NFL Poolies Betting Cheat Sheet: Week 13
Check out our NFL poolies' cheat sheet for all your football wagering needs in condensed form. Quick-hitting betting notes on all of Week 13's action.
Seattle at Chicago (-3.5, 37.5)
Jay Cutler returned against the Vikings last week and led four straight scoring drives in the first and second quarters as Chicago cruised to a 28-10 win. The Seahawks should have their full secondary ready to attack Cutler and WR Brandon Marshall, as the potential suspensions for CBs Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner, who both tested positive for a banned stimulant, are under appeal. Seattle is 1-5 on the road this season and has suffered all five of those road losses by a touchdown or less, including last week’s 24-21 setback at Miami. Bears RB Matt Forte (ankle) has been limited in practice but says he will be ready to go for Sunday. These teams have played over the total in their last seven meetings.
Minnesota at Green Bay (-9.5, 46.5)
The Vikings and Packers square off in a crucial game for their playoff prospects Sunday at Lambeau Field. Green Bay is coming off a 38-10 prime-time loss to the New York Giants and is now a game behind the division-leading Bears. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has the highest QB rating in the league (105.6), but he has been held under 300 yards passing in four consecutive games. However, he will have one of his favorite targets back on the field this week, as WR Greg Jennings will make his return after missing seven games because of abdominal surgery. These teams have played over the total in seven of their last eight meetings.
San Francisco at St. Louis (7, 40)
The last time Alex Smith started at QB he was knocked out of the game and the 49ers ended up tying the St. Louis Rams after Colin Kaepernick stepped in and helped overcome a 17-7 deficit. This time, Kaepernick will get the start over a healthy Smith when San Francisco visits the Rams. The Niners’ passing game will have to be efficient because the ground game has been in a funk as of late. Frank Gore rushed for 97 yards on 21 carries in the first meeting with St. Louis this season, but has been held under 100 yards in four straight games. St. Louis could be without top WR Danny Amendola (heel), who has missed practice this week because of the injury. The 49ers are 4-1 ATS in their last five road games.
Arizona at New York Jets (-4.5, 36.5)
Both of these clubs are coming off lopsided home losses that dropped them to 4-7 on the campaign. The Cardinals have stumbled to seven consecutive defeats following a 4-0 start but they do own a victory at New England, a team that has defeated the Jets twice, including a 49-19 beating on Thanksgiving night. Arizona hasn’t scored 20 points since Week 4 and is averaging a paltry 12.7 points during its seven-game skid. The Jets have taken the last five meetings and none of New York's remaining five opponents currently has more than four wins. The under is 5-1 in the Cardinals’ last six road games.
Carolina at Kansas City (3, 40.5)
Cam Newton threw for a pair of touchdowns and rushed for two more as Carolina posted a 30-22 victory over Philadelphia on Monday night. Newton could be in line for another field day against Kansas City, which can match its longest losing skid in franchise history with a ninth straight loss on Sunday. The Chiefs are counting on Brady Quinn to spark an offense that has mustered just three touchdowns in the last seven contests. With RB Jonathan Stewart likely sidelined with a high ankle sprain, DeAngelo Williams will receive the bulk of the carries in the backfield for the Panthers. Carolina is 4-0 ATS in its last four road games.
Indianapolis at Detroit (-5, 51)
The Lions suffered their third straight loss with a 34-31 overtime setback to Houston on Nov. 22, but the talk resonating from the game centered on the intent of Ndamukong Suh's kick to the groin of QB Matt Schaub. Commissioner Roger Goodell elected not to suspend the mammoth defensive tackle, but the league issued a $30,000 fine instead. Interim Colts coach Bruce Arians has won six of eight contests while filling in for Chuck Pagano and Indy has covered in five of its last six games overall.
Jacksonville at Buffalo (-6, 44.5)
The Bills have tumbled down the standings following four losses in five games, including last week's 20-13 defeat at Indianapolis. Buffalo continues to struggle in the red zone, managing only one touchdown in each of its last two games, and has surrendered a punt return for a score in consecutive weeks. The Jaguars have come to life under backup QB Chad Henne and snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 24-19 victory over Tennessee last week. Henne has thrown for 615 yards with six touchdowns and one interception in his two appearances this campaign. Surprisingly, Jacksonville is 6-0 ATS in its last six road games.
