NFL Week 14 Picks 2025 (Thursday 4th December-Monday 8th December)

This is the last NFL Week of the season where there are teams on Byes and that means the focus has ramped up considerably when it comes to the Playoff race.

Some Divisions are wide open, but the Wild Card race is already beginning to see some separation after Thanksgiving Weekend and the pressure is on teams with some big games ahead.

The opening game of the Week 14 schedule is one of those that feels like an early Playoff game when the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions face off- the winner will certainly feel they can push into the post-season, but the loser would have not only lost ground on those above them, but would have another tie-breaker to overcome.

With the design of the NFL schedule, there are always big games left over in the final weeks of the season as Divisional battles lead the way,

It has been a poor season for the NFL Picks, the first in a while, although there is still plenty of time to turn things around.

However, losing another week would be a blow after a tough Sunday in Week 13 and the selections below need to return a solid return to just give the Picks some momentum if nothing else.

Opening up with a selection from Thursday Night Football, further Picks will be added to this thread in the days ahead.

Dallas Cowboys @ Detroit Lions Pick: This is not going to be like a traditional short week for teams preparing to play on Thursday Night Football and that is because both the Detroit Lions (7-5) and Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1) played last week on Thanksgiving Day.

Results could not have been any different for the two teams- the Lions lost another Divisional game to rivals Green Bay and that makes it very difficult to see how Detroit can win the NFC North now. However, the defeat was actually one that has a big impact on their hopes of even earning a Wild Card spot and if the Playoffs were to start today, the Lions would not be involved.

This makes this Week 14 game hugely important, but even more so when considering the Dallas Cowboys did earn an important win on Thanksgiving Day, which keeps them alive in the NFC East and in the Wild Card race. The Cowboys have put pressure on themselves to try and win out, and that may still be the only way into the post-season, but three wins in a row have given them real momentum and Dallas might be very tough to stop.

Offensively you can only admire how they are playing right now from Quarter Back to Wide Receivers to Running Back and the Offensive Line.

After seeing how Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers moved the ball with consistency in Week 13, Dallas are going to be very confident that Dak Prescott is going to be able to do the same with two Number 1 level Receivers and a balanced approach to the attack.

The Lions Defensive Line have continued to be pretty good when it comes to playing the run, but injuries in the Secondary are taking a toll.

With limited pass rush pressure being generated, Dak Prescott is going to have all day to find the likes of Jason Ferguson, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens down the field and this looks a game in which the Cowboys can match the efforts of the last two opponents faced by the Lions who have both scored at least 27 points.

It all adds up to the likelihood of Jared Goff and the Lions Offense to have to step up and keep up on the scoreboard- they did that as well as they could in the defeat to the Green Bay Packers, but injuries are beginning to hurt on this side of the ball and the Quarter Back could be without his top Receiver.

Amon-Ra St. Brown did not play very long in the Thanksgiving Day game and he is seen as a late decision to take part in Week 14, although the lean has to be that he missed out. The Lions are already without Sam LaPorta and Jared Goff may not have the consistent weapons needed in the passing game.

Earlier in the season he could at least have relied on David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs to rip off some big gains on the ground, but it is impossible to ignore the improvements made by the Dallas Defensive Line after late trades made. The Lions Offensive Line is a little banged up too, which has limited the time being given to Jared Goff when he has stepped back to throw the ball down the field and this Cowboys team looks to be peaking at a very good time, especially with the top of the NFL looking as wide open as it has this season.

Head Coach Dan Campbell has usually gotten his team to bounce back from losses very well and that has to be respected here.

The Lions might be hurt, but they will play hard, although you do have to wonder how they are going to find consistent stops against this Dallas Offense.

Having a hook over the key number 3 would be most appealing, but taking the points with the Dallas Cowboys looks the right play here, especially if Dak Prescott continues to play at his current level.

MY PICKS: Dallas Cowboys + 3.5 Points @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Week 13: 3-4, - 1.50 Units (7 Units Staked, - 21.43% Yield)

Week 12: 1-5, - 4.17 Units (6 Units Staked, - 69.50% Yield)

Week 11: 2-4, - 2.23 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37.17% Yield)

Week 10: 3-3, - 0.34 Units (6 Units Staked, - 5.67% Yield)

Week 9: 2-2, - 0.18 Units (4 Units Staked, - 4.50% Yield)

Week 8: 4-3, + 0.52 Units (7 Units Staked, + 7.43% Yield)

Week 7: 3-2, + 0.69 Units (5 Units Staked, + 13.80% Yield)

Week 6: 3-4, - 1.09 Units (7 Units Staked, - 15.57% Yield)

Week 5: 3-3, - 0.33 Units (6 Units Staked, - 5.50% Yield)

Week 4: 2-3, - 1.14 Units (5 Units Staked, - 22.80% Yield)

Week 3: 5-3, + 1.56 Units (8 Units Staked, + 19.50% Yield)

Week 2: 3-2, + 0.67 Units (5 Units Staked, + 13.40% Yield)

Week 1: 0-2, - 2 Units (2 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)

2025 Season: 34-40, - 9.54 Units (74 Units Staked, - 12.89% Yield)

College Football Week 14 Picks 2025 (Friday 28th November-Saturday 29th November)

In previous years, Rivalry Week was all about the one-off game and having bragging rights for a full year.

While this is still the case for some teams, for others the game in front of them represents the final hurdle as far as earning a spot in the College Football Playoff is concerned.

Others still can afford a defeat this week and still remain on course to achieve all they want- think back to the Ohio State Buckeyes of 2024 who lost to the Michigan Wolverines AGAIN, and still earned a spot in the Playoff and ultimately finished the season as National Champions.

Now that is not to say that the entire Buckeye nation is not looking for revenge and to end this losing run against the Wolverines, but they certainly have more room to operate than say a team like the Mississippi Rebels, who will be facing rivals Mississippi State Bulldogs on the road.

Lane Kiffin's future will be confirmed on Saturday, but Friday is about winning to move into the Playoff, or losing and likely seeing Mississippi miss out.

The Alabama Crimson Tide, Miami Hurricanes, BYU Cougars and Oklahoma Sooners all have big games in which they are trying to stay alive in the Playoff conversation and so Rivalry Week has become so much more in 2025.

It was another inconsistent week for the College Football Picks in what has been another tough season.

Bad bounces hurt in places, but there have been too many poor selections and so the next few weeks need to be almost perfect to turn the numbers back around.

Games in Week 14 have been spread over a few days and selections from the Saturday offerings will be added to this thread, which begins with two Black Friday Picks.

Mississippi Rebels @ Mississippi State Bulldogs Pick: Double digit wins have become very common for the Mississippi Rebels (10-1) under Head Coach Lane Kiffin, but those successes have earned Kiffin plenty of attention.

After teams in the SEC fired Head Coaches during the course of the season, Lane Kiffin's name was at the top of the shortlists in Florida and LSU, two schools that feel they can offer the Head Coach more than Ole Miss.

A final decision on his future is expected to be announced as soon as Saturday, but an agreement has been made to keep Lane Kiffin as Head Coach for this hugely important Egg Bowl against rivals Mississippi State Bulldogs (5-6).

