NFL Betting Week 17 & Playoff Preview
Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets
If the Dolphins win this game, they will complete the turnaround from their 1-15 season of a year ago to capture the AFC East crown. The Jets are on life support after losing in Seattle, and will need a win and either a loss by the Patriots or Ravens to make the playoffs.
The Jets have dominated the sports betting proceedings against the Dolphins of late, including this season’s Week 1 20-14 win as three-point road chalks. New York is 8-2 SU and 9-0-1 ATS against Miami since the middle of 2003. Miami went 3-2 SU and ATS against divisional foes this season.
Denver Broncos @ San Diego Chargers
The winner of this game will take the AFC West crown and earn the right to take on the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the playoffs. The loser will be eliminated from the post-season.
Denver took a controversial 39-38 victory at Qualcomm Stadium earlier in the season due to the faulty whistle of referee Ed Hochuli. The Chargers have owned the Broncos of late, going 4-1 SU and 4-0-1 ATS since 2006. They averaged 37.0 points in those five games and outscored Denver by 18.6 points per game.
Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles
Both teams were in a position to control their own destiny heading into their Week 16 NFL betting match-ups, but neither one took advantage. On Saturday, Dallas dropped a 33-24 decision to Baltimore in the final game at Irving Stadium, but Philadelphia’s 10-3 loss in Washington and a Tampa Bay loss put the Cowboys back in control once again. For Dallas, the equation is simple: Win and you’re in, lose and you go home. The Eagles need a win and a lot of help to get in.
The Cowboys won the Week 2 MNF meeting with the Eagles in “Big D” by a 41-37 final count. Philadelphia has been a terror to beat at home of late; it’s 7-2 SU and 5-3-1 ATS in its L/9 at home against Dallas, and 6-2 SU and 5-3 ATS in its L/8 at home overall.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Baltimore Ravens
It all comes down to this for the Ravens. A win against Jacksonville will send Baltimore to the playoffs, while a loss will almost certainly eliminate them. The Jags have long since been eliminated from playoff contention, and will wrap up a very disappointing season this week.
If the betting trends are any indicator, the Ravens are playoff-bound. They are 6-1 SU and 3-2-2 ATS in the L/7 meetings with the Jags, and beat them all four times at home during that stretch. The Jags are just 2-6 SU and ATS against teams with +.500 records in 2008.
New England Patriots @ Buffalo Bills
New England needed a whole bunch of help going into Week 16, and got a huge hand from the Seahawks, who beat the Jets to give the Pats a chance to win another AFC East crown. The Patriots have beaten their L/2 opponents by the combined score of 96-33. Meanwhile, the Bills kept Denver from clinching a playoff birth last week, and now hope to knock the defending AFC champs out of the playoffs. The Pats need a win and a Miami loss to win the AFC East or a win and a Baltimore loss to clinch a playoff birth.
New England has won 10 straight meetings between these divisional rivals, and is 8-2 ATS in that stretch. The Bills averaged just 9.6 points per game in those 10 games.
