Andrew Wilsher
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Happy holidays, Pickswise Nation! Week 16 of the NFL season got started with the Rams getting a big win over the Saints in the race to reach the playoffs, and we have plenty more games with postseason implications during this festive period. With matchups taking place on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, we’re all set for a feast of NFL action. Here at Pickswise, our handicappers have been on fire this season with their NFL best bets with a 46-34 record, which has delivered +18.54 units of profit! We’ve also got NFL picks for every matchup this week, but for now, let’s dive into the best bet from 3 of our best NFL handicappers.
The Betting Queen: Green Bay Packers -5 over Carolina Panthers (-110)
The Green Bay Packers will be visiting the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, with the Panthers coming off a huge upset win against the Falcons to secure their second win of the season. After looking hot with wins over the Chiefs and Lions, Green Bay has slumped to consecutive defeats to the Giants and Buccaneers. However, that has created the perfect buy-low spot for Green Bay. Before those recent defeats, the Packers has won 4 of their last 5 and Jordan Love was beginning to look like the quarterback Green Bay had hoped he would be. He’s stepped up mightily and is looking like a franchise QB, and I believe he can show it here against Carolina. In his last 5 games, he has only thrown 1 interception and he is tied for fifth-most touchdown passes in the NFL with 25. Ultimately with this young offense it is going to have its ups and downs, but I believe the Packers can bounce back here.
The Panthers are a mess this season and even with that win last week they are still the worst team in the league. Their offense cannot get things going and they have struggled with scoring, averaging just 14 points per game. Bryce Young has also been having a rough rookie year, only throwing 9 touchdowns to 9 interceptions. I expect the Panthers’ offense to have another tough game and for their defense to give up a lot of points. Take the Packers with confidence to win this one comfortably.
Be sure to check out our full Green Bay Packers vs Carolina Panthers predictions
Chris Farley: Seattle Seahawks -2.5 over Tennessee Titans (-125)
The NFL is a teeter-totter league and it seems like that’s the case every single week for a myriad of reasons. The Seahawks couldn’t buy a win to save their lives for four weeks. That is, until Drew Lock squared up against last year’s NFC Champion and Seattle upset the Eagles on Monday Night Football earlier this week. No Geno Smith, no problem.
On the other side, the Tennessee Titans came off a Monday night upset of their own the week prior, knocking off the Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium as 14-point pooches. Then in Week 15 they looked like a totally different team. Despite celebrating the old-school Oilers by wearing their uniforms and coming off such a tremendous victory, the Titans couldn’t overcome Case Keenum and a motivated Houston defense at home. We know that Mike Vrabel’s team is good at home (4-2 ATS this season) and they’ve been even better as a home underdog (7-2 ATS the last three seasons). They’re also a team of great pride. Tennessee is officially OUT of the playoffs, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to spoil another team’s fun.
That would be the case if they booted Seattle, since the Seahawks are one game out of the NFC playoffs. We’re not sure the Titans are up for such a task, though. Seattle has new life after their big MNF win. Geno Smith (groin) should return after resting for two weeks (and he nearly played on Monday), and last time we checked Pete Carrol is pretty damn good in these situations, too. The legendary coach has led the Seahawks to at least nine wins in 10 of the past 11 seasons, and they’ve never missed the postseason two years in a row. Offensively they’re in a different class than the Titans, a team that only gained 204 yards against an average Houston defense. Tennessee QB Will Levis still has plenty to learn, too. We’ll side with a veteran group of greater talent and a coach that doesn’t have many runs left. The Titans are at an inflexion point right now, the Seahawks are not. They want the postseason.
Be sure to check out our full Seattle Seahawks vs Tennessee Titans predictions
John Martin: New England Patriots +6.5 over Denver Broncos (-110)
We’re getting to that late point in the season when every team’s motivations are going to be all over the place. Teams like the Patriots that have nothing to play for (individuals, a different story) playing teams like the Broncos, whose motivations are to make the playoffs. But there’s an old adage that I like to go by in these situations: if a team is in a must-win game in the regular season, it’s probably not very good. The Broncos aren’t very good! They got by in the middle of the season with some serious turnover luck and when that stopped, that carriage turned right back into a pumpkin.
The Patriots may not have anything to play for, but that defense is going to be the best unit on the field. On the offensive side of the ball, the Patriots do finally seem to have a bit of life now that they made the permanent quarterback switch to Bailey Zappe. It didn’t result in a win against the Chiefs last week, but Zappe was 23-of-31 for 180 yards, a touchdown and an interception. That seems pretty bad, but it’s still an upgrade over Mac Jones. And the Pats did beat the Steelers on Thursday Night Football a couple of weeks ago. I think the way the Broncos will try to play this game – in fact, the way both teams will try to play this game – is conducive to a close game. I just can’t get to a full touchdown here with Denver, especially with the Patriots’ defensive capabilities. I believe the situation will call for a pretty conservative game script from Sean Payton, and I don’t even think he and Russell Wilson are on the best of terms right now anyway after their exchange last week in Detroit. We’ll take the Patriots inside a touchdown.
Be sure to check out our full New England Patriots vs Denver Broncos predictions
