The Bengals and Panthers have been the two of the most reliable home teams to bet on this year, and this week they face two teams dealing with road woes. The Colts and Bears look to continue their fine form against their respective match-ups as road dogs, while the streaking Cardinals are smelling an upset.
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NFL Betting Power Rankings for Week 16
*All odds and trends as of December 18, 2013
TEAMS
TRENDS
Cincinnati Bengals
6-0 SU and ATS at home
Carolina Panthers
5-0-1 ATS at home
Indianapolis Colts
6-1 SU and ATS in last 7 games vs KC
Chicago Bears
4-1 SU and ATS vs PHI
Arizona Cardinals
4-0-1 ATS in last 5 games
1. Cincinnati Bengals (-7.5)
Next Game: vs Minnesota Vikings (Dec. 22, 1:00 PM ET)
The Cincinnati Bengals suffered a setback at Pittsburgh, but they get a great opportunity to bounce back at home against the Vikings this week. Cincinnati’s Paul Brown Stadium has been a fortress this season; the Bengals are an undefeated 6-0 SU and ATS on their home field.
On the other side, the Vikings, despite a shocking 48-30 win over the Eagles last week, are the only team in the NFL without a road win (0-6-1).
2. Carolina Panthers (-3)
Next Game: vs New Orleans Saints (Dec. 22, 1:00 PM ET)
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The Carolina Panthers can once again regain top spot in the NFC South with a win against New Orleans. The Panthers are 6-1 SU at home, but are undefeated (5-0-1) ATS. Their home ATS had been perfect until their push against the Jets last Sunday.
New Orleans, meanwhile, is struggling mightily away from the Superdome. The Saints have lost 4 of their last 5 road games, including their shock defeat at St. Louis last week. They are 0-5 ATS that stretch.
3. Indianapolis Colts (+6.5)
Next Game: at Kansas City Chiefs (Dec. 22, 1:00 PM ET)
The Indianapolis Colts have had road issues lately – they’ve lost their last two road games by a combined 43 points – but their fortunes could be changing with a trip to Kansas City. The Colts are 6-1 SU and ATS in their last 7 trips to Kansas City.
But even if the Colts can’t get the upset, don’t trust KC to cover. The Chiefs are 0-3 in their last 3 games when favored by 6.5 or more points.
4. Chicago Bears (+3)
Next Game: at Philadelphia Eagles (Dec. 22, 8:30 PM ET)
With Jay Cutler back, the Bears – winners of back-to-back games – need to win their two remaining games and they clinch their first NFC North crown since 2010. Chicago comes in as 3-point underdogs at Philadelphia, but the Bears have a good record against the Eagles, having gone 4-1 SU and ATS in their last 5 meetings.
The Eagles haven’t exactly been incredible at home, either. Philadelphia is just 3-10 SU and 2-10-1 ATS in its last 13 home games.
5. Arizona Cardinals (+10.5)
Next Game: at Seattle Seahawks (Dec. 22, 4:05 PM ET)
We can already hear you ask: what would possibly compel us to bet against the Seahawks in Seattle?
Well for starters, the Arizona Cardinals are legitimately one of the hottest teams in the NFL. The Cards are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games, and are 4-0-1 ATS in the last 5 games. And they have the added incentive and motivation of fighting for a Wild Card place.
Seattle, meanwhile, has all but clinched the #1 seed in the NFC and could conceivably begin resting some of its players for the playoffs. And even if they do, they could still be good enough to win straight up. Maybe just not by more than 10.5 points.
