Vikings @ Flacons (-2.5)

The Atlanta Falcons have really come on in recent weeks and have almost quietly got themselves to a 7-4 record. Meanwhile the Minnesota Vikings have been playing really well all season and this should be a great game. I’m going to grab the points in a game I can see the Vikings winning despite being on the road but it is not exactly hard to see the Falcons winning.

Gee’s Pick:          Vikings
Dan’s Pick:          Vikings

Patriots @ Bills (+8.5)

This is a tricky game to pick as the New England Patriots keep covering huge lines but the Buffalo Bills got their season back on track last week as they ground out a win against the Chiefs. However the Chiefs have been stuttering for weeks now, whilst the Patriots have rounded into form on defence and Tom Brady has been carrying them all season. It’s not that the Bills stand no chance of covering this line but I’m not going to pick it as the most likely result.

Gee’s Pick:          Patriots
Dan’s Pick:          Patriots

49ers @ Bears (-3.5)

The Chicago Bears lost heavily to the Eagles last week and only have two more wins than the 49ers. The San Francisco 49ers are starting Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback for the first time and a lot of people are excited about this given how he looked in four plays last week. I’m not sure if this is going to launch a huge turnaround given the quantity of injuries the 49ers have suffered, but I don’t trust the Bears to win by four or more so I’m backing the 49ers to at least keep it close.

Gee’s Pick:          49ers
Dan’s Pick:          Bears

Broncos @ Dolphins (-0.5)

This is a horrible game to pick as neither the Miami Dolphins nor the Denver Broncos inspire confidence. Both teams have problems at quarterback and the Dolphins are stuck at the bottom of the league according to overall DVOA. I have more faith in Adam Gase as a head coach than Vance Joseph at the moment and with the Dolphins playing at home I am going to pick them but you would avoid picking this game if you could.

Gee’s Pick:          Dolphins
Dan’s Pick:          Dolphins

Lions @ Ravens (-2.5)

The Baltimore Ravens have got themselves to 6-5 thanks to a defence and special teams unit that both lead the league in DVOA and have overcome an anaemic offence. This week they welcome a Detroit Lions team that play tough but have struggled to win consistently. This is one of those games where I find it hard to have a firm opinion on what will happen, but I know what I am getting from the Ravens’ number one by DVOA units and so despite the poor offence, I’m backing the Ravens to grind it out in this one.

Gee’s Pick:          Ravens
Dan’s Pick:          Lions

Buccaneers @ Packers (-2.5)

The Green Bay Packers have been struggling with Brett Hundley as their quarterback, which is understandable but his up and down play makes them a hard team to predict. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have not looked like the team many were expecting coming into the season and I’m not sure Jameis Winston being cleared to play clarifies the situation any. I have very little faith in either team so I am going to grab the points but I don’t feel good about it.

Gee’s Pick:          Buccaneers
Dan’s Pick:          Packers

Texans @ Titans (-6.5)

The Houston Texans have managed a win since rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson went down for the season with his knee injury, but this combined with losing JJ Watt and Whitney Mercilus from the defence of the Texans ha really hampered them. The Tennessee Titans might not have caught the eye with their play, but they are joint top of the AFC South. I backed the Titans last week and they only just covered against the Colts so this line worries me but in the end I’m going to back the healthier team who still have something to play for.

Gee’s Pick:          Titans
Dan’s Pick:          Texans

Colts @ Jaguars (-9.5)

So head coach Doug Marone came out last week and said he got greedy at the end of the game that saw the Jacksonville Jaguars lose to the Cardinals. This week they welcome the Indianapolis Colts who are really struggling and on the road I can’t see them beating the Jaguars. My concern though is whether the Jaguars can cover this big a line but having beaten the Colts 27-0 in Indianapolis, I’m going to back them to win big in this one.

Gee’s Pick:          Jaguars
Dan’s Pick:          Colts

Chiefs @ Jets (+3.5)

Since starting the season 5-0 the Kansas City Chiefs have really struggled and having lost to the Bills last week they travel to New York to face the Jets. The Jets have struggled in the last five games, only winning one of them so it is hard to know what will happen in this game. I am really tempted by getting the points at home and given these teams respective form that is what I am going to pick but who knows what will actually happen in the game.

Gee’s Pick:          Jets
Dan’s Pick:          Chiefs

Browns @ Chargers (-13.5)

It seems strange for the LA Chargers to be getting this many points, particularly given that they don’t have much of a home advantage, but the Cleveland Browns are winless for a reason and haven’t even kept a game to a single digit loss since week seven. Perhaps the addition of Josh Gordon will give them a spark on offence, but the Chargers have played well in the last couple of weeks and with the extra rest coming of their Thanksgiving victory over the Cowboys I’m backing them to win. Can they cover this line? In a case of the Browns being bad vs my rule on double digit spreads I’m falling on side of not trusting the Browns. I could regret this.

Gee’s Pick:          Chargers
Dan’s Pick:          Browns

Giants @ Raiders (-6.5)

I see very little in the Oakland Raiders that excites me, particularly given the injury to Amari Cooper which when combined with the suspension of Michael Crabtree means that Derek Carr has lost both his starting receivers. However, with the New York Giants benching Eli Manning for Geno Smith, I don’t exactly have a lot of faith in the Giants either. In the end I am going to back the Raiders going against a team flying across the country who have just sat their two time Super Bowl winning quarterback. Even if Eli Manning has not been playing well, it doesn’t feel like the situation was handled well and I can’t trust the Giants after this week.

Gee’s Pick:          Raiders
Dan’s Pick:          Raiders

Rams @ Cardinals (+6.5)

Who would have thought before the season that the LA Rams would be giving six and a half points to any team on the road, but they have been truly transformed and with their win against the Saints last week the Rams got back to winning ways. I expect them to have too much for the Arizona Cardinals who are down to their third string quarterback but have been competitive thanks to a top ten defence by DVOA, yet I can’t see them keeping up with the Rams.

Gee’s Pick:          Rams
Dan’s Pick:          Rams

Panthers @ Saints (-3.5)

The New Orleans Saints couldn’t win on the road last week without two corners and pass rusher Alex Okafor lost for the season. However, this week they are at home facing a Carolina Panthers team who have been very up and down on offence but whose defence has played really well. This should be one of the more interesting games of the season, but in the end I think the Saints will run out winners thanks to their balance on offence and defence.

Gee’s Pick:          Saints
Dan’s Pick:          Saints

Eagles @ Seahawks (+5.5)

I’m not sure I remember a time when the Seattle Seahawks were getting this many points at home, but they face an uphill struggle going against the Philadelphia Eagles without so many members of the Legion of Boon. Not only are Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor gone for the season, but the Seattle offensive line is facing a fearsome pass rush and whilst Russell Wilson is a magician, there are limits to what he can do. I expect this to be a fascinating game, and may well be closer on the field than the scoreboard suggests, but I expect the Eagles good form to continue.

Gee’s Pick:          Eagles
Dan’s Pick:          Eagles

Steelers @ Bengals (+6.5)

The Cincinnati Bengals are coming off two straight wins and really have to win this game if they are to maintain their slim hopes of the playoffs. The problem is that whilst the Pittsburgh Steelers have played down to the level of their opposition multiple times, they are still 9-2 and I expect them to win this one. That said, getting this many points at home in a game that is often close I am going to back to the Bengals to cover and hope for a win. I do expect to be disappointed come Tuesday morning though.

Gee’s Pick:          Bengals
Dan’s Pick:          Steelers