The NFL gets its 2022 underway with a top lineup of games today, and our sports betting expert is back at it already with a selection of Week 17 NFL Picks. Plus, read on to find out how you can kickstart your new year by claiming a $1,000 welcome bonus at BetOnline
Week 17 NFL Picks: 1. New Orleans Saints vs Carolina Panthers – Saints to win at -300 on the moneyline
Missing starting quarterback Taysom Hill and key members of the offensive line, New Orleans Saints sacrificed rookie QB Ian Book to the sack Gods last weekend vs Miami Dolphins and lost the game 3-20.
The result leaves the Saints at 7-8 on the year but surprisingly still in with an off-chance of making the playoffs via a wildcard spot. Sean Payton’s team has to win today at the Dome and hope a couple of other results go their way, though.
Carolina Panthers’ season began with so much promise but, after winning the first three games, including a big home win vs today’s opponents, Matt Rhule’s team has gone on to lose nine of the last 12 games played, including defeats in the last five straight.
Having lost last weekend, the Saints are hardly in much better form and have lost six of the last eight games played. But, with Taysom Hill returning under center, some key members of the offensive line likely to be back in tow, and with the Dome behind them, we’re backing New Orleans to snatch a result by any means necessary.
Prediction: Saints get the win they need to drag their fast-evaporating playoff hopes into the final weekend.
Click here to bet on the Saints to win at -300 on the moneyline at BetOnline
Week 17 NFL Picks: 2. Dallas Cowboys vs Arizona Cardinals – Cowboys to win and cover the -6.5 spread (-115)
Two teams at other ends of the form-guide meet later this evening when the Dallas Cowboys’ high-powered offense (30.5 points per game (ranked 1st in NFL); 409.4 YPG (1st)) entertain an Arizona Cardinals team that’s been regressing of late, losing three in a row to the Rams, Lions, and Colts, respectively.
Last weekend vs the Football Team, QB Dak Prescott threw for 330-yards and four TDs as the Dallas offense put on a clinic, winning out 56-14. The result means Dallas clinched the NFC East and a playoff birth with two weeks to spare.
The Cardinals’ poor run of form of late has coincided with big injuries to WR DeAndre Hopkins and DE J.J. Watt who’s absence on defense cannot be understated. But, still, that’s football, and head coach Kliff Kingsbury will know that his team can ill-afford another sub-par display tonight in Texas, particularly with the chasing 49ers (8-7; NFC West) taking on a sub-par Texans outfit at the Levi’s Stadium.
Unfortunately for Arizona, they’ll be stepping into a hostile environment at the AT&T to face surefire Defensive Rookie of the Year LB Micah Parsons (13 sacks; 3 forced fumbles), and we’re banking on the former Penn State standout -and the rest of the Cowboys D- to keep Kyler Murray in check just enough to see Dallas cover the 6.5 spread.
Prediction: Inconsistent Cardinals struggle on the road against the in-form Cowboys who win and cover.
Click here to bet on the Cowboys to win and cover the -6.5 spread at BetOnline
Week 17 NFL Picks: 3. Green Bay Packers vs Minnesota Vikings – Vikings to beat the +13 spread (-110)
Keeping it short, Green Bay is already into the playoffs and guaranteed a home birth in the Divisional round. QB Aaron Rodgers and co. did win out under the same circumstances last week vs the Browns, but weren’t at their best in the marginal 24-22 victory.
The Vikings (7-8; NFC North) will be without QB1 Kirk Cousins (COVID), which probably explains the huge +13 spread. But, with their playoff hopes hanging in the balance, we’re backing stand-in signal-caller Sean Mannion to hand the ball off to RB Dalvin Cook whenever possible and to hit sophomore WR Justin Jefferson on enough slant routes to keep this game competitive into the fourth.
Don’t get me wrong, if you’re a moneyline bettor, take the Packers. But, at +13 and with the season on the line, don’t expect Minnesota to go down without a fight vs a Packers team that already has one eye on the playoffs.
Prediction: Vikings make a real fist of it. Packers 31-27 Vikings.
Click here to bet on the Vikings to beat the +13 spread (-110) at BetOnline
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