This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
The Week 16 tickets struggled, with the Cowboys and Eagles both failing to reach 20 points (+124), Joe Mixon battling a stomach bug that affected him enough to finish well below 100 yards (+270) in their 38-35 loss to Miami, and while Jacob Hollister did his job by breaking 50 receiving yards, the Seahawks inexplicably lost at home to the Cardinals (+198). Thankfully, Marlon Mack scored a touchdown in the Colts' win (+145) and the Ravens were able to cover 9.5 points while the game went over 40.5 (+125), which looks better since the game didn't go over the regular 49.5-point total.
The final week of the regular season is upon us, so let's see what kind of bets we can find with some teams looking to clinch playoff berths or positioning while others are simply getting ready for the off-season.
Packers -3.5 vs. Lions (-320), Patriots -3.5 vs. Dolphins, (-650), Saints -3.5 at Panthers (-350), Cowboys -3.5 vs. Redskins (-320) parlay (+156)
This parlay includes all of the double-digit favorites but instead of having to cover their regular spreads or parlaying their moneylines, let's grab them to just win by more than a field goal for a positive payout. Parlaying the moneylines -- Packers ML at Lions (-650), Patriots ML vs. Dolphins (-1600), Saints ML at Panthers (-700), Cowboys ML vs. Redskins (-600) -- gets you to -154, which isn't nearly as fun given you need all four outcomes to go your way (yes, you need all four in the -3.5 bets too, but at least you're getting better than even money).
Alvin Kamara anytime touchdown and Saints win (+105)
I'll be honest, I was really considering a Latavius Murray anytime touchdown and Saints win at +210, but Kamara is obviously the more reasonable pick (and why the odds aren't nearly as fun). Kamara continues to get more touches overall, and specifically near the goal line, and he now faces a Panthers defense that's allowed 25 rushing touchdowns this season, nine more than the next-highest team. Murray actually scored one of those 25 touchdowns back in Week 12, but Kamara's volume should give him the edge in a game where the Saints are favored by 13.5.
Saints -10.5 and over 39.5 points (+130)
The Saints are 13.5-point favorites in Charlotte, with the game total sitting at 45.0. The Panthers' offense looked awful last week with Will Grier under center, and having to rely on that offense to put up enough points to reach 45 might be asking too much. However, we can grab decent odds with the expectation the Saints can cover a lower spread while scoring enough that 40 total points is attainable.
Bucs and Saints to each score 25 points (+380)
Both teams to score 20 points sits at +102, as the total in this game is 48 (-115 under, -105 over), but with both offenses able to put up plenty of points and neither team having anything to play for, this surely feels like the shoot-out of the day. Then again, it's the highest total on the slate anyway.
