Tonight in the NFL, the 49ers can lock up a Wild Card with a win in the last Monday Night game of the season. In NBA action, the Hawks look to cool off the Heat.
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Sports Betting Preview for December 23
NFL – Cards Stun Seahawks in Seattle
Despite 4 INTs from Carson Palmer, the Arizona Cardinals became the first team to win in Seattle in over two years with a gritty 17-10 win. The win keeps the Cards’ slim Wild Card hopes alive.
NFL – Panthers, Bengals clinch playoff berths
The Carolina Panthers trumped their NFC South rival New Orleans Saints 17-13 to secure their first playoff berth since 2008. Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Bengals trounced the Minnesota Vikings 42-14 at home to claim their first AFC North crown since 2009.
NFL – NFC North loses
The race for the NFC North will go down to the final week of the season after the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions all lost on Sunday. Detroit’s loss to the Giants eliminated them from contention, meaning the winner of the Bears-Packers game next Sunday will name the division champs.
Top Bet Games to Bet On
Atlanta Hawks vs Miami Heat (7:30 PM ET)
With a perfect 3-0 SU record last week, the Atlanta Hawks have soared to 3rd in the Eastern Conference. All-Star center Al Horford (18 points, 8 rebounds) has been arguably Atlanta’s most consistent player, but the hot three-point shooting of Kyle Korver and Lou Williams gave the Hawks three different top scorers in their last three games. Atlanta is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games.
Not to be outdone, the defending champion Miami Heat also had a perfect 3-0 week, pushing their current run to four wins in a row. Dwyane Wade in particular has been on a roll during that stretch, averaging over 25 points and shooting 60 percent in his last four games after missing three games in the first two weeks of December. Miami is 8-2 SU in its last 10 home games vs the Hawks.[sc:Other240banner ]
Atlanta Falcons vs San Francisco 49ers (8:30 PM ET)
It’s been a season to forget for the Atlanta Falcons. Injuries sent a team that went to the NFC Championship Game last season into an awful 2-9 SU start. But with key personnel back, the Falcons have not been pushovers whatsoever. They’re just 2-2 SU, but all their games have been decided by 4 points or less, including a close 17-13 loss to the Saints in New Orleans. Atlanta is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games against San Francisco.
Their opponents in last year’s championship game, the San Francisco 49ers, are riding a four-game winning streak as they near another playoff berth. Colin Kaepernick averaged over 250 yards in those first two wins, but the running game has exploded back to life in the past two weeks, with 163 and 187 yards in wins over Seattle and Tampa Bay. The defense has been sturdy as ever, giving up just 12.5 points per game in those four games. San Francisco is 10-2 SU in its last 12 home games vs Atlanta.
