Week 17 NFL Picks: Predictions, Odds and Over/Under Tips for Season Finales

From an initial glance, the NFL's Week 17 slate offers up several lopsided matchups as it waves goodbye and ushers in the playoffs. 

Oddsmakers out of Las Vegas concur, having crafted five lines of nine or more points even after midweek adjustments, four of those coming in at double-digit margins. 

Some of these make plenty of sense, as a game featuring the Cleveland Browns boasting a double-digit line doesn't register as a surprise. Others don't, though, and create interesting opportunities for bettors to go one way or another based on research and the tried-and-true gut feeling. 

Here's a look at the updated lines after fluctuations.   

NFL Week 17 Matchups, Odds

Chicago at Minnesota (-12) | O/U 39.5

Cleveland at Pittsburgh (-10.5) | O/U 38

Dallas (-3) at Philadelphia | O/U 39.5

Green Bay at Detroit (-7)  | O/U 43

Houston at Indianapolis (-6) | O/U 41

N.Y. Jets at New England (-15)  | O/U 44

Washington (-3) at N.Y. Giants | O/U 38

Arizona at Seattle (-9.5)  | O/U 39

Buffalo (-3) at Miami | O/U 42.5

Carolina at Atlanta (-3.5)  | O/U 46.5

Cincinnati at Baltimore (-10) | O/U 40.5

Jacksonville at Tennessee (-3)  | O/U 41.5

Kansas City at Denver (-3)  | O/U 39

New Orleans (-7) at Tampa Bay | O/U 50.5

Oakland at L.A. Chargers (-7.5)  | O/U 42

San Francisco (-4) at L.A. Rams | O/U 44

Green Bay at Detroit (-7)

The Detroit Lions likely inflicted some pain on bettors in Week 16, blowing a chance to stay alive in the playoff race by dropping a game to the Cincinnati Bengals in 26-17 fashion. 

Quarterback Matthew Stafford, at least, doesn't sound like a guy ready to throw in the towel. 

"I'm the leader of the team," Stafford said, according to Stats LLC (via ESPN.com). "Got to go out there and help our guys win. Didn't do it enough this year, obviously, but a chance to go do it again Sunday with this group of guys will be a lot of fun."

Stafford is saying the right things, but it's hard to know what a demoralizing loss can do for a team going into a meaningless game against a divisional rival. And while the Green Bay Packers are only 7-8 this year, they have won two of their last four and played the Carolina Panthers tough on the road. 

The last time these teams met, Detroit stole a win in Green Bay by a 30-17 final, though the Packers made serious headway on the ground with two touchdowns on a 4.6 per-carry average. If the Packers can tighten their belts against Stafford, who only has four touchdowns against three interceptions over his past two games, the defense should be able to shutter a rushing attack that only put up 1.9 yards per carry last time they met and has an average of 3.4 on the year overall. 

Most wouldn't expect a Packers-Lions game to boil down to the running games, yet here we are with two eliminated teams and one missing a star quarterback. Look for the Packers to gain a slight edge via a quietly potent ground game and sit on the lead. 

Prediction: Packers 20, Lions 17

N.Y. Jets at New England (-15)

Let's rewind to Week 6—Tom Brady throws all of two touchdowns and one interception on the road in a 24-17 escape of a surprising New York Jets team featuring a pair of touchdowns and interceptions from the revitalized Josh McCown. 

Even then, it was easy to see which way these teams would go. 

The Jets fizzled on the way to a 5-10 record and McCown went down with an injury recently. The Patriots kept surging and enter the final weekend with something to play for despite a 12-3 record and one loss since Week 5. 

Along that span, the Patriots have upended teams like Atlanta and the Los Angeles Chargers as Brady marched to 30 touchdowns against eight interceptions, his deep backfield averaged 4.2 yards per carry and a shaky-at-first defense got in gear. 

It'd be easier to have a little more confidence the Jets could close this gap like they did the first time out if they hadn't lost the past three games by totals of 23-0, 31-19 and 14-7. Clearly, the defense is struggling, but so is an offense led by Bryce Petty and his one touchdown and three interceptions. 

This one would have upset potential if it went down in New York or the Jets had a viable starting quarterback. Instead, the Patriots have more ammunition and a reason to keep the offensive stars going for a full four frames, meaning pulling away while guys like Rob Gronkowski and Dion Lewis run wild is an inevitable outcome. 

Prediction: Patriots 34, Jets 10 

Cincinnati at Baltimore (-10)

Those Bengals that spoiled things for the Lions now have a chance to do so again when they visit the Baltimore Ravens to close the season. 

Bettors hungry for something different can look for an upset here. 

The Bengals got 116 yards and a touchdown on the ground in Week 16 from Giovani Bernard while taking down the Lions, holding Stafford to one touchdown and interception in the process. They know Joe Flacco and the Ravens even better, which is bad news for Baltimore's signal-caller considering he only has 16 touchdowns against 12 interceptions on the season. 

Already facing a tall task against a game opponent that isn't giving up on the season, the Ravens aren't happy the game got flexed to a later time, as captured by NBC Sports: 

It's understandable, as these Ravens are a deceptive team. Of the 9-6 record, the Ravens have two wins over Cleveland, one over Indianapolis and five more against teams with losing records. 

Viewed through a different lens, the Ravens have taken care of business and that's what matters. But the Bengals have always been a poor matchup and this year isn't an exception, as Baltimore doesn't have anyone who can run with A.J. Green and a late roster shake-up has even a change-of-pace back like Bernard looking great—and explosive rookie Joe Mixon could return for the finale. 

In the usual slugfest between these two, look for the Bengals to win more important individual matchups and steal this one on the road while forcing the Ravens to beat them through the air via Flacco's arm. 

Prediction: Bengals 23, Ravens 17 

Stats courtesy of NFL.com. Odds according to OddsShark.