The Falcons’ 27-24 upset of the Rams (-7.5) on MNF created a new wrinkle for the final weekend of NFL regular season.
Saturday’s Panthers-Bucs game in Tampa has been billed as a battle for the NFC South title and the final spot in the NFC playoff bracket.
But if the Panthers — currently 2.5-point underdogs — don’t win, they will get a second chance to advance with an Atlanta victory over the Saints (+2.5) on Sunday. That would create a three-way tie at 8-9 and Carolina would win the tiebreaker over Atlanta and Tampa Bay based on head-to-head records.
More news you can use:
>The Chargers will sit QB Justin Herbert and other banged-up starters vs. the Broncos. The line moved from Denver -7 to -12.5 at Circa. The Broncos would clinch the No. 1 seed with a win.
>Lamar Jackson (back) and T.J. Watt (collapsed lung) are TBD for Sunday’s Ravens-Steelers showdown for the AFC North title. The line moved from Ravens -3 to -3.5 on Monday.
>Back to MNF: As chronicled by VSiN’s Mitch Moss on X, Matthew Stafford’s three-interception night may have cost him the MVP award — at least based on the betting markets. Pre-game MVP odds at Draftkings: Stafford -140; Drake Maye +110. Post-game: Maye -400; Stafford +300.
>Dave Tuley’s ATS Report: Favorites led 9-7 SU in Week 17, but dogs led 9-6-1 ATS; road teams 10-6 SU & 8-7-1 ATS; Unders 9-7. For the season, favorites 165-85-1 SU (5 PK), but dogs 129-120-2 ATS (51.8%); home teams 130-118-1 SU (7 neutrals) & 126-122-1 ATS (50.8%); Overs 130-122-4 (51.6%).
Everything we do on Week 18 will be posted here.
Bowl Best Bets
The wait for the College Football Playoff quarterfinals is almost over.
In the meantime, how bout some more bowl games?
Adam Burke and Zach Cohen offer their picks:
Tonight
Independence Bowl: Coastal Carolina vs. Louisiana Tech, 2 ET
Music City Bowl: Tennessee vs. Illinois, 5:30 ET
Alamo Bowl: USC vs. TCU, 9 ET
FYI: Dave Tuley reports that favorites are 16-8 SU and 14-10 ATS (58%) through Monday’s Birmingham Bowl with Georgia Southern (-10) covering in a 29-10 win over Appalachian State. Unders continue to dominate at 16-8 (67%).
Dave filed a fresh set of Best Bets for the bowls and the CFP.
Everything we do during bowl season is posted here.
Adam joins Tim Murray on the VSiN College Football Betting Podcast to go through their plays for the CFP.
Quick Hits
NBA: Zach Cohen‘s Best Bets and Steve Makinen‘s Analytics Report will hit around mid-morning on our NBA page. Our Opta AI NBA player props projections are here.
College Basketball: Greg “Hoops” Peterson has his Best Bet for today’s menu. Look for picks from Adam Burke and Tyler Shoemaker mid-morning on our college hoops page.
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NHL: VSiN hockey analyst Jonathan Davis will post his Best Bets around mid-day.
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