New England at Miami (9, 51)
Tom Brady and the New England Patriots look to extend their five-game winning streak when they visit Miami. New England has scored 108 points in its last two games, the third-highest two-game total in NFL history. The Patriots have put up at least 37 points in each of their last four games and the scary part is that they’ve taken their foot off the gas in each one. Miami has been gashed through the air this season. The Dolphins rank 27th against the pass and they can’t count on the takeaways when they face Brady, who has been picked off just three times on the season. These teams have played over the total in their last four meetings.
Houston at Tennessee (6, 47)
The Texans have won five straight, including back-to-back overtime victories against Jacksonville and Detroit, and need just one more win to break the franchise record of 10 set last season. Houston also will clinch a playoff spot with a win or tie. Tennessee has lost three of four, including a 24-19 loss at Jacksonville last week, to fall two games off the wild card pace with five games to play. The Titans’ stop unit is among the league's worst and is ranked 31st in scoring and 29th in total yards. Houston is 5-0 on the road with four of those wins coming by seven points or less.
Tampa Bay at Denver (-8, 50.5)
The Buccaneers had their four-game winning streak snapped with last week's one-point home loss to Atlanta, but remain in a three-way tie with the Seahawks and Vikings for the final playoff spot in the NFC. Tampa Bay had rolled up an average of nearly 35 points during its four-game winning streak, but bogged down at critical moments in the 24-23 loss to the Falcons. The Broncos can wrap up their second straight AFC West title with a victory. Denver enters on a six-game winning streak, but the Bucs are 4-0-1 ATS in their last five.
Pittsburgh at Baltimore (-9.5, 34.5)
Pittsburgh, which has lost two straight without QB Ben Roethlisberger, desperately needs a win when it travels to Baltimore to avoid seeing its playoff hopes take another hit. Roethlisberger is back practicing in a limited capacity but has been ruled out, so veteran Charlie Batch will start. The Ravens can clinch a playoff berth with a win, and if their victory is paired with a Cincinnati loss at San Diego, they'll lock up the division crown. Baltimore enters on a four-game winning streak and has won 15 consecutive regular-season home games - the longest active streak in the NFL. The Ravens are 3-0-1 ATS in their last four games overall.
Cleveland at Oakland (2.5, 39.5)
Cleveland recorded eight turnovers against injury-ravaged Pittsburgh last week en route to a 20-14 triumph. Rookie QB Brandon Weeden suffered a concussion in the fourth quarter of the victory, but is probable to be under center Sunday. Oakland could receive a boost in the backfield as Darren McFadden has resumed practicing and is in line to return after missing the last three contests with an ankle sprain. The Raiders are 0-4 ATS in their last four overall.
Cincinnati at San Diego (1, 45.5)
The Cincinnati Bengals have put themselves in a wild card position with three straight wins. The Bengals have demolished the Giants, Chiefs and Raiders by an average of 21.3 points over the last three weeks. Andy Dalton has thrown for nine touchdowns and no interceptions in that span while the defense has been able to get pressure on opposing QBs and defend well against the passing game. That’s bad news for the Chargers, who have struggled passing and stopping the pass. San Diego has dropped six of its last seven games and has surrendered at least 30 points in four of those setbacks. The Bengals are 4-1 ATS in their last five games following a win.
Philadelphia at Dallas (-10.5, 43)
The Eagles haven't tasted victory since Week 4, when they improved to 3-1 with a 19-17 triumph over the Giants. Injuries have ravaged the offense and Andy Reid is basically a lame-duck coach waiting for the axe to fall at season's end. On top of injuries to key cogs, Michael Vick (concussion) and LeSean McCoy (concussion), top wideout DeSean Jackson has been placed on IR with fractured ribs. Dallas, which is last in the league with an average of 78.7 rushing yards, may receive a boost Sunday as RB DeMarco Murray (foot) could be available. The Eagles are 1-9-1 ATS in their last 11 games overall.
New York Giants at Washington (1, 51)
New York avoided a major downward spiral last Sunday night, when it posted a convincing 38-10 home victory over the Packers. Prior to the win, the Giants suffered losses at home to Pittsburgh and in Cincinnati. But not everything that came out of Sunday's win over the Packers was good as RB Andre Brown suffered a broken leg and is out for the remainder of the season. David Wilson could see more playing time in place of Brown, who leads the NFC with eight rushing touchdowns. Washington suffered a 27-23 setback to the Giants in Week 7 at MetLife Stadium. But New York is 0-4 ATS in its last four meetings with the Redskins.
