NFL Week 18 predictions and picks: The final regular-season weekend has a lot of value still to be determined.
Even though nine teams have already guaranteed a spot in the NFL playoffs, four division titles—the AFC East, AFC South, NFC East, and NFC South—will be up for grabs when the last regular-season weekend begins on Saturday.
Additionally, five postseason spots remain available. Six teams still have a chance to compete for the final two NFC spots, while three of them are split among five AFC teams.The teams that are eliminated from contention are Buffalo, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Green Bay, and Tampa Bay.
In a crucial AFC South game that will decide who advances to the postseason and who wins the division in the end, the Texans and Colts square off on Saturday night in Indianapolis.
The following clubs are out of the running: Buffalo, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Green Bay, and Tampa Bay.
The Texans and Colts play on Saturday night in Indianapolis in a pivotal AFC South match that will determine who goes to the postseason and who ultimately wins the division.
The spread should be the same for this one. The Texans are our pick to win on the road at FrontPageBets.
The AFC East is another.
The Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins game appears to be straightforward: the winner advances to the AFC postseason as the second seed and wins the division.
However, much more is going on here than meets the eye, particularly for the Bills.
Win or lose, the Dolphins are already in the postseason. All you have to do is sow seeds for them.
Conversely, the Bills must prevail in order to secure a postseason berth. A loss might be disastrous, depending on other circumstances.
It’s unlikely, but the Bills could miss the playoffs completely if they lose.
Here’s how it works: The Bills are eliminated if the Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Baltimore Ravens, who have already secured the top seed in the AFC and will probably rest their starters, the Jaguars defeat the Titans, and the Texans and Colts game doesn’t result in a tie.
Luckily, the Bills will know whether or not that’s even a possibility when they play their final regular season game on Sunday Night Football in Miami Gardens against the Dolphins.
The Bills, who are currently 3-point favorites, are coming off a very physical, closer-than-expected game in Week 17 against the Patriots.
Above 48.5 (-110) < Below 48.5 (-105)
It also makes logic. The Dolphins enter this game with a low profile after losing to the Ravens 56-19 last week, and the Bills have even more to gain.
Not to mention that, despite Buffalo being a 3-point favorite, the Bills destroyed the Dolphins 48-20 at home in Week 4.
But before we award the Bills the AFC East, let’s think about a few things:
This season, Miami is 10-6 against the spread, with a 4-2 record in their last six games. Buffalo is just 1-3 as a road favorite and 6-10 ATS. Oh, and the Bills have fallen short of the spread in their last seven evening games.
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