Top Five Week 13 NFL Matchups
What are the best matchups for Week 13 of the NFL season? There are several games with major playoff implications. Here they are, plus the point spreads for each game.
Panthers at Saints, 4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday
The Panthers avoided major disapointment last Sunday by rallying in the fourth quarter to beat the Jets. The win became sweeter later on Sunday when the Saints fell to the Rams in L.A. Now the teams are tied at 8-3, although the Saints still own the tiebreaker by virtue of beating the Panthers in Carolina earlier this year. According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, New Orleans is a 4-point home favorite this Sunday against Carolina, which opened as a 3.5-point underdog. The Panthers are winless at 0-5 against the spread in their last five games versus the Saints but are 12-4 at the betting window in their last 16 games in New Orleans.
Vikings at Falcons, 1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday
This game also has major playoff implications in the NFC. The Falcons are currently locked into the sixth seed in the conference but the Seahawks are nipping at their heels. Seattle also has a tough game on Sunday night versus Philadelphia and Carolina and New Orleans play, so a win for Atlanta over Minnesota would pay major dividends. The Falcons are currently 3-point home favorites to beat the Vikings, who are 9-2 on the year. This is also a huge game for Minnesota, which is trying to secure homefield advantage in the NFC. The underdog is 3-0-1 against the spread in the last four meetings between these two teams and the Vikings are 3-1-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
Eagles at Seahawks, 8:30 p.m. ET, Sunday
Seattle is severely banged-up and now has to face the best team in league (at least based on record). That said, the Seahawks have Russell Wilson under center and that has often proven to be enough for Pete Carroll’s squad. The Seahawks are currently on the outside looking in at a playoff spot but if Minnesota beats Atlanta earlier in the day, then the Seahawks could jump back into the sixth spot with a victory. Seattle also needs a win to keep pace with the 8-3 Rams, who should beat the Cardinals on Sunday afternoon. After opening as a 6-point home underdog, the Seahawks are now a 5-point dog against the Eagles for Sunday night. The Eagles are 1-5 against the spread in their last six games against the Seahawks.
Lions at Ravens, 1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday
This is an interesting matchup by virtue of Baltimore owning the sixth seed in the AFC and Detroit needing a win to keep pace in the NFC. Following their victory on Monday night against the Texans, the Ravens are now 6-5 and are 3-point home favorites versus the Lions. Detroit is sliding, now 2-8 against the spread in its last 10 games against winning teams, but is also 3-1-1 ATS in its last five road games. Baltimore, meanwhile, is just 0-3-1 against the spread in its last four games coming off a win.
Grab Bag
The Cowboys are 1.5-point home favorites versus the Redskins for Thursday night’s game while the struggling Chiefs are 3.5-point road favorites to beat the Jets on Sunday. The Patriots, meanwhile, are 8-point road favorites versus the Bills, who are 6-5 and still in the mix for a wild card spot in the AFC. The Texans are also 7-point road dogs versus the Titans, who are currently the third seed in the AFC. Finally, the Monday night matchup features AFC North rivals the Steelers (a major public favorite) and Bengals, who are 6-point home dogs versus Pittsburgh.