Week 14 NFL Picks: Big-Time Favorites That Are Locks to Cover the Spread

With just a month remaining in the NFL season, it has become abundantly clear which teams are legitimate contenders for the Super Bowl and which teams flat-out stink. Interestingly enough, there are several games pitting contenders against pretenders this week, and the results should reflect that.

Nothing is ever certain in the NFL as you never know when a down-and-out team is going to surprise, but more often than not, the superior team comes out on top. Here are three huge Week 14 favorites that are locks to cover the spread this weekend.

Baltimore Ravens (-16.5)

The Baltimore Ravens have made a bit of a habit of playing down to their opponents this season, as evidenced by their losses to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Seattle Seahawks, but at 9-3 they are currently the class of the AFC North. Baltimore will host the winless Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, and even if it manages to play its worst game possible, I doubt the Colts will have a chance to win.

I think the Ravens have learned their lesson about taking opponents lightly, and because of that I think Baltimore will make an example of the hapless Colts. Indianapolis is an abomination when it comes to stopping the run, so running back Ray Rice has a chance to go for more than 200 yards for the second consecutive game. Also, Baltimore's terrifying defense should make life miserable for quarterback Dan Orlovsky all day long.

New England Patriots (-8)

The New England Patriots were the biggest favorites of the season last week as the lowly Indianapolis Colts were 21-point underdogs on the road. While the Pats were never in any kind of danger in terms of losing the game, they allowed the Colts to hang around and ultimately only won by seven points.

While you might say a win is a win, I can't imagine head coach Bill Belichick was overly happy with New England's effort. Belichick is the type of coach that likes to run up the score, so I'm certain he was angling for a blowout. Expect that to be the case once again on Sunday when the Patriots face the Washington Redskins on the road. The 'Skins have been playing much better as of late, but New England will likely be out for blood and should be able to move the ball at will against Washington's defense.

Green Bay Packers (-11)

I wouldn't consider the Oakland Raiders to be a particularly bad team, although they looked like one against the Miami Dolphins last week, but the undefeated Green Bay Packers have a way of making everyone look bad. That is why the Packers are 11-point favorites at home against an Oakland team that is scratching and clawing to make it to the postseason.

The Packers simply cannot be stopped offensively as quarterback Aaron Rodgers seemingly gets better and better with each passing week. He put on a spectacle against the New York Giants last week and figures to do the same against the Raiders on Sunday. Oakland's only hope to stay with Green Bay is to match Rodgers blow for blow, but the Raiders simply don't possess that type of firepower.