All of the attention is on Mississippi with the feeling being that a win for the Rebels will actually take them into the College Football Playoff, although there is also an outside chance it will be good enough to compete in the SEC Championship. Upsets will be needed for that to happen so the sole focus for the Rebels is making sure they win this game and avoid all the distraction around the Head Coach.

However, this is also an important game for the Mississippi State Bulldogs who are trying to end a three year wait to become Bowl eligible and who are also hoping to snap the two game losing run in this rivalry.

Both teams are playing after Bye Weeks, but there is going to be a question about how much Lane Kiffin's future has been a distraction to the players. They do have so much to earn out of winning this game, but the Rebels will have to focus if they are going to beat a Mississippi State Bulldogs team that have been plenty competitive, despite the 1-6 record in the SEC.

The Bulldogs have struggled to run the ball in recent outings and that is going to be an issue with the team likely to be a little one-dimensional in this game.

Blake Shapen has been sharing a bit of time with Kamario Taylor at Quarter Back and they are going to have to deal with the Ole Miss pass rush, regardless of who is operating behind Center. The Bulldogs Offensive Line have struggled to protect the Quarter Back as much as they have had issues in run blocking and that pressure can lead to mistakes, especially facing this Rebels Secondary that are still playing very hard in the bid to help the team reach the College Football Playoff.

This is a rivalry game so you have to expect motivation to help players produce at a higher level than they have been, but it is tough to see how the Mississippi State Defensive Line can slow the Rebels on the ground. In recent games they have allowed teams to rip off some big gains rushing the ball and Ole Miss are always going to use the Offensive Line to make life that much easier for Quarter Back Trinidad Chambliss.

Rushing the ball with some efficiency should also keep the pocket clean when the Quarter Back does drop back to throw the ball and this Rebels team have made some big passing plays in the four game winning run.

The Rebels have won four of the last five in this rivalry series and three of those wins have been by more than 7 points.

Distractions off the field and the decision to be made by the Head Coach have to be factors, but Ole Miss can show they are ready to compete in the College Football Playoff by putting together a solid road win in Starksville.

Indiana Hoosiers @ Purdue Boilermakers Pick: They have one foot in the Big Ten Championship Game, but the Indiana Hoosiers (11-0) will be motivated to beat a rival and finish the year unbeaten.

A win in Week 14 will likely be all the Hoosiers need to earn their place back in the College Football Playoff too and the development of this school over the last eighteen months has been really impressive. They are the Number 2 Ranked team in the Playoff Rankings and Indiana are going to want to maintain momentum ahead of what is expected to be a battle of unbeaten teams against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Big Ten Championship Game.

The Purdue Boilermakers (2-9) would love to throw a spanner into the works for a rival, but they are 0-8 in the Big Ten even if Head Coach Barry Odom insists there has been growth for a team that finished 1-11 last season.

Sustaining drives will be hugely challenging for the Boilermakers who are not expected to be able to run the ball with any kind of consistency.

This is not an Indiana pass rush that has been getting to the Quarter Back in recent games, but this is a Secondary that have been capable of making plays as teams have perhaps become a little too one-dimensional against them. The Hoosiers will certainly feel they can contain the Purdue threat considering the Boilermakers have not scored more than 16 points in any of the last three games, while suffering blowout losses to the Buckeyes and Washington Huskies.

Indiana should be pretty comfortable putting the ball on the ground and using the Offensive Line to open up some solid lanes against this struggling Purdue Defensive Line.

It should all lead to Fernando Mendoza having time when he does step back to throw and the Hoosiers should be able to exploit this Secondary. A couple of key players will be back to shake off any fitness issues ahead of what is expected to be an appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game and Indiana may not want to give too much away on the film tape, but they should still be comfortable in moving the ball both through the air and on the ground.

You have to expect the Boilermakers are going to be hugely motivated by the fact that they were blown out 66-0 in Indiana last season.

However, this Hoosiers team may be even better than the one the Boilermakers travelled to face last season and Indiana could run through this spread, even if the Buckeyes failed to cover a similar number.

Miami Hurricanes @ Pittsburgh Panthers Pick: Six teams still have some pathway into the ACC Championship Game and being able to keep alive Playoff consideration hopes.

Two of those are meeting in the early Saturday slot in College Football knowing they have to win and then hope things break their way later in the day.

The team that is perhaps going to have to go into the political business is the Miami Hurricanes (9-2) who have a win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, but are just 5-2 in the Conference this season. They are clearly playing with 'style points' in mind and the Hurricanes are plenty respected as the highest Ranked team in the ACC, but they are unlikely to find a way into the top twelve without playing in, and likely winning, the ACC Championship Game.

Miami will have to first concentrate on this one before looking for a number of results to land their way the rest of the way- losing would mean elimination from all talk of a Playoff spot and so that has to be the focus, rather than concerning themselves too much about the upsets that will be needed to earn a spot in the Championship Game instead.

They are travelling to another interested party in the permutations when facing the Pittsburgh Panthers (8-3) who actually did Miami a favour by knocking off the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in Week 13. 

It means Pittsburgh have improved to 6-1 in the Conference and the path into the ACC Championship Game is much easier to manage- they need to win in Week 14 and hope either SMU or Virginia are upset as big favourites.

Again, those other games are out of the control of the Panthers and so the sole focus has to be on winning at home and matching the nine wins that were secured in the 2022 season.

Credit has to be given to Pittsburgh for the way they played in the big win over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, but this is another significant test for them. They are going to be trying to run the ball against a very good Miami Defensive Line, which is important to at least slow down the Hurricanes pass rush that will be looking to expose the inexperience of Mason Heintschel at Quarter Back.

It has to be said again that the Panthers deserve credit for the Offensive output in the win last week and Heintschel will have taken a lot of confidence from having what is arguably his best game of the season. However, doing the same against the Miami Hurricanes is another big test for a young Quarter Back and especially if the pocket is collapsing around him.

Throwing in this Miami Secondary is not going to be easy under the pressure expected and Mason Heintschel will have to be wary of the Interceptions that can be created by the road team.

Haynes King got himself into an early hole in the loss last week, but Miami have to be very confident that Carson Beck can avoid the same type of mistakes at the Quarter Back position.

His Offensive Line is likely going to make sure that Beck is kept in third and manageable spots on the field and that should give the Quarter Back the time to attack this Pittsburgh Secondary that has been allowing players to thrive when throwing against them. The pocket is likely going to be kept clean for Carson Beck, but he will have noted that the Panthers picked up two more Interceptions last week in the win over the Yellow Jackets and winning the turnover battle feels vitally important to the outcome of this one.

Carson Beck had 2 Interceptions in the loss to the SMU Mustangs, but has bounced back in this three game winning run- in those victories, Beck has 8 Touchdown passes without throwing an INT and that gives the Miami Hurricanes the edge.

In recent seasons, Pittsburgh have been a very good home underdog to back, but they are 0-2 against the spread in that spot this season, including a blowout to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Head Coach Pat Narduzzi had suggested the game was not as important as others before that defeat, which may have contributed to the eventual performance, but the Panthers have also been well beaten by the Louisville Cardinals at home and Miami can at least offer an argument to the Playoff Committee by winning well here.

