No better way to bring in the New Year with a massive set of Week 17 NFL fixtures from the USA.
The best bets from BetDeluxe get underway when Baltimore goes head to head with the Los Angeles Rams.
baltimore vs. la rams
3rd january 5:00am
Baltimore’s fate rests on Lamar Jackson when the Ravens welcome the Los Angeles Rams at M&T Bank Stadium.
Jackson was seen limping around his first training session since injuring his ankle against Cleveland over a fortnight ago, while the Rams are all guns blazing with a four-game winning streak.
If Jackson does end up playing, he will definitely be = restricted and hampered by pain.
It is definitely advantage Rams in this contest, even if Jackson gets up.
Matt Stafford is in too good of a form patch to ignore and should be able to guide his side to a spread victory.
Suggested Bet: LA Rams -3.5 at $1.89
Chicago vs. New York Giants
3rd january 5:00am
With playoffs officially off the radar for both Chicago Bears and the New York Giants we have a contest between these two who are playing for nothing but pride.
Both teams have had disappointing seasons from a win-loss perspective, but the Bears did get some respect back with a gutsy 25-24 win over Seattle last week.
Chicago is also unbeaten against the spread when starting as the favourite on its home deck with a 2-0 record.
Predicting it will become 3-0 after this match.
Suggested Bet: Chicago -5.5 at $1.91
cincinnati vs. kansas city
3rd january 5:00am
First in the AFC North meets first in the AFC West when the Cincinnati Bengals host the white-hot Kansas City Chiefs on Monday morning.
The Chiefs have the longest active winning streak in the NFL this season having won their last eight games and showed no signs of stopping their winning ways after belting Pittsburgh 36-10 last week.
Patrick Mahomes’ form had been questioned for large chunks of this season and it is scary to think the Chiefs are stringing together win after win even if he is not in the best of form.
He still threw for three touchdowns having completed 23 out of 30 passes in a sign he is getting back to his absolute best.
If that is the case, the Bengals might just have to sit back and watch the party unfold.
Suggested Bet: Kansas City Chiefs -5.5 at $1.94
buffalo vs. atlanta
3rd january 5:00am
Josh Allen and his Buffalo Bills seek to carry the momentum of a big win against New England last week when they face the struggling Atlanta Falcons.
Allen proved why he is the best quarterback in the AFC East with a monumental performance in the gun.
He threw for three touchdowns, gained 314 yards with his arm and even rushed 12 times for 64 yards in what was season-best performance.
A repeat of that form here and the Falcons may as well not even rock up.
The market is saying this is going to be a thumping in favour of the Bills and it is hard to see any other result.
Suggested Bet: Buffalo Bills -14.5 at $1.92
tennessee vs. miami
3rd january 5:00am
A rampant and in-form Miami Dolphins will fish for their eight-straight win they head over to Nissan Stadium for a date with the Tennessee Titans.
With their season looking shot to bits at 1-7, the Dolphins have since exploded with a huge purple patch of form only usurped by the Chiefs.
The 20-3 win over the Saints on Tuesday highlighted how well the Dolphins defence has improved as the season progresses.
The Titans are going to prove one of the more difficult opponents the Dolphins have faced on this incredible streak as they too boast a strong defensive line.
In a game that is tough to split, think the home advantage might just prove the telling factor here.
Suggested Bet: Tennessee Titans -3.5 at $1.91
indianapolis vs. las vegas
3rd january 5:00am
The Las Vegas Raiders will be playing with the spirit of John Madden when they face the Indianapolis Colts on Monday.
If a potential spot in the playoffs was not enough motivation for the Raiders in this game, then the passing of franchise and NFL goliath in Madden should give them that little extra push.
But the Colts will have something to say about that coming into this game with a three-game winning run.
The Raiders are going to have to deal with the super-sharp rushing game of the Colts in this game.
A converted touchdown is where the spread is set, and it does look a little overstated.
Expecting a close contest.
Suggested Bet: Las Vegas +6.5 at $1.87
washington vs. philadelphia
3rd january 5:00am
After being put to the sword by Dallas last weekend, Washington will try to gain some of its reputation back when it plays Philadelphia.
The Eagles already boast a winning result against Washington this season having recorded a 27-17 win back on December 22.
With a huge dilemma in the quarterback position for Washington, the Eagles will be hoping to take full advantage of that given the good form Jalen Hurts.
A team with quarterback headaches is not exactly a recipe for success, so that factor in itself is enough to lean towards the Eagles easily covering the spread on the road.
Suggested Bet: Philadelphia -2.5 at $1.82
new england vs. jacksonville
3rd january 5:00am
New England finds itself installed as the short-price favourite when it welcomes Jacksonville to Gillette Stadium.
The Patriots are looking to restore lost pride after being beaten by AFC East rivals Buffalo in week 16, while the Jaguars limp towards the end of what has been a horror show of a season.
Not exactly sure where the 2-13 Jaguars are going to find motivation for this game.
Mak Jones will be hungry for a heap of touchdowns as well after throwing poorly in the loss to Bills.
Patriots fans should be able to breath easy in this game.
