NFL Week 14 Picks & Predictions
(TheSpread) – We have an assortment of picks and predictions for Week 14 in the NFL, including a favorite, an underdog, an over and an under. Continue reading for our 2010 NFL Week 14 Picks & Predictions.
Packers vs. Lions Prediction
The Lions represent a ton of value with the way they’ve played at home this year and seeing as how the Packers have a huge road test coming up next week against the Packers. But with the line sitting at 6.5 at some books, we’re less inclined to pick Detroit with the number coming off the all-import “7” – especially when there’s way more value in the total. The over is 5-2 in the last seven meetings between these two teams and 7-3 in the last 10 games in Detroit. The Lions have lost a couple of defensive starters the past couple of weeks and Aaron Rodgers is playing at a MVP-like level. He should have no problems finding Greg Jennings (who has been outstanding over the past month) in open space and strike for big plays. Assuming Drew Stanton and the Lions don’t lay an egg, the scoreboard should get plenty of action at Ford Field this Sunday. According to NFL Week 14 odds and oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com, the over/under for this game is 46.5. Our pick is the over.
Falcons vs. Panthers Free Pick
The hook off the all-important number of 7 has us a little concerned, but this is the most lopsided matchup on the Week 14 schedule. The Falcons can keep drives alive, the Panthers cannot. The Falcons create turnovers; the Panthers can’t protect the ball. The Falcons are scoring 58.14% of the time they reach the red zone, the Panthers are scoring just 30.43% of the time when they get inside their opponents’ 20. While upsets happen every week in the NFL, we don’t think that this will be one of them. The Panthers will try to feed the Falcons a steady diet of Jonathan Stewart, but Atlanta’s defense has been stout against the run all year. On the other side, Matt Ryan should shake off the two-interception game he had last week against the Bucs and take advantage of a soft Carolina defense. Once the Falcons build a lead, they can also rely on Michael Turner to wear down the Panthers’ front seven. Carolina is 1-5 ATS in its lat six home games and 1-5 ATS in its last six games overall. They’re also 0-4 ATS in their last four games against the NFC and 1-5 ATS in their last six games as an underdog. Atlanta, on the other hand, is 4-0 ATS in its last four games as a favorite, 4-0 ATS in its lat four games in December and 4-0 ATS in its last four games overall. Barring a backdoor cover, we think the Falcons cover easily and they’re our pick at –7.5.
Rams vs. Saints Prediction
With the way the Saints and Rams have racked up the points over the past month, this game appears like it could be a shootout. That said, the Saints’ defense had to be embarrassed the way it played last Sunday in Cincinnati and we expect Gregg Williams’ squad to be more polished this Sunday against the Rams. While nobody will confuse the Rams’ offense with the Saints’, there are similarities between these two teams that we feel could lead to a lower-scoring game than most expect. Sam Bradford loves to keep his passes within 7-15 yards and for as good as Drew Brees is as stretching the field, he’ll often settle for a safe check-down play himself. We think their will be plenty of long, sustained drives in this contest and seeing as how both teams stiffen up when their opponents reach the end zone, we think the under is the play here. According to latest NFL trends, the under is 4-1 in the Rams’ last five games in December and 9-4 in the Saints’ last 13 games following an ATS loss. Our pick is the under 47.
Dolphins vs. Jets Free Pick
Normally, we support a team when it gets blown out in a nationally televised game the week before because they usually play better the following Sunday. But as it pertains to the Jets, we can’t feasibly pick a team that gave up 45 points on Monday night and then is favored the following week. The Dolphins are 5-1 on the road this year and while they failed to play the Jets tough in Miami earlier in the season, we think oddsmakers have completely overvalued New York this time around. Everyone saw the affect Jim Leonhard’s injury had on the Jets’ defense in New England and while Chad Henne is coming off a brutal performance against the Browns, we think he might be able to move the ball successfully against New York’s banged up defense. The road team is 6-1-1 against the spread in the last eight meetings between these two teams and the underdog is 4-0 ATS in the last four games. Our pick is the Dolphins +5. Five points is just way too many to be giving a decent Miami team fighting for its playoff lives.
Want More From TheSpread.com? Follow us on Twitter and Facebook or Subscribe to Our News Feeds!