UCF Knights @ BYU Cougars Pick: The pressure is on the BYU Cougars (10-1) to finish the Big 12 season with one more win and improve the 7-1 record, while also confirming a spot in the Championship Game.

Of course there has to be a benefit from the fact that the Cougars will have no one else to blame but themselves if they are not able to secure a spot in that Championship Game and keeping Playoff hopes alive. The permutations have become very simple in the fact that the Cougars have to win this game and they are set as a big favourite to do that.

No one wants to underestimate the UCF Knights (5-6), especially as they have the motivation to earn a sixth win and to become Bowl eligible. Hopes were kept alive by beating struggling Oklahoma State in Week 13, but the Knights know they have to be a lot better to secure a win over one of the top teams in the Conference, especially having only produced a 2-6 record in Big 12 play.

Prior to that win, the Knights had been struggling and suffered blowout losses to the Texas Tech Red Raiders and Baylor Bears during a run of three straight defeats. This has been a team that have been struggling to run the ball and to ease the pressure on Quarter Back Tayven Jackson, and that is likely going to be an issue in this game against a tough BYU Defensive Line.

Some Quarter Backs have had recent success throwing the ball against the Cougars Secondary, although that is also as BYU have begun to play soft with a lead. Tayven Jackson will have a challenging time playing behind the chains, while that will also give the Cougars pass rush plenty of encouragement to pin the ears back and get after him when he drops back to throw the ball.

The Cougars should be more encouraged when they have the ball and this is a team that have continued to defy expectations after winning at Cincinnati as well as they did last week.

BYU's Offensive Line should be able to establish the run in this game against a 'weaker' opponent than some faced in recent weeks, while young Quarter Back Bear Bachmeier has been growing as a passer the longer the season has gone on. He will have seen the recent numbers that the UCF Secondary have been allowing and the Cougars should be able to move the ball with consistency, as long as they are not thinking too far ahead and what a win will mean to the team.

Last season the Cougars won very well as an underdog on the road at UCF, but they are hosting in Week 14 of the 2025 season and that should contribute to another strong win in this campaign.

MY PICKS: Mississippi Rebels - 6.5 Points @ 1.80 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Indiana Hoosiers - 28.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Miami Hurricanes - 7 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

BYU Cougars - 17.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Oklahoma Sooner - 10.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Illinois Fighting Illini - 7 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Alabama Crimson Tide - 5.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

USC Trojans - 21.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Week 13: 3-3, - 0.35 Units (6 Units Staked, - 5.83% Yield

Week 12: 4-2, + 1.64 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.33% Yield)

Week 11: 1-5, - 4.09 Units (6 Units Staked, - 68.17% Yield)

Week 10: 3-3, - 0.33 Units (6 Units Staked, - 5.50% Yield)

Week 9: 3-3, - 0.19 Units (6 Units Staked, - 3.17% Yield)

Week 8: 2-3, - 1.18 Units (5 Units Staked, - 23.60% Yield)

Week 7: 4-1, + 2.62 Units (5 Units Staked, + 52.40% Yield)

Week 6: 2-4, - 2.22 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37% Yield)

Week 5: 1-5, - 4.20 Units (6 Units Staked, - 70% Yield)

Week 4: 2-4, - 2.14 Units (6 Units Staked, - 35.67% Yield)

Week 3: 4-4, - 0.36 (8 Units Staked, - 4.50% Yield)

Week 1: 1-4, - 3.14 Units (5 Units Staked, - 62.80% Yield)

Week 0: 2-1, + 0.75 Units (3 Units Staked, + 25% Yield)

NFL Week 14 Picks 2024 (Thursday 5th December-Monday 9th December)

Now that the full schedule of any NFL Week is being played in December, it really does feel like the Playoffs have come into view and the picture is beginning to clear up.

There is a big NFC North game kicking things off in Week 14 and we are at the stage of the season where even a catastrophic injury would not prevent the top three teams in that Division from featuring when the Playoffs begin. That is not to say they can coast towards January though with Detroit, Minnesota and Green Bay in a fight to win the NFC North and potentially even the Number 1 Seed in the NFC.

At this moment, the only outside of the NFC North that may have a shot at the top Seed in the Conference is the Philadelphia Eagles, whose fanbase must have forgotten how much stick they were giving Head Coach Nick Sirianni just a couple of months ago. Now the Eagles look like one of the best teams in the NFL again and they are the big favourites to win the NFC East and challenge the Lions, or whoever wins the NFC North Division, for the top Seed in the NFC.

Four of the seven NFC places are likely going to be taken by the teams mentioned, but the top of the NFC South and West Divisions will be a battle that goes down to the wire. The Washington Commanders look to have the schedule that should see them finish strongly behind the Philadelphia Eagles to take another of the Wild Card spots available, but the projection from here is that that the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers win their respective Divisions to make up the full party.

Both the Rams and Buccaneers are likely to be pushed all the way by the Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks and Atlanta Falcons and there is every chance that we could see the first ten win team miss out on a Playoff spot for the first time since the 2020 season.

Right now the AFC looks to also have a number of teams ready for a Playoff run- the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs are officially in with the former already confirmed as AFC East Champion, but with work to do if they are going to take home the Number 1 Seed.

The top two in the AFC North, Pittsburgh and Baltimore, should both reach the post-season, but will be battling it out for the Divisional crown right through to Week 18, while the Los Angeles Chargers are also on course for a return to Playoff Fooball.

Things in the AFC South look very much in favour of the Houston Texans, but there is a feeling that it is a Division with a twist in the tale as the Indianapolis Colts try and chase them down, while I do think the Miami Dolphins are not out of the Playoff hunt just yet.

It was a disappointing loss on Thanksgiving Day, and Miami will have to likely win their remaining five games to try and edge past a strong looking Denver Broncos team, but hope remains. Two games with the New York Jets and a road game at the Cleveland Browns are winnable, even in cold conditions that Miami hate, but the big test may be coming up in Week 15 when the Dolphins travel to the Houston Texans.

All of this means that the importance of games ramps up and the whole Playoff picture can change very quickly with an upset or two along the way.

This is the time of the year when tensions really begin to play a real factor within games and mistakes can be hugely costly overall.

Talking of mistakes, it's been a tough run beginning with Week 10 for the NFL Picks and the bounce of the ball has simply not been on our side.

The Lions blew a big lead on Thanksgiving Day and it was just a terrible decision to pick the New York Giants.

The overall numbers are still in a decent enough position, but it would be a big help if this losing sequence is ended in Week 14 and to just regain some momentum to take into the final month of the regular season and then into the post-season.

Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions Pick: Three teams continue to dominate the NFC North and, ultimately, the Conference and two of those meet on Thursday Night Football in a big Week 14 game.

Both the Detroit Lions (11-1) and Green Bay Packers (9-3) were home winners on Thanksgiving Day, although the latter made much more comfortable work of the Miami Dolphins than the Lions ended up with the Chicago Bears. Only a late clock management issue prevented the Bears from pushing that opening Thanksgiving Day game into Overtime, but the Lions maintained their winning run and have a one game lead over the Minnesota Vikings within the Division.

