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NFL Week 17: NFC West Up for Grabs Between San Francisco and Seattle
The 2019-20 NFL season won't be winding down gently this year. In Week 17, two division titles are being fought for and one wild card berth is being contested. We’ll cover these games, along with their NFL lines, and more in our weekly preview of the top 10 NFL matchups.
NFL Week 17 Best Odds and Matchups
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (Sunday, 8:20 PM ET)
If there’s just one game to circle when you bet on the NFL this week, this should be it. The NFC West is currently in the hands of the San Francisco 49ers (12-3 SU, 8-6-1 ATS), but if Seattle (11-4 SU, 7-7-1 ATS) beats them as 3.5-point underdogs on Sunday, the Seahawks will take the title as the tie breaker was decided in a Week 10 Seattle victory. Seattle was pretty battered by the Arizona Cardinals last week, and lost their two main running backs to injury; Marshawn Lynch will return to the football field to fill in.
Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants (Sunday, 4:25 PM ET)
The Philadelphia Eagles (8-7 SU, 6-9 ATS) are looking to secure the NFC East this week, which they’d accomplish with a win over the New York Giants (4-11 SU, 7-8 ATS). A Cowboys' loss would also be sufficient for Philly to make the playoffs should they fail to beat the Giants as —4.5 road favourites.
Washington at Dallas Cowboys (Sunday 4:25 PM ET)
After losing several critical games, the Dallas Cowboys (7-8 SU, 8-7 ATS) are dangerously close to missing the playoffs. Not only do they need to beat Washington (3-12 SU, 6-9 ATS) in order to make it through, they also need Philadelphia to lose to the Giants. With their odds on NFL Sunday listed as —10.5, the ‘Boys are expected to at least beat Washington, who’ve lost their last three games. Washington’s rookie QB Dwayne Haskins will sit this one out with an ankle injury.
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans (Sunday, 4:25 PM ET)
The Tennessee Titans (8-7 SU, 7-7-1 ATS) need to be firing from all cylinders when they face off against the Houston Texans (10-5 SU, 7-7-1 ATS) on Sunday. A victory over Houston would secure Tennessee the last AFC wild card berth; otherwise they’ll have to hope that the other teams in pursuit of the AFC wild card lose. They’re 4-point road favourites to pull it off, but they’ll have to do better than they did in Week 15 when Houston beat them 24-21 as 3-point road dogs.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens (Sunday, 4:25 PM ET)
This is more in line with what we’re used to seeing in the final week of the NFL season. Having already secured the top seed in the conference, the Baltimore Ravens (13-2 SU, 9-6 ATS) are resting QB Lamar Jackson along with several other key starters when they face off against the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7 SU, 9-6 ATS) on Sunday, and that is affecting the NFL betting. The Steelers will be without back-up QB Mason Rudolph, who was replacing Ben Roethlisberger, due to a shoulder injury; they’re 2.5-point road favourites to beat the Ravens’ secondary squad, with a low total of 38.
Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos (Sunday, 4:25 PM ET)
The Raiders (7-8 SU, ATS) haven’t been fully eliminated from the playoff race just yet. If the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans lose their Week 17 games, and the Raiders manage to upset the Denver Broncos (6-9 SU, 9-6 ATS) as 3.5-point underdogs, they’ll make it to the postseason in the most improbable fashion.
Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions (Sunday, 1 PM ET)
Conference seeding is on the line when the Detroit Lions (3-11 SU, 5-10 ATS) host the Green Bay Packers (12-3 SU, 10-5 ATS) in Week 17. Going into the game, Green Bay is the No. 2 seed in the NFC, but the New Orleans Saints will overtake them if they don’t beat the Detroit Lions as 10-point road favourites on Sunday. They may need to do it without RB Jamaal Williams, who injured his shoulder against the Minnesota Vikings last week.
New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers (Sunday, 1 PM ET)
The New Orleans Saints (12-3 SU, 10-5 ATS) could see themselves promoted from third seed to second seed in the NFC, but a few things need to happen. First, they’ll need to beat the Carolina Panthers (5-10 SU, 6-8-1 ATS) on Sunday as 13-point road favourites. Then, they’ll need either the San Francisco 49ers or the Green Bay Packers to lose their Week 17 games. The total for this matchup is 47.5.
Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday, 1 PM ET)
With an 11-4 record, the Kansas City Chiefs (10-5 ATS) are at the forefront of the AFC wild card standings, so they can make a push to upgrade their position to second seed by beating the Los Angeles Chargers (5-10 SU, 4-9-2 ATS) as 8.5-point home favourites on the NFL betting odds board. The New England Patriots would have to lose to the Miami Dolphins for Kansas City’s wish to come true.
Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots (Sunday, 1 PM ET)
The New England Patriots (12-3 SU, 8-6-1 ATS) will hold on to their second seeding (along with a bye) in the AFC if they beat the Miami Dolphins (4-11 SU, 8-7 ATS) at Gillette Stadium on Sunday. Their NFL odds look promising, with the Patriots listed as 16-point favourites.