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NFL Picks

NFL picks for every game of the 2025-26 season. Our NFL expert picks are informed by key betting trends, statistical analysis and years of NFL betting experience. +44.4 units profit, from 274 winning NFL picks so far this season is the proof.

Our NFL picks this week include against the spread picks for every game in week 18, including all of those crucial matchups with playoff implications.

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4:30 PM ET
Sat Jan 3
ABC, ESPN
Carolina Panthers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Panthers
Buccaneers
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Point Spread Pick
CAR Panthers +3.0(-110)

Since the Falcons shocked bettors and beat the Rams on Monday Night Football, the race for the NFC South crown just got more complicated. In simpler terms, Tampa’s chances of making the playoffs just decreased significantly. Even if they win this game on Saturday, they need the Saints to knock off the Falcons (at Atlanta) on Sunday to win the division. 

Regardless, motivation will be at its peak on Saturday afternoon as these 2 NFC South rivals clash in the final week of the 2025 NFL season. The Bucs’ demise has been startling. Halfway through the season, they looked like one of the league’s most dangerous outfits (they were 6-2 entering Week 10). They have only 1 victory since, and December has churned out one perplexing loss after another (at home fails against New Orleans and Atlanta and last week falling to the Fins in Miami). They also dropped their first clash against the Panthers just 2 weeks ago, thanks to a Baker Mayfield interception on what could have been the game-winning drive. Since Week 10, they’ve been the favorite in 6 out of 8 contests, a designation they’ll receive once again at home in this crucial battle. Not once have they covered the spread since Week 10, either.

Injuries to key players on both sides of the ball have been their biggest challenge, but we also can’t ignore the absence of Liam Coen, the distinguished offensive coordinator who left to coach the Jaguars this season. Jacksonville now sits 12-4 and is one of the top seeds in the AFC.

The Panthers have rarely played consistently well this season, either, but their journey to the top of the NFC South has been far more impressive than their rival. Halfway through the season, they were 4-4, a nice surprise considering their downtrodden years prior. Key wins at Lambeau Field, at Atlanta, at home against the Rams and most recently against the Bucs have carved a path for Dave Canales and his roster. Much to the chagrin of Tampa and their other rivals, the Panthers simply won’t go away. Anchored by a defense that plays its best in the clutch (they’re 13th in opponent red-zone success) and a formidable rushing attack (11th in rush yards per game), they’ve only lost consecutive games once this season, in Weeks 1 and 2. In his 3rd year, Bryce Young has also emerged as a more dependable thrower, although his numbers are never eye-popping (21st in yards, 24th in turnovers, 23rd in total QBR).

It’s really hard to support Tampa right now, especially as the chalk. They’re just 2-7 against the spread as the favorite this season, while Carolina revels in the underdog role (8-5 ATS). All things considered, the Panthers feel like the right side to be on.

Panthers vs Buccaneers prediction: Panthers +3 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to 2.

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Game Totals Pick
Under 44.0(-110)

Saturday’s opener is set at a total that’s in limbo by all standards, and it’s not-coincidentally a tick below the same number (43) that their Week 16 battle ended on. At this point, neither team is trustworthy on offense. 

Tampa started the season as one of the NFL’s hottest offenses. Their 6-2 run was highlighted by many big Baker Mayfield moments, catalyzed by a receiving corps that was clearly one of the deepest and most talented in the league. In those 8 games, Baker totaled 210+ pass yards in 5, with the offense soaring over 345+ total yards in the same number of games. An early injury to Mike Evans changed the offense, though, taking away the Bucs’ #1 threat. Starting running back Bucky Irving had to sit out in October and returned in the final weekend of November, too, further hampering an offense that was a top unit early on. Off and on injuries to their best offensive lineman, left tackle Tristan Wirfs, didn’t help either.

Fast forward to Week 18, and the Bucs are much healthier, with Evans, Irving, and Wirfs free of any injury designation heading into Saturday. But that’s been the case for a few weeks now, and something just feels off. Of course, Mayfield might not admit it but a left shoulder injury in Week 12 might still be slowing him down. No Liam Coen, their first-class play-caller in seasons past, might be limiting their potential, too. Tampa has failed to surpass 301 total yards in 4 of 8 games.

