NFL Picks Week 18: Dolphins host Bills in featured game

Entering the final week of the NFL regular season playoff spots and seedings are still up in the air. There are several important matchups with the playoffs looming next week. Let’s look at five of those games with the Dolphins hosting the Bills headlining play.

Minnesota Vikings versus Detroit Lions

Minnesota is limping into the final week at 8-9, losers of their last three and “dead” on the Team Strength Oscillator. Detroit looks to win and have a shot at the number two seed in the NFC playoffs. The Lions are 3.5-point home favorites with odds of -196 to +159 with an over/under of 45.5.  The score prediction is for Detroit to win by 27 points with a game total of 59 points with 77 percent confidence. Detroit won the first meeting between the teams on Christmas Eve by six points. Detroit has been one of the more stable teams in the league. I don’t see any legitimate chance for the Vikings to walk away with a win. I like the Lions to win and cover in a game “over” the line.

Atlanta Falcons versus New Orleans Saints

The Saints come in at 8-8 and the Falcons at 7-9, both with a shot at the playoffs. New Orleans is a 3.5-point home favorite with odds of -161 to +136 with an over/under of 41.5. Atlanta has lost three of its last four and is “average down” on the Team Strength Oscillator. The teams have been trending in games “under” the line. The score prediction is for the Saints to win by 24 points, but the confidence is rather low at 56 percent. Atlanta won by nine in a low-scoring game in their first meeting this season. The Saints should come away with a win and cover, but I will pass on the over/under bet.

Los Angeles Rams versus San Francisco 49ers

Both teams enter play “burning hot” on the Team Strength Oscillator. San Francisco enters as the number one seed in the NFC and a 4.5-point home favorite with odds of -196 to +159. The over/under is 41.5 and the teams have been trending in games “over” the line.  The score prediction with 83 percent confidence is the 49ers to win, 30-21. San Francisco has a +29 to +23 edge and won the first meeting between the teams back in September by a score of 30-23. Although the 49ers have nothing to play for having wrapped up number one seed, I still like them to win and cover, but I will pass on the over/under bet.

Jacksonville Jaguars versus Tennessee Titans

Tennessee enters the season’s final week at 5-11 and on a three-game skid, while Jacksonville is fighting for a playoff spot sitting at 9-7. The Jaguars are a 4.5-point road favorite with odds of -217 to +179 with an over/under of 40.5. Both teams have been trending in games “under” the line and the score prediction has Jacksonville by a 34-18 score with 71 percent confidence. There is a 91 percent chance that this game is decided by one score. The Jaguars have a +16 to +8 edge on the Power Ranks Indicator. The Titans have nothing to play for and are likely looking ahead to offseason vacations. Look for the Jaguars to win and cover, but I will pass on the over/under bet.

Buffalo Bills versus Miami Dolphins

This game will decide the AFC East. Buffalo comes in at 10-6 and Miami enters at 11-5. The Bills are “burning hot” after winning their last six and Miami is “average” after coming off a loss. Buffalo is a 2.5-point road favorite with odds of -149 to +123 and an over/under of 49.5. The teams have been involved in games “over” the line a bit more over the last six than under, and the score prediction is 33-20 in favor of Miami with a high degree of confidence of 88 percent. The Bills have won 80 percent of their last five games as favorites. Buffalo crushed Miami by 28 points in their first meeting at home. I like the Bills on the road in a high-scoring game, winning by a field goal late.

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