts (-4) at Jacksonville Jaguars
The Pick: Colts
I can’t bet on Cody Kessler.
Denver Broncos (-5) at Cincinnati Bengals
The Pick: Broncos
The Broncos have snapped six-game win streaks in consecutive weeks and now face a Bengals team with a league-worst defence and Jeff Driskel under centre.
Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans (-5.5)
The Pick: Texans
There’s a lot to like about what Cleveland has done in its last two games, but Baker Mayfield is going to have a tough time against this Texans defence.
Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins (-3.5)
The Pick: Bills
Buffalo has covered in its last two games, and Josh Allen and one of the league’s top defences will keep this AFC East contest close.
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New York Jets at Tennessee Titans (-8)
The Pick: Titans
The Jets are on a five-game skid, losing by an average of 17 points over that span. The Titans, meanwhile, are 3-1 against the spread at home this season.
Kansas City Chiefs (-15) at Oakland Raiders
The Pick: Raiders
If this were in K.C., I’d take the spread. But I’m a bit weary with the game in Oakland, so… HOME DOG!
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (-10)
The Pick: Seahawks
I don’t expect Nick Mullens’s debut at CenturyLink Field to go all that well, especially against a Seahawks team on the ups.
Minnesota Vikings at New England Patriots (-5)
The Pick: Vikings
There are a lot of factors that point to the Patriots here – including a 4-1 record against the spread at Foxboro – but I think the Vikings defensive line will cause some trouble for Tom Brady and help keep this close.
Los Angeles Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers (-3.5)
The Pick: Chargers
The Chargers are 4-1 on the road this season, both straight up and against the spread. And although that came against lesser teams than the Steelers, Pittsburgh is struggling and L.A. can take advantage.
Washington at Philadelphia Eagles (-6)
The Pick: Washington
Philadelphia should be the better of these two teams, but the injuries in the secondary make it tough to take the Eagles by a touchdown.