The Panthers’ offense is subpar by most metrics. They have a good ground game, rated in the top half of the NFL in nearly every category (122.4 per game, 11th), but they rarely produce points (18.6 on average, 27th), nor do they ever create big plays (27th in points and yards per play). They’re average, which means much better, in most of the same categories defensively, and in their first clash with the Bucs, they held Baker and company to just 20 points and 296 total yards (along with a pathetic 4.9 yards per play).

This total is rightly low but not low enough. Considering what’s on the line, the animosity between 2 rivals and the lack of consistent production from both offenses, there’s only one way to look.

Panthers vs Bucs pick: Under 44 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to 43.

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Why Trust our NFL Picks

Through week 17 of the 2025 season our team of NFL handicappers have made against the spread and totals picks for every game. with 274 wins (and 4 pushes) our record speaks for itself. Our expert NFL picks have scored +32.9 units of profit so far this season.

NFL PickWinsPushLossesProfit (betting units)
Sides (Moneyline/ATS)1383113+28.4
Totals (Over / Under)1361117+16
Total2744230+44.4

At Pickswise, every NFL pick is backed by years of betting experience, advanced data analysis, and a proven track record of success. Our team of handicappers studies line movement, injury reports, historical trends, and matchup stats to deliver informed recommendations — not guesses. We publish our results openly, update our predictions as new information emerges, and never hide behind vague analysis. Whether you’re looking for expert spreads, totals, props, or parlays, our mission is simple: give you honest, well-researched picks that stand up over time.

Free NFL Picks Explained

We firmly believe expert NFL picks should be free, so you’ll find our NFL picks today, and every day of the season, right here. We publish our free NFL picks for every game, at least a few days in advance of gameday, so you know who the experts are backing without missing out on the early value in the betting markets.

There’s almost an infinite way to bet on the NFL, from NFL picks against the spread, moneyline, over/under, NFL Parlays, and NFL Prop Bets, there is a bet type for every kind of football fan, so we provide NFL picks for every bet type. Some bettors like to specialize in a single particular type of NFL pick, while others like to have a diverse range and bet on anything they feel is a value pick.

Here at Pickswise, we have something for everyone. Our team of handicappers have a wealth of experience in making NFL picks across all these betting markets, leaving no stone unturned ahead of every game and every pick of the 2025 NFL season. If you’re looking for more information on NFL bet types, You can find our expert breakdown of each below.

NFL Picks Against the Spread

The most popular way to bet on the NFL is against the spread (ATS). With these wagers, you are not picking a simple winner or loser of a game. Instead, ATS betting is placing your money that Team A wins by a certain amount of points or that Team B will keep the game closer than oddsmakers expect, in other words, not lose by that same amount of points.

For Example

Philadelphia Eagles -7 – Philadelphia must win by 8 or more points to cover the spread.
Chicago Bears +7 – Chicago must win, or lose by 6 or fewer points to cover the spread.
Tie Scenario – If the game ended 27-20 to Philadelphia, the spread would be a tie, or a push and stakes would be returned.

  • The team that covers the spread wins the game outright around 80% of the time.
  • Road teams going into games as the favorite have covered the spread at 64% so far this season
  • Teams coming off a blowout loss (20+ points) tend to rebound against the spread, 57% of the time.

Free NFL Over / Under Picks

Another exciting way to still get in on the NFL action is with totals wagers. In these bets you don’t take a side, but whether the two teams will combine to score over or under the total number of points that the oddsmakers have set. Already since sports betting has been legalized we’ve seen many occasions where a hail mary, missed FG or XP has cost over or unders bettors, so be prepared to be in for the long haul with your totals bets. We preview every game of the NFL season, providing insight into the game as a whole alongside expert NFL picks so you can make informed NFL totals bets.

