NFL Picks Against the Spread for Week 13: The Ghosts of the Slate (Archive)
Last week Swinger went 10-5 against the number in his NFL picks and is looking for another winning week to add to his 32-14 ATS record since we began this column in Week 9, found exclusively right here, at Bookmakers Review!
Read on as we try to avoid getting suffocated by the ghosts of Week 13 -really hoping you saw the 1960’s horror movie to understand the reference.
Swinger’s 2021 Pick All Record (32-14 ATS)
Dallas Cowboys vs. New Orleans Saints
Thursday, December 2, 2021 – 08:20 PM EST at Caesars Superdome
Dak Prescott will be elated to reunite with his top two weapons, CeeDee Lamb and Amari Cooper, as both will be returning after missing last week’s contest. It’s a chalky road favorite but isn’t this a Dallas juggernaut just waiting to be reawakened?
Final Score Prediction: Cowboys 33 – Saints 24
NFL Pick: Cowboys -6 (-108) at Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports Review)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons
Sunday, December 5, 2021 - 01:00 PM EST at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Just too many points to give a home team, even the Falcons, a team that lost earlier to the Bucs in Tampa, 48-25, but in a better spot this time around after watching the Bucs wounded defense get exposed by the Colts last week in what resulted in a 38-31 win for Tampa.
Final Score Prediction: Bucs 31 – Falcons 23
NFL Pick: Falcons +11 ½ (-117) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Arizona Cardinals vs. Chicago Bears
Sunday, December 5, 2021 - 01:00 PM EST at Soldier Field
Will Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins play or will they sit? And if they do, how healthy will they be when they return to action?
The Bears have kept their last three games close with a win over the Lions (big deal, I know), and narrow losses to the Ravens and Steelers. Chicago will move the chains on the ground and keep this one within the generous margins.
Final Score Prediction: Cardinals 26 – Bears 21
NFL Pick: Bears +8 (-110) at BetOnline
L.A. Chargers vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, December 5, 2021 - 01:00 PM EST at Paul Brown Stadium
I can’t justify a bet on the Bolts after the way they have been playing, particularly their defense that was once the rock of this team.
Joe Mixon should run wild against the worst run-stop unit in the league which will set Joe Burrow up for a clean pocket and plenty of time to choose his targets. I see a blowout in this one.
Final Score Prediction: Bengals 36 – Chargers 24
NFL Pick: Bengals -3 (-113) at Heritage Sports
Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions
Sunday, December 5, 2021 - 01:00 PM EST at Ford Field
The average guy or girl will look at the previous meeting between these teams and believe that it was as close as the 19-17 Vikings win indicates.
But it really wasn’t if you consider Minnesota gained approximately 100 more total yards and the Vikings weren’t at their best.
Detroit’s quarterback, Jared Goff, is not as healthy as he was then and the Vikes should blow out their hosts this week in the Motor City.
Final Score Prediction: Vikings 38 – Lions 19
NFL Pick: Vikings -7 (-110) at Bovada (visit our Bovada Review)
New York Giants vs. Miami Dolphins
Sunday, December 5, 2021 - 01:00 PM EST at Hard Rock Stadium
The Dolphins have been playing much better as of late and that has much to do with Tua’s more mature performances.
However, the Giants have won two of their last three and their defense is ranked sixth in turnover recovery while Miami’s offense is ranked 28th in coughing the ball up. The Fish are in no position to give any team a four-point head start.
Final Score Prediction: Dolphins 23 – Giants 21
NFL Pick: Giants +4 (-108) at Heritage Sports
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Jets
Sunday, December 5, 2021 - 01:00 PM EST at MetLife Stadium
Do we ever really know what we are going to get with the Eagles this season? But this week Hurts is…hurt. Couldn’t resist but even if he does play, he won’t be agile, and getting around the edges is one of his strengths.
New York is a live home dog against a team whose quarterback is uncertain. If Hurts doesn’t go, Gardner Minshew will get the start, and good luck with that if you’re laying a touch with Philly.
