NFL Picks Week 16 Against the Spread: Which Underdogs Will Cover?

The National Football League heads into the final two weeks of the regular season and motivation is clearly the biggest angle to handicap when making your picks.

Sports bettors need to realize that oddsmakers are certainly aware of all the playoff scenarios, which is already built into the betting odds.

Underdogs are 108-105-10 against the spread this year heading into Monday night's game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers.

Let's take a closer look at Week 16 from a betting perspective.

Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts

The Houston Texans got caught celebrating their first AFC South division title in franchise history, dropping a 28-13 contest to the Carolina Panthers as 4.5-point home favorites.

Indianapolis avoided the potential of finishing with an 0-16 record and will now seek revenge from a 34-7 blowout loss to Houston on the road to open the season.

Problem is—Indianapolis may want to snap its own winning streak due to currently holding the No. 1 pick in next year's draft if the season ended today.

Handicapper Line: Houston Texans (-5.5)

Pick: Houston Texans (-6)

Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens traveled across the country and suffered a 34-14 blowout loss to the San Diego Chargers as one-point road favorites.

Bettors will find that the Ravens are 0-2 ATS as a favorite of 10 or more points this season, while the Cleveland Browns are 5-4 ATS as a road underdog of 10.5 to 14 points the last two-plus seasons.

Handicapper Line: Baltimore Ravens (-12.5)

Pick: Cleveland Browns (+14.5)

Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs

The Oakland Raiders have picked the absolute worst time to suffer three consecutive losses, coming off a heartbreaking 28-27 loss to the Detroit Lions as one-point home underdogs.

Kansas City just knocked off the Green Bay Packers, which has caused an overreaction by the oddsmakers due to public perception.

The Silver and Black will also be seeking to gain revenge from a 28-0 home loss to the Chiefs on Oct. 23, which happened to be quarterback Carson Palmer's first appearance of the season.

Handicapper Line: Oakland Raiders (-1.5)

Pick: Oakland Raiders (+2)

Minnesota Vikings at Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins want no part of playing this contest after knocking off the New York Giants and looking ahead to closing the season against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Minnesota is suffering through a forgettable season and may be interested in packing it in for a high draft pick.

I'd run away from this game with the Redskins being 0-6 ATS as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points, while the Vikings have lost 13 games in straight-up fashion when getting points in the same range.

Handicapper Line: Washington Redskins (-4.5)

Pick: Minnesota Vikings (+7)

Arizona Cardinals at Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals kept their playoff hopes alive with a 20-13 win over the St. Louis Rams as seven-point road favorites, bringing in the No. 6 defense in the NFL in terms of total yards allowed.

Arizona has won four straight games, but three of those occurred in the desert—with two victories coming in overtime.

Not a recipe for success in heading out on the road for the first time since Nov. 27.

Handicapper Line: Cincinnati Bengals (-6)

Pick: Cincinnati Bengals (-4)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have mailed it in this season, but the Carolina Panthers are still young and not used to laying this type of number.

Only one way to go in my opinion.

Handicapper Line: Carolina Panthers (-9)

Pick: Carolina Panthers (-7)

New York Giants at New York Jets

Everyone in the world is expecting the New York Giants to win this game in order to set up a potential grudge match with the Dallas Cowboys for the NFC East division next week.

There's no home-field advantage in this contest, which may actually offer some value on the visitor.

The New York Jets also need this game and were embarrassed in Philadelphia last week.

Handicapper Line: New York Jets (-4)

Pick: New York Jets (-2.5)

Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills

The Denver Broncos got a taste of reality Sunday in playing the New England Patriots, but quarterback Tim Tebow still has the team sitting atop the AFC West division.

Buffalo has arguably been the worst team in the league the past seven weeks, which isn't overly attractive to wager on.

Over 75 percent of the early wagering is on the visitor.

I truly believe that playing the Bills in the first half is one of the best bets on the board this week.

Handicapper Line: Denver Broncos (-1)

Pick: Buffalo Bills (+3)

Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans dropped a 27-13 contest to the Indianapolis Colts as 6.5-point road favorites, which severely hampered their chances of making the playoffs.

Jacksonville is a banged-up team, but will benefit from a couple extra days off after suffering a 41-14 blowout loss to the Atlanta Falcons last Thursday night.

There's no question that the line is severely inflated, considering the Titans dropped a 16-14 affair to the Jacksonville Jaguars as one-point road favorites on Sept. 11.

Handicapper Line: Tennessee Titans (+7)

Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars (+9)

Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots

The New England Patriots have their eyes set on gaining the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs, while the Miami Dolphins will be seeking revenge from a 38-24 season-opening home loss to their division rivals on Monday Night Football.

I believe the Patriots expended a lot of energy preparing for their high-profile matchup with the Denver Broncos.

Got to take the points.

Handicapper Line: New England Patriots (-9.5)

Pick: Miami Dolphins (+11)

San Diego Chargers at Detroit Lions

It's going to be very difficult to place a wager on this game until Sunday's early round of action nears completion.

The San Diego Chargers become a dangerous underdog if things break their way.

Detroit is still in the playoff hunt and is getting incredible value in the current betting odds.

Handicapper Line: Detroit Lions (-3.5)

Pick: Detroit Lions (-1.5)

Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys

The Philadelphia Eagles absolutely destroyed the Dallas Cowboys in their first meeting on Oct. 30, tallying a 34-7 win as three-point home favorites.

Eagles head coach Andy Reid is difficult to go against as a divisional underdog.

Jason Garrett will have to sweat it out for another week and take "America's Team" on the road to face the New York Giants.

Handicapper Line: Dallas Cowboys (-3)

Pick: Philadelphia Eagles (+3)

Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints

The sharpest books in the sports betting industry currently have the New Orleans Saints as 6.5-point home favorites against the Atlanta Falcons.

Square shops are offering the Saints as seven-point favorites.

With over 80 percent of the action on the host—I'm not about to fall into this prime-time trap.

Both teams have a lot on the line, but the Falcons are extremely dangerous.

Handicapper Line: New Orleans Saints (-5.5)

Pick: Atlanta Falcons (+7)