NFL Picks Week 13: 5 Underdogs That Will Pull off Upsets

With just five weeks to go in the NFL season, we are officially entering the home stretch. 

Currently, there are eight teams in the NFC fighting for playoff spots, and there are nine teams left in the AFC. 

Despite the fact that roughly half the league is out of the playoff hunt, there are still some very peculiar odds according to the Wednesday Vegas line.  Because of that, there are five games in particular that are very favorable to the underdog. 

Let's take a look at the games that should be very kind to the better.  

Philadelphia Ealges (-3) at Seattle Seahawks

Let's make one thing clear—the Seahawks are far from a good team. 

At 4-7, they look like a very similar team that went 7-9 and won the NFC West in 2010. 

But they're playing at home against an Eagles team that is coming apart at the seams.

Micheal Vick is still unlikely to play on Thursday night.

The defense is no good, Jeremy Maclin is hurt, Lesean McCoy may not play and DeSean Jackson is playing himself out of Philadelphia.  No, life is not always sunny in Philadelphia.

The Seahawks are home and getting three points against a team traveling over 3,000 miles coming off a season-crushing defeat at the hands of the Patriots. 

I like Seattle here to win an ugly, turnover-riddled game.

Seattle 16, Philadelphia 10

Tennessee Titans at Buffalo Bills (-1.5)

Speaking of season-crushing losses, look no further than Buffalo. 

A team that had lost their last three games by a combined 106-26, the Bills played their hearts out in New York last weekend, only to be undone by their star receiver Stevie Johnson acting like a third-grade buffoon and then dropping a wide open, potentially game-winning pass with just seconds to go.

The 5-6 Bills welcome a 6-5 Titans team that is in the thick of the playoff race. 

Though they are two games back from Houston, they are still alive in the AFC South, considering the Texans are now playing with a third-string quarterback. 

They also sit just a game out from the last Wild Card spot.

Buffalo was a great story in the first half of the NFL season, but they're now possibly the most injured team in the league, and their loss against the Jets is the kind you don't recover from. 

Tennessee 27, Buffalo 17

Oakland Raiders at Miami Dolphins (-3)

The Raiders are 7-4 and lead the AFC West. 

The Dolphins are 3-8 and are last in the AFC East. 

Yet the Dolphins are a three-point favorite?  Really?

Yes, I understand the Raiders have to travel to the East Coast, but this is a game they should absolutely win. 

While the Dolphins have played better football over the last month, they're last place for a reason. 

They can't close out games they're competitive in.

To me, the line should be the other way around, with Oakland being a three-point favorite.  With Denver unbelievably nipping at their heels, this is a game Oakland needs to win to keep pace in their division. 

I see Oakland squeaking out a victory similar to what we saw against Chicago last week. 

Oakland 23, Miami 17

Baltimore Ravens (-6.5) at Cleavland Browns

The Baltimore Ravens are 8-3, are first place in the AFC North and are coming off a big win over the San Francisco 49ers. 

What does that mean?  It's about time they go and underwhelm everyone again. 

There is perhaps no team more frustrating than the Ravens. 

After all, every time they have a big win, they go and blow it the following week. 

After their blowout victory over the Steelers on Week 1, they got dominated by the Titans.

Following a nice 29-14 win over the Texans, they put forth a horrid effort against the Jaguars in what was one of the ugliest games in recent NFL history. 

Then, after they beat the Steelers for a second time, the Ravens laid an egg against the Seahawks.

Now they take on a Browns team that has a very underrated defense.  The Ravens may actually win this game, but considering their history of blowing it after big wins, I have no faith that they will cover the 6.5 point spread.  

Baltimore 13, Cleavland 10

Denver Broncos at Minnesota Vikings (-1)

I can understand that Las Vegas, like many NFL fans and analysts, are not buying into the Tim Tebow hype. 

His passing numbers are, quite frankly, horrendous. 

However, the Vikings, a 2-9 team, being set as a favorite against a 6-5 Broncos team that has won four in a row?  I am not buying it for a second.

It's one of the first times I've ever seen a team seven games below .500 favored against a team with a winning record.  Call it the reverse Tebow effect?

This game will be far from pretty, as you have two young quarterbacks against good defenses. 

But I think a big difference in this game is the fact Adrian Peterson is hurt, while the Broncos' running attack is relatively healthy. 

A team that people thought would be part of the Andrew Luck sweepstakes just six weeks ago, the Broncos are incredibly fighting for a playoff spot.

Considering the emotional high they're on right now, I don't see them choking this game away. 

Denver 20, Minnesota 9