BY ADAM GREENE<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s always good to start the NFL\u2019s stretch run with a win and that\u2019s exactly what I did, nailing the Los Angeles Rams 24-3 win over the New England Patriots Thursday night b both straight up and against the spread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was Rams running back Cam Akers quinceanera as he hit the dance floor in his sparkliest dress for a career high 29 carries and 171 yards as Los Angeles guaranteed their fourth winning season in a row under Sean McVay and solidified their position as the NFC West leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For only the second time in more than a month, we have a full slate of games to pick so let\u2019s make the most of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TENNESSEE<\/strong> TITANS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (+9, O\/U: 52.5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Titans are coming off a tight loss that should have been a blowout. Jacksonville is starting Mike Glennon. This game could get ugly fast. Titans 34, Jaguars 13<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n DALLAS<\/strong> COWBOYS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (+3.5, O\/U: 42.5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s the Andy Dalton revenge game! The Red Rifle returns to face the team he led to mediocrity for half a decade and, like last year when he was still a Bengal, his performance here can ensure Cincy has a very high draft pick. Cowboys 20, Bengals 16<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n HOUSTON<\/strong> TEXANS AT CHICAGO BEARS (+1, O\/U: 45)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Bears had every chance to keep themselves alive in the playoff race over the last two weeks and have squandered them thoroughly. They now ride a six game losing streak and everyone\u2019s shut the book on Chicago. Which just means this is the week they\u2019ll finally win one. Bears 20, Texans 17<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n ARIZONA<\/strong> CARDINALS AT NEW YORK GIANTS (+2.5, O\/U: 45)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A month ago you would have picked Arizona here and not thought another thing about it. Four weeks can be a long time in the NFL. New York has won four straight and fought hard, many times down to the wire in most of their losses. I see a surprise upset coming and a potential NFC East champion that won\u2019t be easily counted out in the postseason. Giants 23, Cardinals 20<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n MINNESOTA<\/strong> VIKINGS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (-6.5, O\/U: 52.5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking of the playoffs, the Vikings are currently in, as they\u2019ve won five of their last six games including two straight. They now take their show on the road against one of the best run defenses in the league that had a bye week to prepare for this game. That means it will all be on Kirk Cousins. That also means it\u2019ll likely be a loss. Bucs 34, Vikings 23<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n KANSAS CITY<\/strong> CHIEFS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (+7.5, O\/U: 50.5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You might look at this spread as a positive sign for Miami, who is 8-4 and solidly in the AFC playoff picture. Or, you could realize that the Chiefs haven\u2019t covered a spread since before Halloween and apparently are content with just winning games and not running teams off their own fields. Here\u2019s something else to think about too; the last defensive coordinator to call a postseason game where KC lost was current Miami head coach Brian Flores. I don\u2019t think it\u2019ll protect the Fins from the \u201cL,\u201d but I do think they (along with Kansas City\u2019s Achilles heel of playing down to an opponent) will make it interesting. Chiefs 27, Dolphins 23<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n DENVER<\/strong> BRONCOS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (-3, O\/U: 45.5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Like the Buccaneers, the Panthers had an extra week to prepare for this game. Unlike Tampa, they\u2019re not really playing for anything other than to set up some success next season. Denver is in much the same boat, but Carolina is just further along. And considering this is Broncos head coach Vic Fangio\u2019s second season, that might be a problem for him at season\u2019s end. Panthers 23, Broncos 17<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n INDIANAPOLIS<\/strong> COLTS AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (+2.5, O\/U: 50.5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You want a playoff game in Week 14? You\u2019ve got it. Indianapolis currently holds the No. 7 seed in the AFC. Las Vegas is right behind them. Meaning that if the Raiders knock off Indy here at home, they\u2019ll jump right back into the playoff mix. Not only that, If the Chiefs knock off the Dolphins, they\u2019ll move up to the sixth seed. I think LV pulls it off. Raiders 27, Colts 24<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n NEW YORK<\/strong> JETS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (-13.5, O\/U: 47)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n After getting embarrassed by a New York team a week ago, there\u2019s no way the Jets do anything but get crushed here. On the bright side, the NYJ will have to figure out a way to do it without Gregg Williams calling the worst defensive plays in the league. So the resounding defeat will at least look different as the final whistle blows. Seahawks 38, Jets 13<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n GREEN BAY PACKERS AT DETROIT LIONS (+9. O\/U: 55)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Lions got their big post head coach firing win last week, so they can\u2019t expect that same mojo here when they host Green Bay. The Pack can all but secure a playoff spot with a win, but is still in it for home field advantage and a first round bye. This isn\u2019t the time to stumble. Packers 30, Lions 23<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n ATLANTA<\/strong> FALCONS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (+2.5, O\/U: 49.5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This might be the saddest game on the schedule this week as these two teams stumble to the end of the season. One, Atlanta, has already fired its head coach. The other, LA, most likely will. There\u2019s very little to play for and maybe less to watch. So that means it will probably be a barnburner. Falcons 38, Chargers 35<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n NEW<\/strong> ORLEANS<\/strong> SAINTS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (+7, O\/U: 43)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts gets the first start of his career against one of the NFL\u2019s best defenses. Sean Payton is 8-0 over the last two years without Drew Brees on the Field. He\u2019s about to be 9-0. Saints 23, Eagles 13<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n WASHINGTON<\/strong> FOOTBALL TEAM AT SAN FRANCSICO 49ERS (-3, O\/U: 43)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The 49ers are just playing out the schedule now with their JV squad, but I think they\u2019ve still got a few solid performances up their sleeves. 49ers 20, WFT 17<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n THIS WEEK<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Straight up: 1-0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Against the spread: 1-0<\/p>\n\n\n\n LAST WEEK<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Straight up: 9-5<\/p>\n\n\n\n Against the spread: 8-6<\/p>\n\n\n\n SEASON<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Straight up: 126-64-1<\/p>\n\n\n\n Against the spread: 98-92<\/p>\n\n\n\n Follow our BetOnline Twitter accoun<\/a>t for the latest sports news and betting odds, and stay tuned on the Instagram feed<\/a> for more good information too.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" BY ADAM GREENE It\u2019s always good to start the NFL\u2019s stretch run with a win and that\u2019s exactly what I…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":14771,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[129],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14770","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14770","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14770"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14770\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14772,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14770\/revisions\/14772"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14771"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14770"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14770"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14770"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}