NFL Week 16 Betting Tips & Preview
Heading into Week 16 in the NFL season two teams - Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Rams - have already clinched their playoff places while 13, including last season's AFC champions Kansas City Chiefs, have already been eliminated from contention.
That leaves 17 teams battling over the remaining 12 spots over the final three weeks of the season and there are some huge divisional clashes on this week's schedule.
After a fascinating Thursday match-up between Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West, there are two Saturday games including a blockbuster encounter in the NFC North between Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers.
We’ve picked out our four favourite bets in our Week 16 tips, including one for the big AFC match-up between the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night.
TIP 1 - Chicago Bears +1.5 - 10/11
Chicago Bears vs Green Bay Packers (Sunday, 1.20am GMT)
The second of the two Saturday games in NFL Week 16 is a real humdinger between Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers at Soldier FIeld.
The 10-4 Bears are just ahead of the 9-4-1 Packers at the top of the NFC North despite losing 28-21 in a close contest at Lambeau Field just two weeks ago.
The home side can turn the tables this time, though, after the Packers lost their defensive star Micah Parsons for the season to a knee injury in Sunday's 34-26 defeat by the Broncos.
The Bears had a much easier time when thrashing Cleveland Browns 31-3 at home and after winning 10 of their last 12 games, they are well worthy of support as slight underdogs at home.
TIP 2 - Buffalo Bills -10.5 - 19/20
Cleveland Browns vs Buffalo Bills (Sunday, 6pm GMT)
Buffalo Bills have blown hot and cold this season but Sunday's excellent 35-31 victory over the New England Patriots was their third win in a row and they have a far easier assignment when they visit a struggling Cleveland Browns team this week.
The Browns were blown away by the Bears in the Windy City on Sunday, losing 31-3 in an extremely tame effort. With their offensive line in poor shape due to injuries, a struggling running game and a hopeless special teams unit, the only target for the Browns in their last three games is to see defensive star Myles Garrett break the NFL's record for sacks in a season.
The Bills are only one win behind the Patriots in the AFC East and should pull clear of the Browns to avoid any danger of an upset.
TIP 3 - New England Patriots +2.5 - 19/20
Baltimore Ravens vs New England Patriots (Monday, 1.20am GMT)
Baltimore Ravens were expected to challenge for the AFC title this season but they are struggling to even make the playoffs at 7-7.
The 11-3 Patriots have been more impressive, even though they went down fighting against the Bills, and they are worth backing as handicap underdogs on the road on Sunday night.
The Patriots are 6-0 in away games this season, while the Ravens are just 3-5 at home and while John Harbaugh's team turned in an improved performance to beat Cincinnati Bengals last week, this is a much tougher test.
TIP 4 - San Francisco 49ers -6 - 23/25
Indianapolis Colts vs San Francisco 49ers (Tuesday, 1.15am GMT)
Indianapolis Colts began the season like a train, winning seven of their first eight games, but they are a fading force now and have lost their last four to fall to 8-6.
Overtaken by the Jaguars and the Texans in the AFC South, the Colts tempted 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers out of retirement when starter Daniel Jones was injured.
Rivers kept the Colts in with a chance against the Seahawks last week, but they lost 18-16 and could struggle to keep pace with a 49ers team who are 10-4 after winning their last four games.
San Francisco's last six wins have all come by 10 or more points and they should prove too strong for the flagging Colts.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
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