NFL Betting Predictions: Week 16 Opening Line Report and Picks

by Chris Vasile - 12/21/2021

NFL predictions Kirk Cousins Minnesota Vikings Week 16 opening line report and picks

If it feels like Week 15 started three weeks ago, don’t worry, you are not alone. We kicked off Week 15 with a great overtime game between the Chiefs and Chargers and were then thrown for a loop as COVID issues ran rampant throughout the league. We had three games be rescheduled from Saturday/Sunday to Monday/Tuesday, respectively, so in essence, we’ve had NFL football on our TV in five of the last six days. COVID issues aside, I am fully on board with this as I’m of the belief that the more football we can witness, the better. It’ll be interesting to see how rescheduled games affect teams in Week 16, as a few of them will be playing on extra short rest.

As far as last week’s results go, we went 1-2, with the Colts covering -2 as our only winner of the week. We lost with the Jags -3 and the Packers -7, who were in complete control of that game and let the Ravens in the back door. Let’s try for a 3-0 record this week.

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Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots -2.5, 44

I’ve checked the weather report three times so far this week. Everything is pointing to respectable weather that should not affect this football game in the slightest. With that said, how can you not go back to the well with the Bills? If they are smart enough – which I think they are – they will know Belichick will not throw just three passes this week. He will likely attack through the air to catch the Bills off guard. That will play right into the Bills’ hands, and the Bills will take full advantage of it and come away with a win. Look, the Bills were able to right the ship a bit last week against the Panthers. The offense put up 31 and should have some momentum to build on coming into this week. Josh Allen knows that the first meeting vs the Patriots was simply not who or what the Bills are on offense, and I expect him to come out and put up some big numbers on an overrated Patriots’ defense. And on the flip side, the Bills’ defense took their loss against the Patriots personally, with reporters calling them out for not being able to shut down the run despite knowing what was coming. I expect them to put in a massive effort and limit the Patriots to 14 or fewer points.

Pick: Buffalo ML

Indianapolis Colts at Arizona Cardinals -1.5, 50

The Indianapolis Colts made a statement on Saturday against the Patriots as they beat the hottest team in the league on the strength of their rushing attack. The Colts now find themselves in a position to overtake the Titans for first in the AFC South this week. And if I was a betting man, and I am, I would love to play the Colts at +500 to win the division. The Colts have won four of their last five games. And if they can find a way to get by the Cardinals, they have the Raiders and Jaguars on deck to finish the season. That says 2-0 to me and a possible 11-6 finish on the season. The Colts are definitely peaking at the right time. And the same can’t be said for the Cardinals, who just dropped their second straight game, this time to the lowly Lions. The Cardinals were essentially asleep at the wheel on Sunday in Detroit as they fell behind 17-0 at halftime and 24-3 in the third quarter. They were terrible on both sides of the football. And as they now dropped their second in a row, this game, with little momentum or confidence, is no “gimme”, despite it being at home. The Colts’ best attack is their run game, while the Cardinals’ run defense is their weak link. I expect the Colts to ride the wave of momentum and go into Glendale and come away with another key victory.

Pick: Indianapolis Colts ML

Los Angeles Rams at Minnesota Vikings +3, 49

And last, but certainly not least, the team that would benefit the most from a Cardinals’ loss would be the Rams, who are nipping at their heels for the NFC West Division crown. The Rams head to Minnesota on a short week as they played on Tuesday against the Seahawks. I’m not sure how that will affect the team, playing twice in a five-day span. However, if any team can rely on their defense to get a road win, it’s definitely the Rams, who have an abundance of talent littered throughout the lineup on that side of the football. They also have a veteran quarterback in Matthew Stafford, and he knows the Vikings well and will be excited to get in the win column in Minnesota, a place he had very little success while a member of the Detroit Lions. As for the Vikings, they come off a very uninspiring win over a bad Bears team, and I don’t see them being able to put up much more than the 17 points they did against the Rams.

Pick: Los Angeles Rams -3

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NFL Betting Predictions: Week 16 Opening Line Report and Picks

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