The Lions, Vikings and Packers will all be expecting to earn a spot in the Playoff and all three remain challengers for the Number 1 Seed in the NFC. Winning the Division would at least offer one and, most likely, two home Playoff games so there is plenty of motivation for both Detroit and Green Bay in this big game.

A week of recovery between games should mean both teams are prepared as they would for a normal week and that should only make this a very watchable game for those tuning in for the opener of Week 14.

Head Coach Dan Campbell and the Lions Offensive players should feel confident in being able to push the ball down the field and give this Green Bay Defense plenty to think about. All of the Lions success begins on the ground with Sonic & Knuckles, also known as Jahmyr Gibbs & David Montgomery, and the powerful Detroit Offensive Line that has bullied teams and worn them down.

Earlier in the season the Packers were still having some issues when it came to defending the run, but they have improved in recent outings and it is very important to find a way to make plays in the backfield. In an outdoor setting when these teams met at Lambeau Field, both Gibbs and Montgomery combined for almost 140 rushing yards and were moving the ball at 4.9 yards per carry, so this is going to be a considerable test for the Packers in an indoor Stadium.

If the Lions are moving the ball on the ground as expected, it should make things pretty comfortable for Jared Goff at Quarter Back who has been well protected when he has stepped back to throw the ball. With some solid Receiving options, Goff could keep the chains moving through the air against a Green Bay Secondary that has bent in recent games and who have not made the stops with turnovers as they had been doing earlier in the season.

The Lions have to believe they can move the ball with some consistency against a Divisional rival they have beaten in five of the last six meetings, including earlier this season. Detroit won that game on the road despite having 150 fewer Offensive yards than Green Bay, but they had built a big lead and then left Green Bay a little one-dimensional with their play-calling.

They were also playing Jordan Love carrying an injury in the first meeting, but the Green Bay Quarter Back looks much more comfortable right now. Another boost for the Packers is that they might be facing a Detroit Defensive unit that has been hit hard by injury across all three levels and who just allowed Caleb Williams to fight back with the Chicago Bears.

Recent numbers do not look too bad for the Lions, but they have not exactly played the best Quarter Backs in the NFL and this is going to be a much different test.

For starters the Green Bay Packers Offensive Line have continued to open up the running lanes for Josh Jacobs and that should help them control the clock in this game in a tough road setting. Josh Jacobs had 95 yards on the ground in the first meeting and now is facing a Lions Defensive Line that is a little banged up and the former Las Vegas Raiders Running Back could put the Packers in third and manageable spots to make life that much easier for Jordan Love.

He is well protected and Jordan Love should have a bit more mobility in this second game against this NFC North rival than he did in the first and should see the Quarter Back create a bit of time for himself to attack this Lions Secondary, which is also banged up. The Packers young Receivers have looked a little stronger of late and Love has been a bit more careful with the ball, which is key in what could be a very close game.

Turnovers will play a strong part in the outcome of this game, but both teams should have their Offensive successes throughout this big Thursday Night Football contest.

With the injuries piled up in the Detroit Defensive unit, the Green Bay Packers have every chance of securing a backdoor cover with the line where it currently sits. Some layers are already dropping the line to the key number 3, but there are still prices with the hook on the Field Goal margin and that is one which could see the Green Bay Packers come out on top, even in a potentially losing effort.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tennessee Titans Pick: Five weeks of the regular season remain and that means we are getting down to the point of the season when eliminations are confirmed as often as Playoff places being wrapped up.

Three teams in the AFC have officially been eliminated and one of those is the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10) in what has been an incredibly poor season. With news that Trevor Lawrence is expected to miss the remainder of the season, the Jaguars are very much in line to challenge for the top Pick in the NFL Draft, which will be a big trade chip at the very least.

They face AFC South rivals Tennessee Titans (3-9) who are very close to cement another season without Playoff Football too.

Jacksonville have lost five games in a row, while the Titans have lost three of their last four, and the former will have Mac Jones at Quarter Back. He came in after Trevor Lawrence was injured in Week 13 and played pretty well, but Jones had been really poor earlier in the season when playing in relief of the franchise Quarter Back and that is a concern for those who still want Jacksonville to win games.

However, for those thinking about Draft Position, Mac Jones at Quarter Back is probably not a bad thing.

The Jaguars would like to lean on the Offensive Line to try and make things that much more comfortable for Jones, but it has been a real struggle trying to establish the run in recent games. This would also mean going up against the strength of the Tennessee Defense and so the pressure is likely going to be on Mac Jones to step back and make the big throws down the field.

Mac Jones will have a test throwing against this Tennessee Secondary and he could have to face up to the Titans pass rush of the team is not able to run the ball effectively. This is a Quarter Back that has struggled at the NFL level and Jones will have to be aware of the Titans Secondary and their ability to turn the ball over.

Running the ball is not going to be much easier for Tennessee whose own Offensive Line have struggled to open the lanes as they would have liked. Fans will be wondering why the Titans ever allowed Derrick Henry to leave after the season he is having with the Baltimore Ravens, and the lack of a run game has not made things any easier for Will Levis at Quarter Back.

It has left Will Levis under siege behind this Offensive Line when stuck in third and long, although the Jaguars pass rush has not really been there in recent games. And despite the issues of pass protection, Will Levis has had some solid moments over the last month which will give him some confidence.

Will Levis is throwing into a Jacksonville Secondary that has given up a huge amount of yards as the losing run has piled up and he can exploit some of the holes. This looks like where Tennessee will find an edge in this game and they can get the better of this AFC South rival in the first of two games still to play against one another before the regular season is concluded.

Atlanta Falcons @ Minnesota Vikings Pick: Both of these teams are fighting to win their Division going into Week 14 of the NFL season, although the Minnesota Vikings (10-2) are unfortunate to be in the same NFC North as the Detroit Lions. Another win for the Lions on Thursday Night Football has just extended their lead at the top of the Division, but the Vikings have a chance to at least move back in behind them with a win over their former Quarter Back.

A decision was made to trade Kirk Cousins to the Atlanta Falcons (6-6), but it has been an inconsistent season for the Quarter Back and his team. Despite that, the Falcons are leading the NFC South thanks to holding the tie-breaker over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but there is going to be a fight to the finish between those two rivals.

Kirk Cousins will likely receive a decent enough reception from the home fans, especially as the Vikings are having a strong season. However, Cousins is expecting the fans to also be firmly behind the home team and he will have to improve his level of play if the Falcons are going to snap their three game losing run.

The Atlanta Falcons have really struggled to find much of a balance on the Offensive side of the ball, which has not helped Kirk Cousins. The Falcons have a very good Running Back in Bijan Robinson, but the Offensive Line have not really been opening up big rushing lanes for him and now they have to play a Minnesota Defensive Line that has played the run well all season.

Brian Flores will know plenty about Kirk Cousins as a Quarter Back, and the Defensive Co-Ordinator will expect the Minnesota pass rush to rattle him whenever he steps back to throw. Doing so from third and long situations will make things that much more difficult for Kirk Cousins, although he has to at least be a little encouraged by the recent play of the Minnesota Secondary.

