There 12 games on the docket on this Christmas Eve day.
12/24 1:00 ET Washington -3 At Chicago 47.5: The Redskins playoff chances hang in the balance in this must win game. Washington didn’t show up on Monday night against the Panthers and it cost them.
I don’t expect the same effort in this one. I think the Skins will come to play, beat the Bears by a touchdown and keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
12/24 1:00 ET At Buffalo -4.5 Miami 42: I cannot for the life of me understand why the Bills would be favored in this game? Don’t give me the weather. These aren’t your daddy’s Dolphins, they are tougher than that.
I believe in what Adam Gase is doing in Miami and I believe that the Dolphins will this game by a field goal. Take Miami as a road dog. It is a smart play.
12/24 1:00 ET Atlanta -3 At Carolina 51.5: Carolina has been a house of horrors for the Falcons in recent years and I expect them to struggle again today.
Atlanta has been better on the road this season than in years past but I still see them stumbling in this one.
The Panthers looked like the Panthers of 2015 on Monday night against Washington. I expect more of the same in this one. I’m putting my cash on the home dogs.
12/24 1:00 ET At Green Bay -7 Minnesota 43: No Adrian Peterson and plane problems equals no chance for the Vikings.
The Packers have won four in a row and are currently the sixth seed in the NFC. They want to solidify their positioning and win the division. In order to do that, they need to win today.
I like the Packers by two scores in this one. They are a dangerous team right now.
12/24 1:00 ET At New England -17 NY Jets 44: 17 is a big number. I know the Patriots are virtually unbeatable at home but that number might be a bit too high for my liking.
I am going to take the Patriots as a home favorite but I’m a little leery. I think they’ll win by at least two scores.
12/24 1:00 ET Tennessee -5 At Jacksonville 43.5: I’ll take the Titans all day in this one as a road favorite. The Jags are a mess right now. They are playing out the string under interim coach Doug Marrone and just want to finish the season.
The Titans will win by two scores.
12/24 1:00 ET San Diego -4 At Cleveland 43.5: The Browns will not win a game this season so yes, I’m taking the Chargers as a road favorite.
12/24 4:05 ET At Oakland -3.5 Indianapolis 53: Both teams need to win this game. For the Raiders, they can get a step closer to winning the AFC West and staying in the hunt for the number one seed in the AFC.
As for the Colts, their slim playoff hopes are on the line. Win and they are still alive, lose and they are out.
Sorry Colts fans. I’m going with the Raiders in this one as the home favorite. Oakland has a lot at stake and they have been pretty good at home this season. It’s a sensible play
12/24 4:25 ET At New Orleans -3.5 Tampa Bay 52: The Bucs playoff chances too a major hit last week but they are still in the hunt both in the NFC South and for a wild card spot.
Tampa has had success in New Orleans in recent and with Drew Brees being turnover prone lately, the Bucs have a good chance of winning this game.
That’s why I’m taking them as a road dog. I believe in Jameis and the Bucs and that’s why I’m putting my money on them.
12/24 4:25 ET At Los Angeles -4.5 San Francisco 39.5: Uggh. Do I have to talk about this game? Both teams are beyond awful. In fact, they are unwatchable. No one will be at this game today.
I’m putting my money on the Niners as a road dog. They are better than the Rams offensively. Not by much however.
12/24 4:25 ET At Seattle -8 Arizona 43: The Seahawks need wins to keep pace in the NFC and the Cardinals are thinking 2017. Put your money on the Seahawks in this one.
The Cardinals are a shell of the team they were last season so don’t expect any upsets here. Seattle covers easily.
12/24 8:25 ET At Houston -1 Cincinnati 41.5: Win and the Texans clinch the dreaded AFC South. They have absolutely owned Cincinnati at home in recent years and look for that trend to continue in this game.
The Texans are not very good on offense but they somehow find a way to win close games.
12/25 4:30 ET At Pittsburgh -6 Baltimore 44: This is one of the best rivalries in the NFL and both teams genuinely hate each other. So needless to say, it won’t matter that they are playing on Christmas afternoon.
-6 is a big number in this rivalry. I think Pittsburgh will win but it’ll be by a field goal. I’m taking the Ravens as a road dog. It is an easy pick in my opinion.
12/25 8:30 ET At Kansas City -3.5 Denver 37:The Broncos playoff chances took a major hit last week with their loss to the Patriots. They will need to win this game, win next week and get help.
Unfortunately for the Broncos faithful, I don’t see it happening. The Chiefs are the better team and they are tough at home. I don’t see the Broncos going into K.C and beating the Chiefs, especially with the way their offense is playing.
I’m putting my cash on the Chiefs in this game. I think it’s an easy play.
Monday Night Football
12/26 8:30 ET At Dallas -6.5 Detroit 44.5: The Lions got exposed last week by the Giants. If you can get consistent pressure on Matt Stafford and force him out of the pocket, you can disrupt the timing of the Lions offense.
The Cowboys can do that despite not having any household names on their defensive line.
I think the Boys will get their staple pressure on Stafford and the offense will score enough points to help the Cowboys win their 13th game of the season. Put your money on them with confidence.