NFL Week 13 Picks: Early Odds Tips, Spreads and Predictions for Latest Schedule

Week 13 of the 2015 NFL season may as well be called Rivalry Week for all the divisional matchups that are set to take place. 

The Detroit Lions will attempt to sweep their games against the Green Bay Packers this year, while the Oakland Raiders will attempt to leapfrog the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West and put themselves into AFC wild-card contention.

Not every such game will be competitive—it's unlikely the Cleveland Browns will best the Cincinnati Bengals—but most will be compelling. Note the unusual number of even spreads in the table below. 

Let's predict winners for each matchup in Week 13 and preview some of the week's best games, divisional matchup or otherwise.

Away	Home	Pick	Spread
Green Bay Packers	Detroit Lions	Lions	GB -5.5
New York Jets	New York Giants	Jets	Ev
Arizona Cardinals	St. Louis Rams	Cardinals	ARI -5.5
Atlanta Falcons	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Falcons	Ev
Seattle Seahawks	Minnesota Vikings	Vikings	Ev
San Francisco 49ers	Chicago Bears	Bears	CHI -6.5
Jacksonville Jaguars	Tennessee Titans	Titans	Ev
Houston Texans	Buffalo Bills	Bills	BUF -3
Baltimore Ravens	Miami Dolphins	Ravens	MIA -4.5
Cincinnati Bengals	Cleveland Browns	Bengals	CIN -7.5
Kansas City Chiefs	Oakland Raiders	Chiefs	KC -3
Denver Broncos	San Diego Chargers	Broncos	DEN -3
Philadelphia Eagles	New England Patriots	Patriots	NE -13
Carolina Panthers	New Orleans Saints	Panthers	CAR -7
Indianapolis Colts	Pittsburgh Steelers	Steelers	PIT -6
Dallas Cowboys	Washington Redskins	Cowboys	N/A

Must-Watch Matchups

Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

John Bazemore/Associated Press

The 6-5 Atlanta Falcons are still pushing for a wild-card spot as the No. 2 team in the NFC South, but they have the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rapidly approaching in their rearview mirror. 

If the Buccaneers win this Week 13 matchup, they'll be tied with Atlanta for second place in the division at 6-6 but hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Falcons. 

Meanwhile, a season that started out so promisingly for Atlanta, which won its first five games, has been endangered as the Falcons have dropped four straight matchups.

Though it seemed the Falcons, who boasted the league's best run defense heading into Week 12, might have a chance against the Minnesota Vikings, who were reeling after a loss to the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota quite literally ran all over them. 

Adrian Peterson ran for 158 yards and two touchdowns against Atlanta, and that vaunted rushing defense had no answer for him.

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan also continued his troublesome trend of interceptions, throwing his fifth pick in two games. 

As for the Buccaneers, experience triumphed over youth in their Week 12 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts, as Jameis Winston's team could not stand up to Matt Hasselbeck and the Colts. 

If Tampa Bay hopes to beat Atlanta, it will have to hope Doug Martin can have the same kind of success against the Falcons run defense as Peterson did on Sunday. Martin was one of the only bright spots for the Buccaneers in Week 12, with a 56-yard run helping the team get its only score. 

However, if Atlanta is going to turn its season around, this is the week it needs to happen. 

Prediction: Falcons 21, Buccaneers 14

Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions

Mike Roemer/Associated Press

One of these NFC North teams had something about which to be very thankful on Thanksgiving Day, and the other endured a nightmare. 

The Lions exploded against the Philadelphia Eagles in a 45-14 blowout, continuing their trend of improvement since firing offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi. 

Meanwhile, on what should have been a legendary night for the Packers, as the team retired Brett Favre's number while Bart Starr looked on, is one Green Bay likely wishes it could forget. 

The Chicago Bears stormed into Lambeau Field and challenged the Packers through all four quarters, finishing with a 17-13 victory that was more dominant than the final score suggests. 

Now, Detroit and Green Bay prepare to play each other for the second time in three weeks, finishing off Green Bay's brutal slate of four straight divisional matchups. 

In their last meeting, it wasn't even as though the Lions dominated the Packers. Both teams consistently went three-and-out and neither had an explosive run game. Detroit managed just 45 yards on the ground, but Green Bay didn't do much better, gaining 47. 

And though the Packers didn't really have a standout receiver, and indeed their pass-catchers struggled with drops, Green Bay had nearly 100 more receiving yards in the end.

The Packers could have won the game had kicker Mason Crosby not muffed his last-second attempt. Detroit will have to do better in order to put greater distance between their score and Green Bay's. But the Lions' showing on Thanksgiving proved they are capable of doing that, while the Packers just keep falling. Green Bay would need a spectacular showing from its receiving corps to win this matchup. 

Prediction: Lions 28, Packers 21

Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders

The 6-5 Chiefs and the 5-6 Raiders both head into Week 13 coming off triumphant wins, the Chiefs recording a surprising victory over the Buffalo Bills. 

While both teams sit firmly behind the Denver Broncos in the AFC West, whichever team finishes in second place in the division will have a shot at a wild-card berth. 

Whichever team loses this matchup in Week 13, on the other hand, could very well put itself out of contention. 

It's hard to bet against the Chiefs, whose win over the Bills was their fifth straight victory after getting off to a rocky start.

When star running back Jamaal Charles was lost for the season with a torn ACL and then replacement Charcandrick West injured his hamstring, it seemed the Chiefs offense would be reduced to a one-dimensional mess. 

But Spencer Ware came on against the Bills' revered run defense and totaled 114 yards and a touchdown. 

Receiver Jeremy Maclin also had a big day for Kansas City, with 160 yards and a touchdown. 

Are the Raiders capable of shutting those weapons down and keeping their playoff hopes alive? 

Oakland stopped a three-game slide with a victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, but it's clear the Raiders have been struggling to get into a rhythm. 

The Raiders have weapons of their own, however. Seth Roberts finished the day with 113 yards and two touchdowns. Amari Cooper added another 115 yards. 

This matchup will ultimately come down to which defense is better prepared to shut down the opposing team's weapons. But as for the potential wild-card race, it seems the Chiefs have the momentum to carry them through. 

Prediction: Chiefs 31, Raiders 21

NFL odds via Odds Shark and current as of Nov. 29.