NFL Week 17 Predictions
By Zack Garrison in News
Updated: January 17, 2018 at 9:40 am ESTPublished:
Week 17 will define teams, jobs and careers. There’s a lot at stake with teams looking to enter the playoffs, and others trying to ruin their opponents’ chances.
Here are the NFL week 17 Predictions:
Baltimore Ravens +6 at Cincinnati Bengals -6. Game Total: 44.5.
There’s no tomorrow for the current champions, Baltimore Ravens. They need a win, plus either a Chargers loss or a Dolphins loss, and they are in the playoffs. If they lose they are out.
“We’re used to these guys,” Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco said about the Bengals. “They’re a good defense. They have been for a few years now. It’s always a good test to play a division opponent in their place. They have a lot to play for. We have a lot to play for. It’s going to be a good game, a good test.”
If the Bengals win and the Patriots lose, they will get the second seed in the AFC, plus a playoffs bye week.
Keep in mind, Cincinnati is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Baltimore.
Prediction: Bengals -6.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +12.5 at New Orleans Saints -12.5. Game total: 47.
The Saints averages 32.9 points per game at home, but over the last month they have only scored 16.8. New Orleans need a win to get to postseason; a loss plus a win by Arizona will eliminate them.
“We’re approaching this like a playoff game,” coach Sean Payton said. “The key for us is to handle the holiday week, with Christmas being on a Wednesday, put together a good plan and a good set of practices and put our focus into playing our best football Sunday.”
New Orleans is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay, and the total has gone UNDER in 4 of New Orleans’s last 5 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay.
Prediction: Buccaneers +12.5.
San Francisco 49ers pk at Arizona Cardinals pk. Game Total: 42.
There’s bad blood in this matchup, and both teams have playoffs implications. A win by San Francisco and a Seattle loss will give the 49ers the NFC West division title; a win by Arizona and a loss by New Orleans will give the Cards a wildcard spot in the playoffs.
“(An 11-5 record) will be nice,” said Arizona head coach Bruce Arians. “It’s a nice foundation, but I’m really not about that stuff. We play to get in the playoffs and win the championship.”
The Cardinals are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games when playing at home against the 49ers, and the total has gone OVER in 6 of Arizona’s last 9 games when playing at home against San Francisco.
Prediction: Arizona.
Philadelphia Eagles -6.5 at Dallas Cowboys +6.5. Game Total: 52.5.
Even with Tony Romo on the field the Cowboys task of keeping the Eagles pace is huge. Romo is day to day with a back injury, and if he can’t go then it will be Kyle Orton under center for Dallas.
“I think the guys have got a lot of confidence in me. I’ve got a lot of confidence in myself,” Orton said. “I can fall back on my experience. I’ve played a lot of games in this league. I don’t feel I have to do too much with the ball, just get it to 29 (Murray), 82 (Jason Witten) and 88 (Bryant).”
Dallas is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Philadelphia.
Prediction: Eagles -6.5.
Sports Writer
Zack is a tour guide whose favorite sports are football, baseball, and golf. He enjoys giving obnoxious commentary during games and hopes to some day write a book about sports. His favorite underdog victory was the Diamondbacks beating the Yankees in game 7 of the World Series.