Kirk Cousins had been signed by Atlanta to get the best out of the skill players on the Offensive side of the ball and his Receivers can find holes down the field. Interceptions have been a problem for Cousins and that may be the factor that hurts the Falcons, especially as they are expected to have some passing success if they can play a clean game.

It was those Interceptions that perhaps helped the Vikings to make the decision to move to another Quarter Back that could take the team deeper into the Playoffs. After the NFL Draft, the expectation was that JJ McCarthy would be that Quarter Back sooner than later, but Sam Darnold has had other ideas and he looks to have come through a rough patch of form to get back to playing efficient Football from that position.

Sam Darnold will be keen to get a bit more help from the Offensive Line and Aaron Jones, who have struggled to run the ball as they had earlier in the season. Last week Jones was limited to just five rushes having struggled to hold onto the ball and that has underlined some of the issues that Minnesota have had in putting their Quarter Back in third and manageable spots.

Much like the former Viking Quarter Back playing for the road team, Sam Darnold has got a decent match up when it comes to throwing the ball, but he will be looking for the Offensive Line to give him some time. That has not always been the case for Darnold in recent outings, but there are some big time Receivers that he can target and Minnesota can move the chains with some success.

The revenge angle for Kirk Cousins should offer extra motivation and the Falcons have been competitive in two of their last three losses.

And despite Minnesota piling up the wins, they have been involved in some close, competitive games of their own. There looks to be enough points being given to the road team to keep this one within the number, even if Kirk Cousins has to produce a backdoor cover in his long-time home.

New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins Pick: The AFC East is already taking shape with the New England Patriots eliminated from the post-season and the Buffalo Bills securing the Divisional title and pushing for the Number 1 Seed in the Conference.

Despite the confidence of the fans and the team going into the season, 2024 has been a really poor year for the New York Jets (3-9). Aaron Rodgers could have been shut down at Quarter Back, especially with elimination fast approaching for the Jets, while rumours continue to swirl that the Quarter Back and the Jets will part way at the end of this season.

It has been a disappointing year for the Miami Dolphins (5-7) too, but they can blame the injury suffered by Quarter Back Tua Tagovailoa that placed them in an early hole. The team looked to be rallying with three straight wins, but they were poor on Thanksgiving Day against the Green Bay Packers as another quality team in cold weather proved too much for the Dolphins.

In Week 14 they are back at home and there is every chance that Miami can keep faint Playoff hopes alive- the team likely need to win out and receive help from some of the AFC contenders ahead of them in the Wild Card Race, but the Dolphins can put a win on the board in this Divisional game.

Miami have won seven of the last eight games played against the New York Jets and they are facing a New York team that have underwhelmed Defensively.

Running the ball against them is going to be tough, especially as Miami's Offensive Line have been banged up and struggled to open the running lanes in recent games. Instead, the game plan has been to get the ball out of the Quarter Back's hands very quickly and the speedy players around Tua Tagovailoa have been able to pick up yards after the catch in lieu of a run game.

Tua Tagovailoa should have success throwing the ball against this Jets Secondary that have not played up to the level of their reputation and Miami's performances in the conditions in South Florida have tended to be much better than on the road.

The Dolphins should be able to move the ball when they have it, but the New York Jets Offense has really not played as expected with Aaron Rodgers looking every bit his age. The Quarter Back insists he wants to keep playing in 2025, but the marriage with the Jets looks to end in divorce and it has just been a messy season all around in Gotham.

Aaron Rodgers could be given some help if the New York Offensive Line can help establish the run, but it should be said that the Dolphins Defensive Line have been pretty stout up front. Miami will feel they can at least keep the Jets out of third and manageable spots on the field and that will allow the pass rush to try and get into the backfield and rattle the veteran playing behind Center.

The passing numbers have simply not been good enough from Aaron Rodgers with the pressure around him crumbling the pocket and Receivers struggling to get on the same page as the Quarter Back. There are some areas on the field that can be targeted as far as the New York Jets passing game is concerned, but after thirteen weeks of the NFL season, it is clear that this team are not consistent enough to trust.

Asking bad teams to cover is not ideal, especially not spreads of this size, but Miami are a much better team than the New York Jets and especially in their own Stadium. Tua Tagovailoa's injury that saw him miss multiple games has contributed to the record, but the Dolphins had won three in a row before losing to the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving Day and they can make the big Offensive plays to pull clear in front of the fans with the additional rest and recovery time to prepare.

Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs Pick: There is every chance that the AFC West will be sending three teams to the post-season, including the two time defending Champions Kansas City Chiefs (11-1).

Despite the record, the Chiefs have not always convinced and have needed some late magic to just edge past a couple of rivals and maintain control of the Number 1 Seed in the Conference. First things first though and that means winning the AFC West and securing at least one and, most likely, two home games in the Playoffs.

The Chiefs do have a decent lead over the Los Angeles Chargers (8-4) and a win on Sunday Night Football would mean Kansas City cannot be caught by this rival.

Jim Harbaugh's return to pro Football has been successful having led the Michigan Wolverines to the College Football National Championship and turning things around for the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers have won five of the last six games played, but that does not mean Harbaugh is satisfied and he has made it clear that more is needed from the Offensive unit if they are going to have a real impact in the post-season.

Justin Herbert has looked much more comfortable with what is being asked of him and he has limited his mistakes, which is key for a Chargers team that are very happy with making their Defensive unit are not dealing with short fields. However, like so many of Jim Harbaugh's teams, the identity of the Offense is making sure they establish the run first and foremost.

Losing JK Dobbins is a blow for the Chargers and it would have been a tough challenge running the ball against this Kansas City Defensive Line even if he was available. In the first meeting between the Divisional rivals, Dobbins had 32 yards on 14 carries and Gus Edwards is not expected to have a lot of success in relief of his fellow Running Back.

Where things may be different for the Los Angeles Chargers is that Justin Herbert had 179 passing yards in the defeat to the Chiefs, but is now potentially going up against a Chiefs Secondary that are struggling to make consistent stops. The Herbert numbers have not been eye-catching, mainly because the Offensive Line has struggled in pass protection much more than run blocking, but he may just have a stronger day throwing the ball with the issues that Kansas City have been having.

The home team have had a bit more time to prepare having beaten the Las Vegas Raiders on Friday in Week 13, but they have continued to coast through the regular season.

We do expect Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes to begin to pick up their level to ensure they are ready to compete for a third Super Bowl title in a row. The Quarter Back is still a huge influence on the Chiefs Offense, but Patrick Mahomes should be helped by the Offensive Line and the Running Backs to make sure he is operating out of third and manageable spots.

It will also perhaps give Mahomes a bit more time when he steps back to throw, especially against this Chargers pass rush, and he can keep some of the momentum of recent performances behind him. Credit has to be given to the Los Angeles Chargers Defense for their overall level produced this season, but there have been one or two more issues as the season wears on and Patrick Mahomes should put up some solid numbers.

Injuries have not helped the Chiefs, but they are still doing what they need to in order to win games and they have matched up well with the Chargers.

