NFL Picks Week 17: Locks to Cover Spread on Final Day of Regular Season

Picking NFL games against the spread is never easy. Unfortunately, it is even tougher in Week 17. 

Many teams choose to rest their starters to prepare for the playoffs, while others have already given up on the year by this point.

For these reasons, the best way to be successful this week is to choose teams that still have a lot to play for. This will allow you to judge the squads that are giving a 100 percent effort.

With that in mind, here are some locks for Week 17.

Note: All spreads courtesy of Vegas Insider.

Seattle Seahawks (-10.5) over St. Louis Rams

Is there any team in the NFL that can stop the Seahawks right now?

In the last three games, Seattle has outscored opponents by a score of 150-30, including a dominant performance over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football.

The defense is now No. 1 in the NFL in points allowed and the offense has been unstoppable behind Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch. 

Although this is a large line, the Seahawks are playing at home where they have a 7-0 record this season and are still trying to earn a division title.

This game should be yet another blowout for Seattle. 

Houston Texans (-6.5) over Indianapolis Colts

Unlike the Seahawks, the Texans are playing much worse than their record indicates. 

Last week's loss to the Minnesota Vikings proved once again that the team needs Arian Foster in order to succeed. Houston is only 1-3 when the running back is held to under 70 rushing yards this season.

In addition, the pass defense has struggled, allowing big games by anyone from Tom Brady to Chad Henne.

Houston needs this game to regain momentum for the postseason.

Also, if the Texans win this game, they will clinch the No. 1 overall seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. A loss would probably cost the team a first-round bye.

Conversely, the Colts will be the No. 5 seed regardless of the outcome.

With this much on the line for one team and none for the other, picking the game becomes very easy.

Washington Redskins (-3) over Dallas Cowboys

This is one of few games on the Week 17 slate that involves two teams both battling to reach the playoffs. 

Thanks to the third tiebreaker of common opponents, the winner of this fierce rivalry will win the NFC East.

While Tony Romo has played well in his attempt to get Dallas into the playoffs, the defense has not kept up its end of the bargain. In the last two games, Ben Roethlisberger and Drew Brees combined for 785 passing yards and two touchdowns against the Cowboys. 

Washington has not been much better at preventing big games through the air, but at least the secondary makes up for it with 18 interceptions. 

As a team, the Redskins have a turnover differential of plus-14, an outstanding number compared to the minus-10 of Dallas.

The entire roster of Washington is playing well at this point of the year and the squad has won six in a row. With the crowd ready for its biggest home game in years, the Redskins should be able to win at least one more and reach the playoffs. 

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