NFL Picks Week 16: Top Underdog Odds, Money-Line Advice and Predictions

Winning is all that matters in NFL circles entering pivotal Week 16 matchups with playoff implications, so betting on money lines only ups the intrigue as the season winds down.

Navigating the spread lines is important throughout the year for expert bettors, but the end of the season is an apt time to switch to money lines. A few matchups on the horizon resemble those that come around in playoff time, when money lines are increasingly popular due to tough spreads.

At this time of year, one win or loss will decide whether a team will be watching postseason action from the sideline or the couch. Those types of implications only make money lines all the more enticing.

Let's take a look at the complete odds for every game, complete with predictions.

Matchup	Spread	Money-Lines	Prediction
Philadelphia at Washington	PHI -8.5	PHI -325, WSH +295	28-20 Eagles
San Diego at San Francisco	SF -2.5	SD +105, SF -115	20-14 Chargers
Minnesota at Miami	MIA -7	MIN +240, MIA -280	23-20 Vikings
Baltimore at Houston	BAL -3.5	BAL -230, HOU +190	20-16 Ravens
Detroit at Chicago	DET -4.5	DET -370, CHI +310	34-20 Lions
Cleveland at Carolina	CAR -3.5	CLE +160, CAR -185	21-13 Panthers
Atlanta at New Orleans	NO -6.5	ATL +220, NO -260	33-27 Saints
Green Bay at Tampa Bay	GB -11.5	GB -650, TB +475	44-30 Packers
Kansas City at Pittsburgh	PIT -3	KC +130, PIT -150	27-20 Steelers
New England at New York Jets	NE -11.5	NE -600, NYJ +450	31-24 Patriots
New York Giants at St. Louis	STL -5	NYG +240, STL -280	24-21 Rams
Buffalo at Oakland	BUF -7	BUF -270, OAK +230	31-20 Bills
Indianapolis at Dallas	DAL -2.5	IND +140, DAL -160	29-22 Colts
Seattle at Arizona	SEA -9	SEA -360, ARI +300	16-7 Seahawks
Denver at Cincinnati	DEN -3.5	DEN -170, CIN +150	27-20 Broncos

Note: Odds courtesy of Odds Shark, last updated December 19.

Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals

John Froschauer/Associated Press

Rewind back to just over a month ago—the Cardinals took a six-game win streak into Seattle, and a win would have given them a stranglehold over the NFC West. Fast-forward to today—Arizona faces Seattle again, and this time it can give up the division altogether.

The Cardinals have already clinched a postseason berth, but they'll need a win if they want to see their home stadium again (before potentially playing the Super Bowl there, of course). Actually, a win would give them the NFC's No. 1 seed and guarantee that's the only stadium they see.

But Seattle comes into town confident as winners of seven of its last eight. It will feel even more confident facing Cardinals third-string quarterback Ryan Lindley, who has struggled behind center, as ESPN's Trey Wingo demonstrated:

Lindley can lead the Cardinals to success in most matchups without having to do much, thanks to their stout defense. But Arizona's running game isn't what it was earlier in the season with Andre Ellington out, and the Seahawks will diminish the impact of new starter Kerwynn Williams.

The Cardinals boast the front seven capable of dealing with Marshawn Lynch, as told by the last time these two teams met, but Russell Wilson made up for it with a big rushing day. His threat will keep Arizona's linebackers off-balance, giving the Seahawks enough room to generate a couple of scoring drives.

That's all it will take behind a defense that won't allow much at all from Lindley.

Prediction: Seahawks 16, Cardinals 7

Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals

Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press

The implications are huge on both sides of this Monday Night Football matchup between the Broncos and Bengals but admittedly bigger on one side.

Denver is furiously eyeing home-field advantage or at least a first-round bye, the latter of which it would clinch with a victory in Cincinnati Monday night. Needing two wins and a loss from New England to get the AFC's top seed, the Broncos won't be looking to cruise into the end of December.

As for the Bengals, they're nearly there as far as clinching a playoff spot but can't afford to look ahead. A loss would mean their Week 17 game against Pittsburgh would be for the AFC North—and they could miss out on the playoffs altogether with a defeat.

As cornerback Aqib Talib said, it's a big game for both sides, per the Broncos' Twitter:

Peyton Manning has been held somewhat in check over recent weeks, but it hasn't resulted in wins for the opposition. He has just one touchdown pass in his last two games, but both were easy wins due to an increasingly dominant run game.

Monday will bring more of the same. The Bengals will keep Manning from gashing them with an improving secondary, but their 24th-ranked run defense will be no match for C.J. Anderson and a Broncos offensive line that has finally discovered a formula that works.

Cincinnati's run-defense deficiencies will be on display again in prime time, showcasing why the Bengals might not be a playoff-bound team after all.

Prediction: Broncos 29, Bengals 22