  • Overall, unders have proven the value pick in recent seasons, as defenses have caught up with scoring trending down since 2021
  • Unders bets have the edge in divisional games, landing 57% of the time. This trend gets stronger late in the season (week 13 onwards), especially in cold weather conditions.
  • Unders bets have landed on 58% of primetime games, as public betting tends to have a bias for the overs in these games.

Money Line NFL Picks

Ask any seasoned NFL bettor and they’ll tell you that ATS betting is exciting, but can also be frustrating. It is important to keep in mind that NFL teams only need to win by one, of course, they’d love to win by more, but they’ll change their schemes late on to secure a win, not to ensure they cover the spread. Your research could have given you the right side, but if they win by 6 instead of 7 your -6.5 bet is a loss. Therefore a lot of bettors like to keep it simple and take our expert NFL Money Line picks and bet on the NFL straight up.

  • Through the first 4 weeks of the 2025 season 6+ point favourites have been strong straight up, with a 16-2-1 record
  • Short underdogs (+1 to +3 on the spread) win outright 43% of the time, offering better value on the moneyline than the spread
  • Underdogs in lower scoring road games (less than 42 total points) win outright 39% of the time, but often at better prices than this record suggests.

2025-26 NFL Schedule 

This will be the 106th season in league history and is set to kick off with the NFL Kick-Off game on Thursday, September 4, hosted by the defending Super Bowl Champions Philadelphia Eagles, who take on the Dallas Cowboys. The regular season will come to a conclusion on January 4, 2026 with the NFL Playoffs scheduled to begin the following weekend on the 10th, 11th & 12th of January 2026. Super Bowl LX is scheduled for February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco, California, the home of the 49ers.

NFL Playoff Picks

You can find our NFL picks for the 2026 Playoffs, right here, for free. Wildcard Weekend is scheduled to start January 10, upon the conclusion of week 18 our experts start to make their picks and predictions for the first round of the playoffs and after each round is concluded we prepare for the coming weekend, all the way up to the Super Bowl.

NFL Playoff Picks
NFL Wildcard Weekend Picks
NFL Divisional Round Picks
NFL Conference Championship Picks

NFL Expert Picks

Our NFL Football picks will be for every game throughout the regular season, with primetime games and the top matchups each week getting additional expert coverage which will extend to every playoff game. These NFL Football picks will come alongside analysis and the latest stats and trends to consider when betting. You can also find our NFL Best Bets for the top plays of the week and a confidence rating for our expert handicapper.

Looking for alternative football picks? then head to our College Football Picks page, where you’ll find the same level of expertise from the Pickswise handicapping team for all the headline games in the 2025 NCAA football season.

More Than Just NFL Football Picks

We also specialize in every major North American sport including the MLB, NBA, NHL, College Football, and College Basketball. Check out our site every day for some of the best bets in every major athletic contest and make sure to follow us on social media as well.

Andrew Wilsher, Managing Editor of Pickswise

Statistical Approach to NFL Picks

It’s our goal to provide you with the best NFL picks in the market. Our expert handicappers are all specially selected and assessed prior to joining the team to ensure their analysis. experience and results are among the best in the industry. Each capper will put hours of research into each pick and many have built statistical models to find their moneyline, spread and over/under picks so you don’t have to. Check out all of our cappers’ free NFL picks here every week of the season. 

Andrew Wilsher, Pickswise Managing Editor

NFL Picks FAQs

To bet against the spread in the NFL you are either betting the favorite to win by x number of points or the underdog to win, or lose by fewer than x points. For example the Chiefs -7 points or the Panthers +7 points.

The number of points is set by sportsbooks and is often referred to as the line

 

Pickswise is the best website to get free NFL picks against the spread. Our handicappers provide free insight, analysis, and data to back up which way they’re siding against the spread for every NFL game. So far this NFL season our experts have secured 86 winning NFL picks for a profit of 26 units

Pickswise is the best place to get free expert NFL picks. We have the best cappers and NFL picks on the market and you can get all of our NFL picks for free! every week.

Each pick is meticulously researched by an experienced NFL handicapper, using our own data, custom-built models, and analytical methods. Our profit this season is 26 units and rising, so don’t miss out on the best NFL picks this week.