Being at home is a big help and Kansas City can back up the earlier win over the Chargers by doing the same here thanks to some strong Patrick Mahomes play. Some of the injuries that Los Angeles have picked up of late does not help their chances and Kansas City may be ready to make a statement on national television about their capabilities of winning a third Super Bowl in succession.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Dallas Cowboys Pick: The schedule was made and then released back in May and this Monday Night Football game looked like it could have a lot riding on it as Week 14 came to a conclusion.

Instead it has been a really poor season for the Cincinnati Bengals (4-8) and Dallas Cowboys (5-7), although back to back wins for Dallas might just have given them some hope of making the post-season.

They are faint hopes, but that is more than can be said for the Cincinnati Bengals who have lost four of their last five games and heading into a off-season when big decisions are going to have to be made.

Offensively they are still playing hard and Joe Burrow is playing at a very good level at Quarter Back, while they have found a real balance on this side of the ball. Joe Mixon might be pounding the rock in Houston these days, but the Bengals have still been effective on the ground and the Offensive Line should pave the way for some decent gains in this one.

Keeping the Quarter Back in third and manageable spots just opens up the playbook for the Cincinnati Bengals and Joe Burrow has the big time Receivers that can make the plays for him. Running the ball well will just negate the pass rush, which could be a problem for the Cincinnati Bengals if they are in obvious passing Downs, but otherwise Joe Burrow and the Offensive unit should be able to have plenty of success against this Cowboys Defense.

However, the Bengals are well aware that the problems this season have not been Offensively, but when the opponent has the ball.

Dak Prescott has been missing for Dallas, but Cooper Rush has played well enough to give Dallas something of an Offense, even if Special Teams have been a big help in the win over Washington. On Thanksgiving Day Cooper Rush and the Cowboys had their way with the New York Giants and Dallas should have the Offensive firepower to at least keep themselves competitive.

The spread is a tough one to gauge simply because of the problems that Cincinnati have had Defensively and it will keep a backdoor cover open, even if the Bengals were to win outright.

The Cowboys would love to be able to run the ball- they are facing a porous Cincinnati Defensive Line, but the Dallas Cowboys have not really run the ball as they have previously and that has added to the pressure on the Quarter Back, whether that is Prescott or Rush.

Even if the Cowboys are not running the ball as well as they want, Cooper Rush will have time to find his Receivers against this underachieving Secondary. He isn't going to be confused with an elite Quarter Back, but Rush can make enough plays to keep the Cowboys moving down the field and they can play their part in what might be a high-scoring game on Monday Night Football.

Both Offenses have to feel they can get the better of the Defensive units in front of them and it could be a game where passing may be most important. That could help give the teams combine for enough points to cover this total line set and that is the play for the final game of Week 14.

MY PICKS: Green Bay Packers + 3.5 Points @ 1.86 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Tennessee Titans - 3.5 Points @ 2.00 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Atlanta Falcons + 6 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Miami Dolphins - 5.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Kansas City Chiefs - 3.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Dallas Cowboys-Cincinnati Bengals Over 49.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Week 13: 1-3, - 2.17 Units (4 Units Staked, - 54.25% Yield)

Week 12: 2-4, - 2.17 Units (6 Units Staked, - 36.17% Yield)

Week 11: 2-3, - 1.23 Units (5 Units Staked, - 24.60% Yield)

Week 10: 1-6, - 5.05 Units (7 Units Staked, - 72.14% Yield)

Week 9: 3-2, + 0.73 Units (5 Units Staked, + 14.60% Yield)

Week 8: 4-2, + 1.72 Units (6 Units Staked, + 28.67% Yield)

Week 7: 4-3, + 0.73 Units (7 Units Staked, + 10.43% Yield)

Week 6: 4-2, + 1.67 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.83% Yield)

Week 5: 4-2, + 1.64 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.33% Yield)

Week 4: 6-2, + 3.45 Units (8 Units Staked, + 43.13% Yield)

Week 3: 3-3, - 0.23 Units (6 Units Staked, - 3.83% Yield)

Week 2: 4-2, + 1.62 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27% Yield)

Week 1: 5-2, + 2.67 Units (7 Units Staked, + 38.14% Yield)

College Football Week 14 Picks 2024 (Saturday 30th November)

The final week of the regular season could still provide plenty of chaos and there are a number of Head Coaches who believe their teams should be given an opportunity to try and win a National Championship.

Ultimately it is about focus with Week 14 seeing a number of big games before we get into the Conference Championship Games and then the final College Football Playoff Rankings are released.

Michigan Wolverines @ Ohio State Buckeyes Pick: A decade has passed since the oddsmakers have set a spread for this rivalry game at the same kind of number that we are seeing in Week 14 of the College Football season.

In previous years with the smaller College Football Playoff field, the Ohio State Buckeyes (10-1) may have felt they need to impress the Committee with a big win, but the twelve team format should mean the Buckeyes are in a pretty secure position. They hold wins over the likes of Penn State and Indiana, two teams inside the top ten of the latest Playoff Rankings that were released and the Buckeyes may yet be targeting a Bye through the First Round of the post-season by winning this final regular season game and then the Big Ten Championship Game.

They cannot afford to overlook the Michigan Wolverines (6-5), even if this season has been one of serious underachievement.

The defending Champions were always going to struggle with their starting Quarter Back and Head Coach leaving for the NFL, but they have earned a win in Week 13 which has made Michigan Bowl eligible. They recently gave the then unbeaten Indiana Hoosiers plenty to think about in a narrow loss, but the Wolverines will also know that the Ohio State Buckeyes are amongst the best teams in the nation and one that crushed the aforementioned Hoosiers while looking to run up the score.

That same mentality could make this a very tough final road game of the season for the Wolverines, although the money has come down on the side of the underdog and forced the spread below a key number.

Moving the ball is going to be tough to do with any kind of consistency for the Michigan Wolverines- they will want to run the ball and try and ease any pressure building up on Davis Warren at Quarter Back, but this Buckeyes Defensive Line have played with real intensity against the run and will feel they can bully Michigan at the Line of Scrimmage.

Davis Warren has at least been offered some time when he has stepped back to throw the ball, although being afforded the same against the Buckeyes pass rush will be a test for the Wolverines Offensive Line. Even if Warren does have a time to survey the field, the Ohio State Secondary have made it their business to close down the holes that may open up and they can stall drives with some big plays from the Defensive Backs.

If the Buckeyes feel they can clamp down on the run, the same can be said for the Michigan Defensive Line and that is going to be a key part of this game. If the Wolverines can at least keep the Buckeyes in third and long spots, there is a feeling they can at least keep things competitive on the scoreboard, but this Ohio State Offensive Line have been more effective at driving open running lanes than their counterparts.

Veteran Quarter Back Will Howard has been playing efficiently in recent games and he should be able to produce some big time throws against this Michigan Secondary. He should have time in the pocket to make his plays, although Howard will just have to be aware of the Interceptions that the Wolverines have been able to pick up of late and that could be the key to how this spread will end up setting.

