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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
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John Holler

The 5 best bets for NFL Week 17

This week’s bets have a little something for everybody – a game with one of the lowest Over/Under numbers hitting the Over, the high O/U number going Under, two defending conference champions taking care of their business at home, and a road underdog winning on the moneyline in primetime.

Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook

5
Take Green Bay Packers on the moneyline (+105) at Minnesota Vikings

Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

The Packers have clawed their way back into the wild-card chase after starting 2-5 – the last loss in their slow start coming at home to the Vikings in Week 8. The Vikings are on their third starting quarterback in four weeks after Joshua Dobbs and Nick Mullens played their way out of the starting job looking to replace Kirk Cousins. The Vikings are banged up on both sides of the ball, and throwing a rookie QB (Jaren Hall) into the fire isn’t a recipe for success

4
Take Kansas City Chiefs and lay 7 points (-110) vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports

The Chiefs have been their own worst enemy, losing three of their last four games, but the Bengals give them the motivation they need to make things right. In each of the last two seasons when the Chiefs were riding high, they received a reality check with a loss to the Bengals. That hasn’t been forgotten or ignored by any of the players or coaches. When the Chiefs win it usually isn’t close – each of their last four wins have been by seven points or more. Home-field advantage in the playoffs isn’t in their reach, but locking down the No. 3 seed is. As long as Kansas City doesn’t continue to create its own mistakes, they should roll in this one.

3
Atlanta Falcons at Chicago Bears: Take OVER 38 points (-110)

Credit: Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports

Both teams have been erratic in terms of scoring, but the Falcons have hit over this number in six of their last eight games. In the last three games with Justin Fields back from injury, the Bears have scored 72 points. Both teams have big-play talent, and you don’t need too many splash plays to help surpass this number with an Over/Under this low.

2
Take Philadelphia Eagles and lay 12 points (-110) vs. Arizona Cardinals

Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The Eagles broke a three-game losing streak last week after surviving a schedule gauntlet that included the Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys (twice). This wager isn’t an endorsement of the Eagles. It’s an indictment of the Cardinals. Three of the Cardinals last four losses have been by double digits, and Arizona is 1-7 on the road this season. The Eagles can still control their own destiny to win the NFC East and potentially land the No. 1 seed if the 49ers stumble in either of their final two games. These are teams heading in polar opposite directions, and a blowout is very possible.

1
Detroit Lions vs. Dallas Cowboys: Take UNDER 52.5 points (-110)

Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

It seems like every time we’ve had one of these games featuring two high-powered offenses with an Over/Under north of 50 points, we get a much lower-scoring game. Detroit’s game plan coming in will be to work the clock and string together long drives with its running game. One 15-play drive will eat up seven minutes off the game clock. The Cowboys are capable of the same, using the short pass game to serve as a de facto running game. It will likely take a defensive or special teams touchdown to go over this number, which won’t get topped even if the Cowboys and Lions play a 28-24 game.


Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.

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