The regular season of the 2020 NFL season comes to a close in Week 17, giving teams the opportunity to secure a post-season spot in the bye week. It will be an intense close to the NFL regular season as all teams will play on Sunday, January 3. Some teams will be looking to secure the top spot in their division, some will rest their key players in anticipation of the star of the post-season, while others will play their hearts outs for a chance for post-season qualification. From a betting perspective, it will be a complicated showdown. This is why the odds and point spreads are not what you would expect on a regular NFL match day.
Going through the point spread in each of the games will shock you as it can be considered ridiculous. However, the unique nature of the bye week makes it an “anything can happen” type of week and so, a lot will not make sense, especially from a betting perspective. One of the games to look out for is the Cleveland Browns versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Browns come into this fixture as a seven-point favorite. It has been over thirty years since the Browns have been favored over the Steelers by seven or more points. The last time it happened, the Browns lost the game 17-7. Is it possible that the Browns rewrite their history with this game?
Another highlight fixture is the Los Angeles Chargers versus the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chargers are favored over the defending champions by sportsbooks. Both match-ups are affected mostly by the fact that the actual favorites would play with the bench in lieu of the original starters. The goal is to rest players before the post-season action.
There are a lot more questions that need to be answered this week in the NFL. Can the Chicago Bears outplay the Green Bay Packers for a spot in the playoffs? This and more will be discussed as we preview and analyze each game.
The games that will be played in the NFL Week 17 are;
Fixture || Time
Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers || 1 p.m. ET
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals || 1 p.m. ET
Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants || 1 p.m. ET
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears || 1 p.m. ET
Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts || 1 p.m. ET
Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs || 1 p.m. ET
Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills || 1 p.m. ET
Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions || 1 p.m. ET
New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers || 1 p.m. ET
New York Jets at New England Patriots || 1 p.m. ET
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns || 1 p.m. ET
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans || 1 p.m. ET
Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles || 1 p.m. ET
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams || 4:25 p.m. ET
Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos || 4:25 p.m. ET
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers || 4:25 p.m. ET
Game Previews
See Bovada for updated lines and odds.
Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Money Line || Atlanta Falcons +245 Tampa Bay Buccaneers -290
Spread || Atlanta Falcons -6.5 (-116) Tampa Bay Buccaneers +6.5 (-104)
Total || Atlanta Falcons Over 50.5 (-110) Tampa Bay Buccaneers Under 50.5 (-110)
In Week 17 history, the Falcons have won their last four games so it is not wise to bet against them. The Buccaneers have already secured a wild-card slot so do well to find out if their starters will be playing before placing your bet.
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals
Money Line || Baltimore Ravens -700 Cincinnati Bengals +520
Spread || Baltimore Ravens -11.5 (-110) Cincinnati Bengals +11.5 (-110)
Total || Baltimore Ravens Over 44.5 (-115) Cincinnati Bengals Under 44.5 (-115)
The Bengals have also had an impressive run towards the close of the season going back the last ten years. Head-to-head favors the Bengals also even though the Ravens have won their last four games in this series.
Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants
Money Line || Dallas Cowboys -158 New York Giants +138
Spread || Dallas Cowboys -2.5 (-124) New York Giants +2.5 (+104)
Total || Dallas Cowboys Over 44.5 (-108) New York Giants Under 44.5 (-112)
It will be a close matchup because whoever emerges as the victor will end up as the NFC East Champion. Dallas has been impressive so far winning their last seven straight in this matchup.
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears
Money Line || Green Bay Packers -245 Chicago Bears +205
Spread || Green Bay Packers -5.5 (-110) Chicago Bears +5.5 (-110)
Total || Green Bay Packers Over 50.5 (-110) Chicago Bears Under 50.5 (-110)
The Packers have comfortably bossed the Bears over the past few years and it is likely that seems to now be a tradition that will continue.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts
Money Line || Jacksonville Jaguars +775 Indianapolis Colts -1250
Spread || Jacksonville Jaguars +14 (-110) Indianapolis Colts -14 (-110)
Total || Jacksonville Jaguars Over 50 (-108) Indianapolis Colts Under 50 (-112)
The Colts need a win to keep their playoffs hope alive but the Jaguars might ruin it for them. It has been an impressive run for the Jaguars who come into this game with a 7-3 run.
Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs
This fixture will most likely sway in the favor of the Chiefs as it has done since November 15. However, they have nothing to play for as they have clinched a first-round bye.
Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills
Against the Dolphins, the Bills have gone 6-1 in the past seven games. However, keep in mind that a win for the Dolphins will mean playoff action for them.
Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions
Spread || Minnesota Vikings -6.5 (-120) Detroit Lions +6.5 (+100)
The Vikings have been very poor in their last six games but this is a good chance for them to end their 0-ATS streak.
New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers
Money Line || New Orleans Saints -290 Carolina Panthers +245
Spread || New Orleans Saints +6.5 (-115) Carolina Panthers -6.5 (-105)
Total || New Orleans Saints Over 48 (-105) Carolina Panthers Under 48 (-115)
The Saints have a longer shot of making a first-round bye following the Packers win last weekend. That can have the coach rest some key players and leave it open for the Panthers to secure a win.
New York Jets at New England Patriots
This will be very short and simple, a bet against the Jets might not be as profitable as it once was.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns
Spread || Pittsburgh Steelers +7 (-110) Cleveland Browns -7 (-110)
This is one of the very popular one-sided rivalries in NFL history. The Browns are 3-7 ATS in their past 10 games.
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans
Money Line || Tennessee Titans -360 Houston Texans +290
Spread || Tennessee Titans -7.5 (-107) Houston Texans +7.5 (-113)
Total || Tennessee Titans Over 56.5 (-110) Houston Texans Under 56.5 (-110)
A win for the Titans will have them clinch the AFC South. The Texans on the other hand have nothing to play for s it might be easy for the Titans.
Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles
Money Line || Washington Redskins -133 Philadelphia Eagles +133
Spread || Washington Redskins -2 (-112) Philadelphia Eagles +2 (-108)
Total || Washington Redskins Over 43.5 (-110) Philadelphia Eagles Under 43.5 (-110)
Washington looks the most likely to win as a win will secure them the NFC East title despite their Week 16 loss.
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams
A win for the Cardinals will mean a playoff spot. This might be all the motivation the Cardinals will need.
Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos
Money Line || Las Vegas Raiders -140 Denver Broncos +120
Spread || Las Vegas Raiders -2.5 (-110) Denver Broncos +2.5 (-110)
Total || Las Vegas Raiders Over 50.5 (-110) Denver Broncos Under 50.5 (-110)
The raiders have been poor for the last five weeks. However, they have a chance to end the season on a high note against the Broncos.
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers
Money Line || Seattle Seahawks -260 San Francisco 49ers +220
Spread || Seattle Seahawks -5.5 (-110) San Francisco 49ers +5.5 (-110)
Total || Seattle Seahawks Over 46.5 (-110) San Francisco 49ers Under 46.5 (-110)
The Seahawks could win this game because a win will secure them the top spot in the NFC. However, road trips are not easy for the Seahawks.