This is a very high mark, make no mistake about that, but the Buckeyes look to be a team that is playing with the motivation to remind the rest of the College Football National Championship contenders that they remain the team to beat. Winning in Week 14 will give the Buckeyes a chance to make amends for the narrow loss to the Oregon Ducks, the sole loss in the regular season, and Head Coach Ryan Day has to be massively motivated to finally get the better of this rival.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ USC Trojans Pick: The move into the Big Ten Conference has worked for one former Pac-12 team, Oregon, but it has been a tough learning season for the USC Trojans (6-5). They are just 4-5 within the Conference, but this is a chance to finish the season on a high with the Trojans looking to play spoiler for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-1) who have been Ranked at Number 5 in the latest Playoff Rankings.

One of the reasons for the Fighting Irish to have earned such a high Ranking is that to many teams have suffered multiple losses and another for Notre Dame will be much harder to shake off without a Conference Championship Game to be played.

Another reason is that the Fighting Irish have bounced back from their upset by dominating teams and each of their last six wins have been by at least 18 point margins. Producing another big win on the road is not likely going to lead to a Bye through the First Round of the Playoffs, but Notre Dame would receive a home game in the First Round with a big victory and would be considered a very dangerous runner.

Everything will begin up front for the Fighting Irish who have a dominant Offensive Line that have opened up massive holes in the running game. This has allowed the entire playbook to be used and Notre Dame have been able to run up the score once they have gotten on top of opponents.

It is going to be very tough for the USC Defensive Line to have a big impact on the game, even if confidence has been restored somewhat with three wins in four games. Those have been against teams that would be considered much weaker than Notre Dame and so this could potentially develop into a tough day in the office for the Trojans as they round out the regular season.

Riley Leonard has had a pretty comfortable job as Quarter Back for the Fighting Irish and he has not been tasked with winning games himself. Despite that, he has shown efficient performances from the position, while also able to move the ball with his legs, and that has helped the Fighting Irish produce plenty of balance in their play-calling, making it very difficult to stop them with any consistency.

The record may not be the best, but the USC Trojans have been competitive even in defeats and they do have an Offensive unit that will be confident that they can have an impact in this game. However, there is little doubt that the Trojans are facing one of the better Defensive units they would have seen in 2024 and the Offensive Line may not be able to establish the run with the kind of consistency that they have enjoyed in recent games.

Jayden Maiava has taken over at Quarter Back and the Trojans will have to show some patience with him, especially as he will be facing a Defensive unit that is stronger than the Nebraska and UCLA units that Maiava has faced.

Inexperience could mean Jayden Maiava is perhaps not as sure where the Notre Dame pass rush pressure is coming from, especially when the Trojans are stuck in third and long spots, and he will have to be very aware of the turnovers that the Fighting Irish Defensive Backs have been creating.

USC will take chances with nothing really to lose and that will make them dangerous.

However, the Fighting Irish look a team playing with momentum and confidence and ultimately that may show up in this big Week 14 game as they look to secure their place in the College Football Playoff. A couple of turnovers can be created to really turn this game in their favour and Notre Dame can secure a win by double digits yet again before awaiting their final Playoff Ranking.

Purdue Boilermakers @ Indiana Hoosiers Pick: The blowout loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes ended the Indiana Hoosiers (10-1) unbeaten record, but they have been given plenty of respect by the College Football Playoff Committee having been handed the Number 10 Ranking.

The Hoosiers are not expected to be involved in the Big Ten Championship Game after that loss to the Buckeyes, but a win in Week 14 should mean Indiana have done enough to be invited into the Playoff and a chance to make amends.

Last up in the regular season is a home game against the Purdue Boilermakers (1-10) who have lost all eight Conference games played in a very disappointing season. Losing is one thing, but Purdue have been blown out by the top three teams in the Big Ten and now face the fourth best team in the Conference.

You have to wonder how the Boilermakers are going to be able to move the ball with any kind of consistency in this Week 14 game- the Offensive Line have had issues establishing the run all season, and now they have to face a Hoosiers Defensive Line that still holds strong numbers even after the defeat to the Buckeyes.

Playing from behind the chains has allowed teams to bring a strong pass rush which has managed to get through to Hudson Card at Quarter Back, which in turn has made it very difficult to make plays down the field. He is an experienced player at Quarter Back, but Card cannot expect to have a lot of time to use that in this game against the Hoosiers and there has to be a concern about turning the ball over under some pressure.

Games against Michigan State, Michigan and Ohio State have made life very difficult for an Indiana Offensive unit that have played well for much of the 2024 season. However, this is a considerable step down for Kurtis Rourke and the Hoosiers Offense and that should see them just remind those watching what they are capable of doing and why they have won ten games already.

The Offensive Line has been hit hard in recent games, but they can be the ones doing the bullying up front and should be able to help Indiana establish the run with confidence, which would be a huge boost for Kurtis Rourke at Quarter Back.

This is also an opportunity for Kurtis Rourke to show that he is firmly over the thumb injury that saw him miss a game before returning against the Spartans. His performances against some of the stronger Defensive units in the Big Ten have perhaps not been as good as hoped, but Rourke should have a cleaner pocket in this game with the Boilermakers and there are holes to exploit in this Secondary.

Motivation of making the top twelve in the College Football Playoff is one factor, but the Indiana Hoosiers will be looking to make a statement against a rival that has beaten them three times in a row. In fact the Hoosiers have won one of their last six against Purdue and they can double that here with a big win as they look to match the margin of victory that the likes of Oregon, Penn State and Ohio State have produced against the Boilermakers over the last several weeks.

Texas Longhorns @ Texas A&M Aggies Pick: They had been the surprising contender in the SEC moving into November, but two losses in three games have just pushed Texas A&M Aggies (8-3) down the Rankings. The very disappointing defeat to the Auburn Tigers in Week 13 has seen the Aggies fall to Number 20 in the College Football Playoff Rankings and a lot needs to go right for the team if they are going to be invited into the top twelve.

First up is finding a way to beat this historical rival with the rivalry renewed now Texas A&M and the Texas Longhorns (10-1) are playing in the SEC together. The latter are Number 3 in the College Football Rankings and winning this game will move them into the SEC Championship Game and with an opportunity to avenge the one and only loss suffered in 2024.

Quinn Ewers is set to get the call at Quarter Back, despite picking up an injury last week and even though some fans may believe that Arch Manning gives them the best chance to win the National Championship.

The Longhorns have not been the most convincing in their four game winning run since losing to the Georgia Bulldogs, but they have been winning games. They certainly look to be facing the Texas A&M Aggies at a good time with the Longhorns Offensive Line likely going to take advantage of what looks to be a Defensive Line that has worn down towards the end of a long regular season.

Playing in front of the chains will give Quinn Ewers a big chance to keep this Texas Offense motoring and he will also have success throwing the ball against the Aggies Secondary. Credit has to be given to Texas A&M for making some plays against the pass, but they have allowed some big plays and a limited pass rush has not been able to do put any pressure on the opposition Quarter Back.

Texas are playing in a hostile environment, but this is a team that has been inspired in such settings and not one that has wilted.

Dual-threat Quarter Back Marcel Reed has to be a big factor in this game if the Aggies are going to earn the upset, but he will need a bit more help from the Offensive Line. They have not really been able to establish the run as they would have liked this month and the Aggies Offensive Line cannot expect a lot of room against this Texas Defensive Line.