Suggested Bet: New England -15.5 at $1.91
new york jets vs. tampa bay
3rd january 5:00am
Tom Brady and his Tampa Bay Buccaneers hit the road again when they travel to New York in readiness for the Jets.
Brady returned to form in the Buccaneers 32-6 win over Carolina after being shut out for the first time in 15 years a fortnight ago.
The Jets are unlikely to pose too much of a threat to the reigning Super Bowl champions.
With a losing 2-5 record against the spread on their home deck, it is hard to see that improving against a team which has Brady as its quarterback.
Suggested Bet: Tampa Bay -12.5 at $1.91
la chargers vs. denver
3rd january 8:05am
It was a terrible Week 16 for two teams in the AFC West, as the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos both suffered big defeats to put themselves behind the eight ball heading into the final two weeks of the season.
This game is now a cut-throat contest with it basically being season over for the loser.
The Broncos have only covered the spread once in three attempts when underdogs on the road and, interestingly, have never been able to cover the spread when they have lost.
Los Angeles has a big advantage in the quarterback area with the Broncos struggling to find an adept replacement for Teddy Bridgwater who has been banged up all season.
With sophomore quarterback Justin Herbert having a sensational season, his form is what will likely prove the difference.
Suggested Bet: LA Chargers -6.5 at $1.91
san francisco vs. houston
3rd january 8:05am
Even though it is season over the Houston Texans they still find a way to bring winning momentum into their penultimate match for 2021/22 as they prepare to face the 49ers.
The Texans scored a big upset victory against the LA Chargers last week after an enormous final quarter to saw them score 24 points to record the 41-29 result.
With Jimmy Garropolo under a big injury cloud, it might very well be advantage Houston.
Garropolo suffered a thumb injury in the loss against the Titans last week and if he misses here you can expect Houston to cause all sorts of trouble.
Suggested Bet: Houston +12.5 at $1.89
new orleans vs. carolina
3rd january 8:25am
New Orleans Saints will try to add more misery in December to Carolina when the pair face off on Monday morning at Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Five losses in a row have all but put a dagger in Carolina’s season with defensive issues arising in a horrific patch of form.
The Panthers have conceded scores of 29, 31 and 32 in their most recent losses, but they do play against a Saints team which has really struggled on the scoreboard in the last fortnight.
The Saints are actually yet to cover the spread this season when starting a game as the seven-point favourite or higher.
Doubt the Panthers can get the ‘W’ here, but the spread looks the bet.
Suggested Bet: Carolina Panthers -7 at $1.85
dallas vs. arizona
3rd january 8:25am
The Dallas Cowboys offensive machine rolls into AT&T Stadium for second time in week when it oils itself up for a clash against the injury-plagued Arizona Cardinals.
Dak Prescott produced one of the best first-half performances in recent history last week after throwing for four touchdowns and gaining 330 yards before being hauled off for a rest.
The Cowboys have continued to improve at every call this season and have now added that missing defensive string which has plagued the franchise for over a decade.
How the Cardinals deal with Prescott, Ezekiel Elliot, Tony Pollard, Micah Parson and Trevon Diggs is anyone’s guess.
Suggested Bet: Dallas -5.5 at $1.89
seattle vs. detroit
3rd january 8:25am
The Detroit Lions (2-12-1) visit the Seattle Seahawks (5-10) for a Week 17 matchup come Monday morning.
It has been a struggle for the Seahawks this season trying to deal with an injured and clearly hampered Russell Wilson, while the Lions have seen light at the end of the tunnel in the midst of their rebuild.
The Lions have arguably been one of the better two-win teams we have seen in quite some time and there is every chance they can pinch off the Seahawks.
Despite losing to the Falcons 20-16 last week, Detroit covered the spread for the sixth time in its last seven games.
That form is where we situate our bet.
Suggested Bet: Detroit +6.5 at $1.95
green bay vs. minnesota
3rd january 12:20pm
Green Bay could very well overtake Kansas City as Super Bowl favourite when it attempts to get one over the Minnesota Vikings.
Packers fans will be thanking their lucky stars Aaron Rodgers did not pull the pin on his career.
The veteran quarterback has been in vintage touch this season and his laser-like passing has seen the Packers go 5-1 against the spread when starting favourites at home this season.
Add to that an unblemished 7-0 record at Lambeau Field and the Vikings will be shaking in their boots when kick off occurs.
Suggested Bet: Green Bay Packers -6.5 at $1.90
pittsburgh vs. cleveland
4th january 12:15pm
The last Monday Night Football game of the year in the USA goes ahead when the Pittsburgh Steelers battle tooth and nail against the Cleveland Browns.
Both teams will know the fate of their season when the Chiefs play the Bengals.
If the Chiefs do as they are expected and win that contest, the Browns will have full control of their destiny, while the Steelers will need to win this week and next, and then rely on the Bengals to lose in week 18 if they are a chance at playoffs.
It has been a funny old season for the Steelers.
When everyone puts the nail in their coffin, they find a way to bust out of the rut and find form.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin just loves the underdog status and it is proven with a 71% spread coverage rate when going in as the outsiders in week five of the season or later.
That is enough for a bet.
Suggested Bet: Pittsburgh +2.5 at $1.90
