“Yule Crack Up!” No, not at the weekly picks here at The Wife Hates Sports. That’s the tagline for National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, my favorite Christmas movie and one of my all-time faves, too. It’s a fond memory of mine, dating back to the movie’s release in 1989. I saw it in the theater with my brother and sister – the only movie that the three of us went to together as a trio. As an “oops”, they are a lot older than I am. So, as the holidays come and go faster than you can say “Save the neck for me, Clark”, I’m dedicating this week’s picks to my family and my all-time favorite holiday flick. Each of my top picks this week will be tied to a quote or scene from Christmas Vacation. With that being said, it’s on to my Week 16 NFL Bets.
Joining me this week, as always, will be the SportsChump – my football pick companion who somehow is taking me down rather easily this year. In addition to the Chump, we have a return appearance by good friend “The Barber”. Best of luck, guys.
Here are our TOP FIVE Best Bets for the week (all against the spread), including our Week 16 NFL Bets and College Football Best Bets.
Our lists are ranked in order of confidence, from 50 “points” down to 10. Please note that the lines for my picks are all taken from DraftKings Sportsbook (maybe some day they’ll notice).
DraftKings Sportsbook: Week 16 NFL Lines | College Football Bowl Season
The Wife Hates SportsChump: Week 16 NFL Bets – Christmas Vacation Edition
KP’s Picks
$50: Detroit Lions (-2.5) at Carolina Panthers
In the “if it ain’t broke” department, let’s go for the Detroit Lions for a second straight week in this slot. It still feels crazy saying that. Also, Detroit could see itself in playoff position following a win this week. Surprised is one way of saying it. Clark has other ways. Carolina has also played much better since the departure of Matt Rhule. The Panthers remain one game out of first, considering an ugly year for the NFC South. But the Lions rank 8th in passing offense, while the Panthers sit 30th. Considering the firepower and momentum that Detroit currently has, I like the Lions to cover on the road.
$40: Washington Commanders at San Francisco 49ers (-6.5)
The 49ers have won seven straight games by an average of nearly 17 points. That includes wins over the Dolphins, Bucs, Seahawks, and Chargers. Washington, meanwhile, couldn’t manage a win in two tries against a Giants team that was heading in the wrong direction. The Commanders are holding onto a playoff spot by the skin of their teeth. Chase Young returns this week, but I don’t expect much of an impact. I could see limited snaps and he hasn’t exactly lit up the stat sheets in his career to this point. And no team is hooter – uh, I mean hotter than San Francisco right now. 49ers cover at home.
$30: Atlanta Falcons at Baltimore Ravens (Under 35 Points)
Let’s double up on this game, starting with the over/under. Desmond Ridder’s first start featured a 50% completion rate and 97 yards passing. Lamar Jackson is out again and hasn’t played since December 4th. Without Jackson, the Ravens have scored 29 points in three games. Both offenses are struggling, especially at the QB position. Add in the weather forecast for the game, which includes temps in the lower 20’s and 10-20 mph winds. That could have an additional impact. Overall, give me the under.
Sticking with the same game…
$20: Atlanta Falcons (+6.5) at Baltimore Ravens
The Ridder-Huntley combination isn’t lighting up any scoreboards. Wind could be a factor, along with colder temperatures. Without Lamar Jackson, the Ravens have struggled offensively, scoring 10 points versus Denver, sixteen against the Steelers, and a measly three against the Browns. The Falcons are still in the division race. Atlanta isn’t great against the run (21st, 129.9 ypg), but can focus on it considering Huntley under center. All in all, this should be a cold, ugly, and low scoring game – to the point that some fans may be asking to “hurry this up, Clark”. Give me the Falcons and the points.
$10: Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears (+8)
After a few weeks of failures taking the heavy favorites, I’m taking a more conservative approach. Although, I do admit that this one worries me a bit. The Bills have the clear talent advantage. Both teams have mobile quarterbacks (Eat my rubber!) and may need to focus on the run considering the weather forecast. In Chicago tomorrow, it’s expected to be a high of 13 degrees with 20-30 mph winds. I expect this to impact the pass game and scoring in general. As for run defense, Buffalo ranks 6th in the NFL while the Bears are 27th. Again, a clear advantage for the Bills. If Justin Fields can make a few plays, Chicago may hang around. Give me the Bears and the points.
Also, on the outside looking in – because these are sure to be correct, since they were left out:
- Green Bay Packers at Miami Dolphins (-3.5) – Packers simply don’t have the “it factor”
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-7.5) at Arizona Cardinals – QB and injuries are a problem for the Cards
- Cincinnati Bengals (-3) at New England Patriots – New England’s dynasty is finally toast
Week 16 NFL Bets: The Barber
The Barber is back for another go this season. Here are his picks and Week 16 NFL Bets:
Week 16 NFL Bets: SportsChump
Coming Soon via here or the SportsChump website…
Chime in with top picks for the week. Also, if you have interest in being a guest picker, please let us know via the comments below. Thank you for visiting The Wife Hates Sports! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
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