NFL Predictions Week 10: Early Odds, Picks and Projections for Upcoming Schedule

As we head into Week 10 of the NFL season, the importance of divisional and conference matchups takes on a fever pitch. 

In the AFC, the New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders and Buffalo Bills all remain in strong contention for a wild-card berth.

In the NFC, the Minnesota Vikings are challenging the Green Bay Packers for the lead of the NFC North, while the St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks are head-to-head for second place in the NFC West and vying for a chance at the playoffs. 

The slate for Week 10 features some matchups that could significantly swing these wild-card battles, so let's break down picks for the winner of each game and preview the biggest favorites in Vegas ahead of the schedule. 

Away	Home	Pick	Spread
Buffalo Bills	New York Jets	Bills	NYJ -3
Detroit Lions	Green Bay Packers	Packers	GB -11
Dallas Cowboys	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Cowboys	DAL -1
Carolina Panthers	Tennessee Titans	Panthers	CAR -6
Chicago Bears	St. Louis Rams	Rams	STL -9
New Orleans Saints	Washington Redskins	Saints	Ev
Miami Dolphins	Philadelphia Eagles	Eagles	PHI -5.5
Cleveland Browns	Pittsburgh Steelers	Steelers	PIT -4.5
Jacksonville Jaguars	Baltimore Ravens	Ravens	BAL -6.5
Minnesota Vikings	Oakland Raiders	Raiders	N/A
New England Patriots	New York Giants	Patriots	NE -7
Kansas City Chiefs	Denver Broncos	Broncos	DEN -6.5
Arizona Cardinals	Seattle Seahawks	Cardinals	SEA -2.5
Houston Texans	Cincinnati Bengals	Bengals	CIN -13

Breaking Down Biggest Favorites

Cincinnati Bengals (-13)

At this point, no one is able to challenge the 8-0 Cincinnati Bengals at the top of the AFC North. Pittsburgh has lost Ben Roethlisberger to another injury, this time to his foot, and is expected to be sidelined for "a few weeks," as ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday. 

While the Steelers still control their playoff destiny, it will be as a wild-card team, as the surging Bengals have all but wrapped up the division. Nine weeks into the season, it's hard to find many flaws with this Cincinnati team, which appears to be one of the league's most complete. 

On the defense, it all starts with the front seven, which is 13th against the run and is tied for fifth in the league with 23 sacks. 

Texans coach Bill O'Brien knows how much that Bengals front can challenge his offense.

Then again, Houston quarterback T.J. Yates has done well against the Bengals in his career. As Aaron Wilson of Chron.com points out, Yates clinched a playoff berth for the Texans in his rookie season by beating the Bengals and then helped the team to a playoff win over Cincinnati.

However, this is not 2011, and this is an entirely different Bengals team. Yates will struggle against this pass rush, and Houston's defense, its best asset, will be hard-pressed to contain Andy Dalton and his offensive weapons.

Cincinnati is averaging 28.6 points per game, the third-most in the league. As the Bengals are the biggest favorites of the week, this game has all the makings of a blowout.

Prediction: Cincinnati wins by more than two touchdowns  

Green Bay Packers (-11)

The Green Bay Packers may have suffered their second straight loss of the season in Week 9 and fallen to 6-2 on the year, tied with Minnesota for the division lead.

But it's fair to say that the Detroit Lions are not going to have the same success against Green Bay that Denver and Carolina have had in the last two weeks. 

Despite their recent struggles on offense, this Packers team is still averaging 25.4 points a game and is still led by Aaron Rodgers. At quarterback, Rodgers is certainly not without flaws, but it takes defenses of the caliber of the Broncos and Panthers to really exploit those flaws. 

Detroit is currently 25th in the league in total defense and is allowing a whopping 30.6 points per game, the most in the NFL. 

Sure, the Lions are 11th in the NFL in sacks, with 20, and Green Bay's pass protection has been suspect in recent outings. But even if Rodgers takes four or five sacks, it's hard to see him failing to generate any offense against this Lions front. 

Though Green Bay's defense started the season on a strong note, it's taken a step (or three) back in the two losses. But Detroit is a total mess on offense right now, with talk of Matthew Stafford's days being numbered, as reported by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. 

This matchup represents an excellent opportunity for the Packers to get a statement win and some of the critics off their back. As long as they can generate a rushing game with James Starks rather than the struggling Eddie Lacy, and if Rodgers' pass-catchers can get open and get yards after the run, this game could be a bloodbath. 

Prediction: Packers win by double digits 

St. Louis Rams (-9)

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

St. Louis suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 9 in overtime, but only someone who has been scouting by the standings alone would argue that the Rams have not proven themselves worthy of a wild-card berth in 2015. 

The team will attempt to make that dream more of a reality in Week 10 against the Chicago Bears. If St. Louis can win and the Seattle Seahawks, in turn, lose to fellow NFC West opponent Arizona, the Rams will move solidly into second place in the division and increase their standing for a shot at the playoffs. 

The road has been tough for the Rams this season as their stellar defense has time and time again had to bail out an average, at best, offense led by new quarterback Nick Foles. 

But St. Louis has gotten a boost in recent weeks from the phenomenal play of rookie running back Todd Gurley, who is moving the team down the field and putting points on the board. 

Saint Louis also made headlines Monday when Ian Rapoport reported that the Rams were expected to sign veteran wide receiver Wes Welker.

Though it's hard to see Welker making a big impact initially due to the presence of Tavon Austin on the team, the signing mitigates the loss of Stedman Bailey to suspension.  

The Rams are big favorites over the Chicago Bears in Week 10, but the Bears have been tricky for opponents, losing close games only at the last moment. Ultimately, St. Louis' defense should prevail, but expect this one to be close. 

Projection: St. Louis wins by a field goal

NFL odds via Odds Shark and current as of Nov. 9.