The NFL offered a few coin toss games in Week 12, with that, there were some ups and downs in the game picks and the predictions against the spread. Week 13 offers a few more challenges in a list of 14 more contests.
There are stronger favorites this week, some falling into the double-digit range. There is also an unusual number of field goal spreads (3 points), which are the equivalent of home advantage.
Here’s how Sporting News navigates the latest numbers in another season-ending edition of our intrepid pro soccer forecast:
(Game odds courtesy of FanDuel)
NFL POWER RATINGS:
Patriots, 49ers, Buccaneers rise as Rams and Steelers fall in Week 13
NFL Picks vs. Spread for Week 13
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Game of the week: Patriots at Bills (-2.5, 41.5 o / u)
Monday 8:15 pm ET, ESPN
Mac Jones faces his toughest test yet as a rookie quarterback, in a hostile environment, on the road, in the elements, with first place on the line against a nasty defense. The Patriots also have a daunting defense that will contain the big plays from counterpart Josh Allen. This is a tough game on both sides with limited success, so Allen’s unique double threat form of play will make all the difference in a game that remains tight and quite ugly deep in the fourth quarter.
Choose: Tickets win 23-19 and cover the margin.
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Midweek game: Cowboys (-5.5, 46.5 o / u) at Saints
Thursday 8:20 pm ET, Fox, NFL Network and Amazon Prime Video
The Cowboys and Saints have a regular week playing again Thursday after both teams lost at home on Thanksgiving. The Cowboys will go on the road without coach Mike McCarthy, but they should have wide receivers Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb to power Dak Prescott. The Saints could get positive offensive health news with their running backs and offensive line to give them a better chance at home with Taysom Hill ready to go. Dallas is still a better team at home than it is on the road, but now it’s in a bit more attrition mode to win games.
Choose: The Cowboys win 27-23 but can’t make up the difference.
Outcome: The Cowboys win 27-17 and cover the spread.
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Block of the week: Rams (-13, 48 o / u) over Jaguars
Sunday 4:05 pm ET, Fox
The Rams can’t lose four straight games to this kind of talented team to Sean McVay, right? Assuming Matthew Stafford can stop his pick-six streak, LA will feel pretty good in a much-needed comeback game at home. Former Jaguar Jalen Ramsey will chase Trevor Lawrence on the cover, who will also have Aaron Donald and Von Miller on his face. This is an opportunity for the Rams to hit a team with Darrell Henderson and the running game and rely less on Stafford’s deep passes.
Choose: The Rams win 31-10 and cover the difference.
- Madness of the week: Washington Football Team (+1.5, 49.5 o / u) over Raiders
Sunday 4:05 pm ET, Fox
Washington has shown the offensive talent that allowed it to win the NFC East as a sub-.500 team last season. The defense has buttressed some fundamental problems even without some key pieces for Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio. Las Vegas is coming off a massive road win in Dallas, but just when the team looks most impressive is when it starts to fall again due to inconsistency everywhere.
Choose: Washington wins 27-20.
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Vikings (-7.5, 46.5 o / u) in the Lions
Sunday 1 pm ET, CBS
The Vikings seem locked in one-possession games every week and the eight-point margin of the loss in San Francisco was indeed a beating for them. Minnesota is looking to be without running back Dalvin Cook and its own running defense will give Detroit a chance to stay in another low-scoring game. Kirk Cousins and the Vikings’ much more dynamic receiving body are the difference in the end.
Choose: The Vikings win 23-17 but cannot make up the difference.
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Cardinals (-7.5, 43.5 o / u) at Bears
Sunday 1 pm ET, Fox
The Cardinals’ offense should look closer to its explosive best and balanced with Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins poised to return. The goodbye was opportune to rest during the stretch that aims to nail a top seed in the NFC playlffs. The Cardinals also shouldn’t forget how the Bears stole the final wild card from them last season. The Bears have limited skill position firepower relative to them and they also have too many defensive holes.
Choose: The Cardinals win 27-17 and cover the spread.
