NFL Predictions Week 13: Game Picks, Odds and Complete Matchup Guide

The New York Giants have to be shaking their heads over the events of their Week 12 loss to the Washington Redskins.

After watching NFC East rivals Philadelphia and Dallas absorb painful defeats on Thanksgiving Day, the Giants were in a position to build a two-game lead in the NFC East by beating a Washington team they had defeated earlier in the season.

But instead of coming out breathing fire and imposing their will on the Redskins, the Giants were passive and let Washington come out and dictate the pace of the game. The Giants fell behind 20-0 before they came back to make the score 20-14, but they could not get another touchdown, which would have allowed them to earn the lead.

The Giants were criticized by head coach Tom Coughlin, and when the head coach speaks out publicly about his team's performance, it seems quite likely that he has gotten their attention in practice as well.

The Giants have a chance to make amends for that loss and get back on track as they meet the New York Jets in the battle of MetLife Stadium.

The Jets have a 6-5 record and have performed fairly well because they have received excellent defensive play and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (2,476 yards, 20-11 TD-interception ratio) has given them a lift that they likely would not have received if Geno Smith had been under center all year.

But as much as Fitzpatrick has given the Jets, he is not the game-changing quarterback that Eli Manning is for the Giants. When Manning is on his game—and he wasn't against the Redskins, with three interceptions—he can torch any secondary and put up 300 yards or more and throw three TD passes.

With an elite receiver like Odell Beckham Jr. on his side, the Giants have the ability to strike suddenly. The Giants have the kind of passing game that gives them a chance to light up the scoreboard.

The Giants and the Redskins are both 5-6, and that's good enough to lead the way in the NFC East. The Redskins are in first place because they have a better divisional record.

But the Giants have five games left to win the division and gain a spot in the wide-open NFC playoffs. They have a weakness on defense, but they can make big plays when they need them. They are one-point underdogs against the Jets, according to Odds Shark, but they will find a way to win the Battle of MetLife Stadium.

Game	Line	Over-Under	Selection
Green Bay at Detroit	Green Bay -3	46.5	Green Bay; Over
Houston at Buffalo	Buffalo -3	41.5	Houston; Under
San Francisco at Chicago	Chicago -7.5	43.5	Chicago; Under
Cincinnati at Cleveland	Cincinnati -10.5	43.5	Cincinnati; Over
Baltimore at Miami	Miami -4	43	Baltimore; Over
Seattle at Minnesota	Even	42	Seattle; Under
N.Y. Jets at N.Y. Giants	NYJ -1	45	N.Y. Giants; Over
Arizona at St. Louis	Arizona -7	42.5	St. Louis; Under
Atlanta at Tampa Bay	Even	46	Tampa Bay; Under
Jacksonville at Tennessee	Tennessee -2.5	43	Tennessee; Over
Kansas City at Oakland	Kansas City -2.5	44	Kansas City; Over
Denver at San Diego	Denver -4	43	Denver; Over
Carolina at New Orleans	Carolina -7.5	50	New Orleans; Under
Philadelphia at New England	New England -11	49.5	New England; Over
Indianapolis at Pittsburgh	No line	--	Pittsburgh
Dallas at Washington	Washington -4.5	42	Washington; Under

Look for low-scoring war between Seahawks and Vikings

The Seattle Seahawks played one of their most emotional games of the season when they defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 39-30 at CenturyLink Field in Week 12.

The Seahawks, who were the most physical defense in the NFL in each of the last two years, got ripped apart by Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh passing game at home, and the only reason they came out on top was that quarterback Russell Wilson threw five touchdown passes.

While the Seahawks have not been playing their best defense this season (ranked ninth against the pass), expect that part of their game to come into clearer focus down the home stretch. The Seahawks moved to 6-5 with the win and are [currently] in the No. 6 spot in the NFC, which would be good enough to make the playoffs if the season ended today. 

The Seahawks go to Minnesota to take on Mike Zimmer's first-place Minnesota Vikings. Zimmer has one of the top defensive minds in the game, and that's the primary reason the Vikings are 8-3 and ruling the NFC North Division.

The Seahawks have Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, Bobby Wagner, Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas. The Vikings counter with Anthony Barr, Everson Griffen, Harrison Smith, Chad Greenway and Linval Joseph.

These two teams are both likely to flex their defensive muscles. The over-under in this game is 42 points, but these two teams will not approach that number. Take the under here.

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Big payoff if Panthers can remain undefeated

All eyes are on the Carolina Panthers—finally.

When the Patriots lost to the Broncos in their Week 12 Sunday night encounter, that meant Ron Rivera's Carolina Panthers were the only undefeated team in the league.

That's no small feat. The Panthers, who won the NFC South with a 7-8-1 record last year, have reeled off 11 straight wins. Their final five regular-season games do not look overly difficult. They will square off against the Saints, Giants, Bucs and the Falcons (twice) the rest of the way.

If the Panthers can go 16-0, their supporters will get paid off at a price of plus-400 on a $100 wager, according to Odds Shark. Those who think the Panthers will fail to win at least one of those games have to wager $600 to win $100.

That's just for the regular season. Those who believe the Panthers will roll through the Super Bowl with a 19-0 record will get paid off at plus-1,000. Those who believe that won't happen have to risk $2,500 to win $100.