Final Score Prediction: Eagles 26 – Jets 21
NFL Pick: Jets +7 (-115) at Bovada
Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans
Sunday, December 5, 2021 - 01:00 PM EST at NRG Stadium
A few weeks ago, the Colts destroyed the Bills, 41-15, and earlier this year they smashed the woeful Texans by the score of 31-3. Unlike last time Tyrod Taylor will be under center which…makes absolutely no difference. Colts roll.
Final Score Prediction: Colts 36 – Texans 19
NFL Pick: Colts -10 (-110) at Bovada
Washington Football Team vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Sunday, December 5, 2021 - 04:05 PM EST at Allegiant Stadium
The Washington No-Namers are playing well as of late and the Raiders will be without the services of their talented tight end, Darren Waller. That’s a big absence for Las Vegas and one that will likely cause them to lose this game.
Washington will slowly drive down the field and take away the time that Derek Carr has to take those big shots. I’m not crazy about this game but if you need the action then bet the road pup here.
Final Score Prediction: Washington 23 – Raiders 21
NFL Pick: WFT +2 ½ (-110) at Heritage Sports
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. LA Rams
Sunday, December 5, 2021 - 04:05 PM EST at SoFi Stadium
Matthew Stafford has not been playing well and I suspect it is because he is playing through more pain than most realize. They also have a date with the Cardinals looming, so how up for this game against the lowly Jags will they be?
I suspect we see a low-scoring affair in this one which bodes well for a wager on the big road dog here.
Final Score Prediction: Rams 24– Jaguars 16
NFL Pick: Jaguars +13 ½ (-110) at BetOnline
Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday, December 5, 2021 - 04:25 PM EST at Heinz Field
The Steelers are in tough shape, allowing 41 points in consecutive losses to the Chargers and Bengals. And while I will confess the Ravens offense hasn’t lit the world on fire recently, scoring an identical 16 points in their last two games, both wins against Chicago and Cleveland.
But how long will this offense remain in repose? Not long, especially against this defensive mess from Pittsburgh.
Final Score Prediction: Ravens 29 – Steelers 19
NFL Pick: Ravens -4 ½ (-110) at BetOnline
San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks
Sunday, December 5, 2021 - 04:25 PM EST at Lumen Field
If Russell Wilson can’t be Russell Wilson because he came back too early from finger surgery then Russell Wilson should be holding a clipboard and healing as opposed to hurting.
I’m not crazy about laying points on the road against a divisional opponent with a team like San Francisco but I’ve got no choice. Lay it and like it with the Niners.
Final Score Prediction: 49ers 31 – Seahawks 23
NFL Pick: 49ers -3 (-118) at Heritage Sports
Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday, December 5, 2021 - 04:25 PM EST at Arrowhead Stadium
The Chiefs are getting back on track and it’s not a coincidence that has happened around the same time their defense woke up. Teddy Bridgewater left last week’s game with an injury and when he returned, he didn’t look too sharp.
If he’s not at full throttle he won’t come close to keeping pace with Patrick Mahomes’ withering aerial assault. The points look tempting to take with the Broncos but be a chalk-eater here and back the Chiefs.
Final Score Prediction: Chiefs 38 – Broncos 21
NFL Pick: Chiefs -9 ½ (-108) at Heritage Sports
New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills
Monday, December 6, 2021 - 08:20 PM EST at Highmark Stadium
Now, this is why we love Monday Night Football. The NFL odds being offered by all of the best online sportsbooks are showing the Bills as anywhere between a 2 ½ and a 3-point home favorite.
The Patriots have been en fuego, and their defense is a house on fire.
The Bills have oodles of offensive potential but sometimes they don’t live up to it.
I can’t see this Buffalo D shutting down the Patriots ground-and-pound game so we will side with the visitors to get the win…but we’ll take the three points that Heritage Sports is giving us just in case!
Final Score Prediction: Patriots 24 – Bills 22
NFL Pick: Patriots +3 (-113) at Heritage Sports
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.