- Buccaneers (-10.5, 50.5 o / u) at Falcons
Sunday 1 pm ET, Fox
The Buccaneers are reinventing their offensive identity at the right time, with much more emphasis on running games and short passes. That has been key, as they lacked an element of great play without Antonio Brown and still wanted to limit the exposure of their defensive passing struggle. Find them grounded and hit this house once Brady splits up a weak high school inside. Matt Ryan will be under pressure for much of the second half trying to catch up on a one-dimensional attack.
Choose: The Buccaneers win 34-20 and cover the spread.
- Colts (-10, 44.5 o / u) at Texans
Sunday 1 pm ET, CBS
The Colts had to become a pass-happy team to try to stay with the Buccaneers last week, but they can feel good about going back to a big dose of Jonathan Taylor and the running game as Houston’s defensive front can’t. stop it. Indianapolis will dominate on both lines of scrimmage to come back. 500 while forcing more key turnovers against Tyrod Taylor.
Choose: The Colts win 24-10 and cover the spread.
- Águilas (-7, 45 o / u) in Jets
Sunday 1 pm ET, CBS
The Eagles pushed the issue a little further in the passing game last week to poor results as Jalen Hurts struggled with interceptions and connected with his receivers and tight end Dallas Goedert downfield. They will return to their running form, with Hurts and Boston Scott leading the charge with Miles Sanders and Jordan Howard hurt. His defense will have little trouble frustrating Zach Wilson, but the zone will open up enough plays for the Jets to keep it close. This second straight trip to MetLife Stadium works so much better.
Choose: The Eagles win 20-14 but fail to cover the spread.
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Chargers in Bengals (-3, 49.5 o / u)
Sunday 1 pm ET, CBS
The Chargers’ running defense woes are rearing their ugly heads again with the Bengals turning their offense over to Joe Mixon and the running game with the weather beginning to change. As a result, Joe Burrow will feel comfortable for the action of the game going downfield. Justin Herbert, his young 2020 first-round counterpart, will face one more passing race without relying on a power running game.
Choose: The Bengals win 31-27 and cover the spread.
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Giants at Dolphins (-6.5, 39.5 o / u)
Sunday 1 ET, Fox
The Giants beat the Eagles with all defense and almost no offense at home last week. The Dolphins are riding a four-game winning streak and finding their offensive pop around Tua Tagovailoa, thanks to the breakup of rookie wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and Myles Gaskin looking much better off the backfield. Miami’s strong intermediate passing game and a more active defense of play against Daniel Jones establish another solid victory.
Choose: Dolphins win 20-16 and cover the spread.
- Ravens (-4.5, 44 o / u) at Steelers
Sunday 4:25 pm ET, CBS
The Ravens aren’t getting a lot of style points lately with Lamar Jackson churning out some sloppy passes with more turnovers. But they’re still earning enough to be the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and the Steelers’ putrid running defense will take the pressure off Jackson. The Steelers will keep him close with their fast passing game and Najee Harris’ tough run, but the Ravens will do another with Justin Tucker kicking the game winner home.
Choose: The crows win 23-20.
- 49ers (-3.5, 45.5 o / u) at Seahawks
Sunday 4:25 pm ET, CBS
The 49ers are in a total offensive groove and that will continue without Deebo Samuel, still with Elijah Mitchell, George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk. They’re running on running power and making big plays everywhere in the passing game. The Seahawks defense has few answers for that multiplicity and versatility. Russell Wilson and their wide receivers keep them in the game, but that’s about it.
Choose: The 49ers win 27-24 and cover the difference.
- Broncos at Chiefs (-9.5, 47 o / u)
Sunday 8:20 pm ET, NBC
The Broncos came off the canvas with a solid defensive performance against the Chargers that should have pleased Vic Fangio. They should get more out of their passing game here with Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams by giving them more reliable running production. Teddy Bridgewater will not surpass Patrick Mahomes in any way, as Kansas City will serve as the most complete team in the AFC West at home.
Choose: The Chiefs win 31-23 but can’t make up the difference.
Vinnie Iyer 2023 Picks:
- Week 12 record against the spread: 9-6
- Week 12 record straight up: 12-3
- ATS season: 98-80
- Straight season: 118-61
