NFL Week 14 Preview - My Best 5 Bets

Green Bay Packers (6-6) @ Cleveland Browns (0-12) - Browns Stadium
 
BET = Cleveland  Browns +3.5 ($1.90)
 
The Browns would have put a couple of big circles around this game as potentially their only win of the season. With no Aaron Rodgers, the Packers are particularly vulnerable on the road here. Brett Hundley has had his moments at quarterback, however I don't think he is starting quality and the Packers are just about out of the playoff race at 6-6. The Browns have been competitive of late, especially at home, so whilst I'm not convinced they can win this game, I expect them to play hard and if they do lose it is by a field goal. 
 
San Fransisco 49ers (2-10) @ Houston Texans (4-8) - NRG Stadium
 
BET = Houston Texans -2.5 ($1.90) 
 
The Texans are a hard-nosed football team and, despite losing their starting quarterback, they continue to be competitive. The 49ers might have got a win last week, however it was hardly convincing with 5 field goals scraping them past the Bears 15-14. The 49ers are still in the mix for one of the Top 3 Draft picks for 2018, so really I think there is more at stake here for the Texans, being at home against a side they should beat. I'm surprised the 49er's don't have +5.5 start here, so we will take the Texans to win by a field goal or more. 
 
Dallas Cowboys (6-6) @ New York Giants (2-10) - MetLife Stadium
 
BET = New York Giants +3.5 ($1.90)
 
Beware the wounded team that has just had the Head Coach fired, and that is the New York Giants this week for me. It’s been clear to me for a number of weeks that the Giants had essentially quit on their coach Ben McAdoo, and were not playing anywhere near as hard as they were capable of doing. I expect a bit of emotion to surround this game, with a massive Divisional rival in the Cowboys coming in, and Eli Manning being restored as starting quarterback. The Giants have a good record at home against the Cowboys, so I expect this game to go right down to the wire so we will take the points. 
 
Washington Redskins (5-7) @ Los Angeles Chargers (6-6) - StubHub Centre
 
BET = Washington Redskins 6.5 ($1.90) 
 
I know the Chargers are surging, and the Redskins are faltering, however it’s very hard to trust the Chargers to win a game easy. The Redskins have already gone on the road this year and beaten the Seahawks, so the StubHub Centre is not going to be anywhere near as hostile an environment for them. The Chargers should win this game, however their fans will tell you they never make it easy for themselves, and even last week at home they managed to scramble over the line by 9 points against a winless Browns’ team with no threat at quarterback. Kurt Cousins can put up some points here, so we will take the Redskins with 6.5 and hope they keep it close. 
 
Baltimore Ravens (7-5) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (10-2) - Heinz Field
 
BET = Under 43.5 Total Match Points ($1.90)
 
I love watching these two vicious rivals go at it in a Prime Time game. Both sides are firing at the moment, with the Ravens defence playing outstanding football and the side on a 3-match winning run. The Steelers are sitting pretty at 10-2 this year, however in so many games this year they have just got over the line against sides they should be beating comfortably. These sides are often involved in very physical, low scoring games where the defence gets on top, and I'm expecting that to be similar here.