NFL Christmas Games Betting Preview

NFL fans can look forward to a number of huge games in Week 16 as teams battle desperately for a place in the playoffs. Six teams have already clinched their divisions and guaranteed themselves a berth in the postseason.

The NFC East will come down to a straight fight between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles, while the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans are still striving to seize the AFC South. A wildcard spot is also still up for grabs in the AFC, while the biggest teams in the league are jostling for byes and home advantage. In the NFC, four teams are in the running for top seed status, and all four could slide down to number five, so the playoff picture is balanced on a knife-edge. Week 16 will certainly be full of festive intrigue. These are the biggest games to look out for:

Houston Texans at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Houston put one foot in the playoffs by defeating the Tennessee Titans in Nashville in Week 15. They now know that a victory over the Buccaneers in Florida would see them clinch a postseason spot. The Bucs cannot reach the playoffs, but they are on a four-game winning streak and they look dangerous right now, so it should be a terrific game. The Texans are 3/5 moneyline favourites and you can find odds on 23/20 on Houston -4.5. Our traders have given Houston a 2-4 point Match Supremacy Index over Tampa Bay in the NFL spread betting while Total Points is priced at 49-52.

Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots

The Patriots lead the AFC East with an 11-3 record and they are assured of a playoff place. However, the Bills are on 10-4 and they could still leapfrog Bill Belichick’s men and seize the division, which would leave the Pats with a tricky route to the Super Bowl. This game will therefore be huge for both teams.

New England are the 1/3 moneyline favourites, while the Bills are out at 12/5 in the NFL odds We are offering 17/20 on New England -6.5 and 97/100 on Buffalo +6.5. New England have a 5.5-7.5 point advantage over the Bills in the spread betting, and Tom Brady’s QB Performance Index is pitched at 87-97.

LA Rams at San Francisco 49ers

The LA Rams went all the way to the Super Bowl last season, only to suffer a heartbreaking defeat to the Patriots. This season they have struggled to recapture the magic and their playoff hopes are dangling by a thread. They could scrape through if they win both remaining games and other results go their way, but they are up against it. The Niners have had a magnificent season on the back of their stellar defence, but defeat to Atlanta at the weekend left them second in the NFC West, with an identical 11-3 record to the Seahawks. They need to win this game to aid their chances of an easier postseason schedule, and they are 3/8 favourites to pull it off. San Francisco -8.5 is priced at 6/5, while LA +8.5 is 8/13. Total Points is priced at 45-48 in the spread betting, so our traders anticipate an exciting game.

Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Jets

The Steelers know that they will surge into the playoffs if they win their final two games of the season. They are battling for the final wildcard spot and nothing but victory will do in this showdown at the Meadowlands. The 5-9 Jets are done for, they have won four of seven home games, and a Steelers offence bereft of the talismanic Ben Roethlisberger. Pittsburgh are 8/13 moneyline favourites, whereas the Jets are out at 11/8. Pittsburgh -2.5 is priced at 3/4 and Pittsburgh -5.5 is 11/8, giving you plenty of options if you think they can get the job done. The Jets are priced at 21/20 with a +2.5 point handicap. The Steelers have a 2-4 Match Supremacy Index in the NFL spread betting, so you can buy at 4 if you think they will overwhelm the Jets or sell at 2 if you think they will struggle.

Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints

Defeat to the Texans in Week 15 left the Titans with an 8-6 record for the season, while Houston is in the driving seat after moving to 9-5. The Titans can still force their way into the postseason if they post a strong finish, but they face a stern test of their mettle in New Orleans. The 11-3 Saints have wrapped up the NFC South, but they are still in the hunt for the number one playoff spot, which would secure a bye in the wildcard round and then home advantage throughout the postseason, so there is still plenty for them to play for. The Titans are 6/5 in the moneyline betting, while the Saints are priced at 7/10. If you want more value on New Orleans, you can give them -4.5 point handicap for odds of 13/10. The Saints have a narrow 1.5-3.5 Supremacy Index over the Titans for this game.

Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles

This is the most eagerly anticipated game of Week 16. Both teams have 7-7 records and whoever triumphs in this game will be in pole position to wrap up the division and take the number four playoff spot. The runner-up in this division will not be able to clinch a wildcard place, so it really is all or nothing between these teams. The Eagles were among the Super Bowl favourites at the start of the season, but they struggled in the early weeks and Dallas opened up a healthy lead at the top of the standings. Yet the Eagles have slowly reeled in their rivals and fans are daring to dream once again after they won their last two games.

They now face a huge test against a Cowboys team that crushed the Rams 44-21 in Week 15. Dallas picked up a 37-10 victory when these teams met in October, so they should go into the game with confidence. They will seize the division if they triumph, so the stakes are high, but the Eagles are improving and it should prove to be a fascinating contest. The Eagles are the 5/4 underdogs in the moneyline betting, while Dallas are 4/6 to win the game. Philadelphia +1/5 is even money, while Dallas -1.5 is priced at 4/5, so our traders are expecting a tight game.

Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings

The Packers sit top of the NFC North with an 11-3 record after embarking on a three-game winning streak at the perfect time of the season. Yet the 10-4 Vikings are breathing down their necks. Both teams are through to the playoffs, but one will be among the top seeds and enjoy a reasonably comfortable schedule, while the other will be forced into some tricky away games. The Packers picked up a 21-16 win when they met earlier this season, but these teams look pretty evenly matched. Our traders see home advantage tipping this one in favour of the Vikings, as they have a 3.5-5.5 point advantage in the spreads. The NFL odds also show them to be 21/50 moneyline favourites, with Green Bay out at 2/1. Yet they are always in with a chance due to the formidable presence of Aaron Rodgers, so this promises to be another Christmas cracker for NFL fans.

Who is Current Favourite to Win the Super Bowl?

The in-form Baltimore Ravens are now the 9/4 favourites in the Superbowl odds. They have won 12 of their 14 games this season, giving them the best record in the league, and QB Lamar Jackson is on fire. The Saints are next at 11/2, followed by the Pats at 6/1 and the 49ers at 7/1. The Seahawks are also 7/1, whereas the Kansas City Chiefs have dropped to 8/1, despite winning four games straight to clinch the AFC West. The Packers are priced at 12/1 and the Vikings are 25/1 underdogs.

You can also check out the Super Bowl 54 Outright Index in the NFL spread betting. The winner gets 100 points, the runner-up is assigned 70, the teams that lose the Conference Championships are given 50, teams that fall at the divisional playoff round get 33 points and teams that lose in the wildcard round get 20.

Baltimore lead the way at 33-36, with New Orleans at 49-52, New England at 48-51 and San Francisco priced at 45-48. Long shots include the Eagles at 9-12 and the Steelers at 11-14.

You can get all your NFL odds and American football spread betting markets at Sporting Index as we brace ourselves for the action-packed Christmas games.