Week 14 NFL Picks: Predictions on Vegas' Midweek Betting Odds and Lines

An endless amount of potential playoff matchups have graced the NFL over recent weeks, and they're only continuing as Week 14 approaches.

The tests are coming every week for a handful of playoff hopefuls. As the final month of the regular season looms, those tests become more and more crucial to teams' chances of making the postseason.

With 19 of the 32 NFL teams currently at .500 or better, a league filled with parity has rarely had more depth from top to bottom. That undoubtedly makes things even tougher on bettors, with trends being bucked each and every week.

Alas, there's still some coin to be won for those who navigate the waters with care. Let's get right to it and make picks for Week 14 while highlighting the best choices.

Away	Home	Spread	Prediction
Dallas Cowboys	Chicago Bears	DAL -4.5	DAL 31-24
New York Giants	Tennessee Titans	NYG -1	NYG 27-24
Pittsburgh Steelers	Cincinnati Bengals	CIN -4	CIN 20-16
St. Louis Rams	Washington Redskins	STL -2	STL 27-17
Carolina Panthers	New Orleans Saints	NO -9	NO 30-27
New York Jets	Minnesota Vikings	MIN -4.5	MIN 17-13
Baltimore Ravens	Miami Dolphins	MIA -3	BAL 27-17
Indianapolis Colts	Cleveland Browns	IND -3	IND 31-14
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Detroit Lions	DET -8.5	DET 41-20
Houston Texans	Jacksonville Jaguars	HOU -4	HOU 35-21
Buffalo Bills	Denver Broncos	DEN -9	DEN 34-24
Kansas City Chiefs	Arizona Cardinals	ARI -1.5	ARI 20-17
Seattle Seahawks	Philadelphia Eagles	PHI -1.5	SEA 24-21
San Francisco 49ers	Oakland Raiders	SF -7	SF 27-7
New England Patriots	San Diego Chargers	NE -3	NE 34-28
Atlanta Falcons	Green Bay Packers	GB -10.5	GB 41-24

Note: Odds courtesy of Odds Shark, last updated Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. ET.

San Francisco 49ers (-9) over Oakland Raiders

A team that has played in three straight NFC Championship Games is on the verge of missing the playoffs altogether as it travels to face the unquestioned worst team in the league. 

It's (yet again) a recipe for disaster for the home Raiders entering Week 14 when the ticked-off 49ers pay a visit.

With the Cardinals leading the cutthroat NFC West and a handful of teams in front of them in a hotly contested NFC wild-card race, the 7-5 Niners might need to win out to save their season. And for once, the Battle of the Bay offers a very winnable contest, per The Associated Press' Josh Dubow:

Oakland showed signs of life in an upset win over Kansas City that marked its first victory of 2014, but they were quickly killed off again in a 52-0 whooping by the Rams. In their last six quarters, the Raiders have one touchdown—the game-winner against the Chiefs.

But after Rams rookie Tre Mason gashed the Raiders' 27th-ranked run defense, the Niners will do all they can to exploit what was already a massive advantage on the ground.

Not that it will impact the players on the field, but Oakland is currently in position for the top pick if it loses out, per Dane Brugler of CBS Sports:

The 49ers' desperate mentality will be the difference in this game and will lead to a huge advantage early on for head coach Jim Harbaugh and Co. From then on, San Francisco will pound the rock en route to an easy victory.

Prediction: 49ers win, 27-7

Seattle Seahawks (+1.5) over Philadelphia Eagles

Tony Avelar/Associated Press

As if the NFL hasn't seen enough matchups over the past few weeks that folks can count on seeing again in January, the Seattle Seahawks will visit Philadelphia in what could very well be a sign of things to come.

The Eagles are sitting pretty in the NFC East after a Thanksgiving Day drubbing of the Cowboys, but the sense of urgency shouldn't be lost. Just one game ahead of Dallas, the Eagles would fall right into the thick of the wild-card hunt with a fourth defeat.

Meanwhile, the team visiting is chasing the same goal and peaking in every facet of the game.

The Seahawks have risen to the occasion in two straight must-win matchups, throttling the Cardinals and 49ers by scores of 19-3 in each contest. That puts them back in control of their own destiny in the division, as Randall Liu of the NFL noted:

Against two of the most impressive rushing offenses in the NFL this season, the Seahawks dominated the line of scrimmage and swallowed up rushers for nothing gains. Doing so against the Eagles—sixth in rushing offense—will be a tall task, but not one that the Seahawks aren't capable of achieving.

Bottling up Philadelphia's rushing attack completely is impossible, but Seattle won't need to—not with quarterback Russell Wilson commanding the Seahawks offense en route to impressive rushing numbers, per Cian O'Fathaigh of Bleacher Report:

"

Russell Wilson has the 14th most rushing yards of anyone in the NFL. Next QB, Cam Newton, ranks 44th.

— Cian O'Fathaigh (@Cianaf) December 1, 2014"

Even the Seahawks, who aren't very inept at throwing downfield, will be able to stretch the field with long passing plays against a poor Eagles secondary. That will open things up for Marshawn Lynch and Wilson to make things happen on the ground.

It will be a memorable showdown, and one that will leave football fans wanting a repeat performance in January. But the battle-tested Seahawks will win the first round.

Prediction: Seahawks win, 24-21