This means the Reed arm is going to be more important than his legs, but there has to be a concern that he will be under immense pressure from the Texas pass rush if the Aggies are not able to run the ball efficiently. Playing from behind the chains would expose the issues that Texas A&M have had in pass protection and Marcel Reed cannot expect to have the same spaces to attack in this Texas Secondary as he may have enjoyed in recent games.

Pressure up front has put Marcel Reed in a tough spot and it has led to one or two mistakes, which is something that Texas have thrived upon creating.

Any turnover edge is going to give the road team that edge and this renewed rivalry is one that the Texas Longhorns can win and make sure they head to the SEC Championship Game with the momentum that they will hope could see them turn around the defeat to the Georgia Bulldogs, who are the likely opponent.

With the spread just below a couple of key numbers, Texas can come through with another important road win and they can cover here.

MY PICKS: Ohio State Buckeyes - 19.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish - 7.5 Points @ 2.00 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Indiana Hoosiers - 29 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Texas Longhorns - 5.5 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Louisville Cardinals - 3.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Duke Blue Devils - 4 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

SMU Mustangs - 13 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Miami Hurricanes - 11 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Week 13: 4-4, - 0.36 Units (8 Units Staked, - 4.50% Yield)

Week 12: 3-6, - 3.23 Units (9 Units Staked, - 35.89% Yield)

Week 11: 1-5, - 4.15 Units (6 Units Staked, - 69.17% Yield)

Week 10: 1-6, - 4.05 Units (7 Units Staked, - 57.86% Yield)

Week 9: 4-2, + 1.82 Units (6 Units Staked, + 30.33% Yield)

Week 8: 2-4, - 2.23 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37.17% Yield)

Week 7: 6-3, + 2.55 Units (9 Units Staked, + 28.33% Yield)

Week 6: 3-2, + 0.82 Units (5 Units Staked, + 16.4% Yield)

Week 5: 0-5, - 5 Units (5 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)

Week 4: 3-2, + 0.73 Units (5 Units Staked, + 14.60% Yield)

Week 3: 3-5, - 2.35 Units (8 Units Staked, - 29.38% Yield)

Week 2: 2-4, - 2.26 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37.67% Yield)

Week 1: 4-2, + 1.64 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.33% Yield)

NFL Week 14 Picks 2023 (December 7-11)

Another NFL week is in the books and another of the leading contenders for the Super Bowl have suffered an injury to the starting Quarter Back.

It has been a really tough season for starters and Trevor Lawrence looks like he will be missing for at least a couple of games for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who were upset as an almost double digit home favourite on Monday Night Football. At one stage they were considered a potential Number 1 Seed in the AFC, although only an outsider for that Seed, but now the Jaguars may be looking over their shoulders at the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South, while the Wild Card positions may also be beyond them if they have to go without Lawrence for much longer than anticipated.

The opponent on Monday Night Football, the Cincinnati Bengals, will know all about how quickly a season can turn sour when the starting Quarter Back goes down with an injury. Jake Browning did play well enough to offer encouragement, but it is still a long road back for the Bengals in the tough AFC.

The Bye Weeks are now almost all but over, which means the run towards the PlayOffs is now on.

Results in each passing week can have a big impact on the Seeding position with the Number 1 Seed in both Conference still highly coveted considering it offers the only Bye through to the Divisional Round of the post-season. Things have become murkier as to how those final Seedings will look after Week 13 results and there are still plenty of big regular season games to be played before it all shakes out.

Thankfully those positions will be decided on the field, rather than using a PlayOff Committee like College Football after all of the controversies about their final four selection.

With big games in the NFC East and West in Week 14 and some fascinating AFC games that could begin to determine the Wild Card picture, it looks another good week for the fans to enjoy. There are also two Monday Night Football games in Week 14, which kick off at the same time, as the NFL continues to work out new ways for fans to enjoy the game.

Personally it does not appeal much to me, although the Miami Dolphins are one of those games and that will be the focus of my attention.

Week 13 is now behind us and that means a new top five, which can be seen below. Unlike last week, results in Week 13 have impacted the positions of teams with five more weeks of the regular season to be played.

1) San Francisco 49ers (9-3): they may not have the most wins in the NFL, but the crushing win in Philadelphia has to be highly respected and the 49ers look the team to beat in the NFC after Week 13.

2) Philadelphia Eagles (10-2): you have to understand the factors around the Eagles loss to the 49ers and so I am not going to drop them further than this position. Fatigue would have played a part after two tough wins and the 49ers playing with a few extra days of rest, but Philadelphia face a similarly tough situation in Week 14 with another big game against rivals the Dallas Cowboys.

3) Baltimore Ravens (9-3): they are coming in off a Bye Week and the teams that I had placed in Number 4 and Number 5 positions last week both lost.

4) Detroit Lions (9-3): they remain an outside contender to finish with the Number 1 Seed in the NFC and that would be huge for the Lions. A solid win in New Orleans has to be respected, but the Defensive unit need to step up their level to really give the fans belief that they could beat the top two NFC teams.

5) Dallas Cowboys (9-3): a win over a team with a winning record pushes the Dallas Cowboys into Number 5 this week, although they were not at their very best against the Seattle Seahawks. Week 14 is a big opportunity for the Cowboys to show they are 'for real' when hosting the Philadelphia Eagles and with an opportunity to really get back into the mix for the NFC East Divisional crown, as well as the Number 1 Seed in the Conference.

Both Kansas City and Jacksonville had to fall out of my top five after losing primetime games in Week 13 and they have work to do to really convince about winning a Super Bowl.

More belief will be with the Kansas City Chiefs considering their recent history, but they have not looked right this season and being carved up by Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers will have concerned one or two fans.

As a Miami Dolphins fan, perhaps I am used to seeing seasons end disappointingly and that is a reason they have not cracked the top five despite a big road win. However, the Dolphins are close and they will get an opportunity to prove themselves soon with some big regular season games to be played between now and Week 18. Win those and it will be easy to put them in the top five, but lose, and people will consider Miami a 'flat track bully' with the strength of schedule meaning they are perhaps not battle tested for PlayOff Football.

Picks for Week 14 will be placed in this thread, but I want no part of Thursday Night Football which looks a miserable game.

Both the Patriots and Steelers could be going in with backup Quarter Backs and I genuinely believe that 10 points wins the game.

It may make the points with the road underdog look appealing, but New England have been horrible Offensively and a 10-3 Steelers win would not surprise me at all. Then again, it is impossible to trust the Steelers with Mitchell Trubisky at Quarter Back and there will be better options to back later in Week 14.

Those Picks will be added over the next couple of days as I look to bounce back from the disappointing Week 13 selections.

Indianapolis Colts @ Cincinnati Bengals Pick: A considerable upset was produced on Monday Night Football in Week 13 of the 2023 NFL season and that has once again pushed the Cincinnati Bengals (6-6) back towards the Wild Card spots in the AFC. Expectations had dipped after the Bengals lost three games in a row and had seen Joe Burrow go down with a season ending injury, but Jake Browning helped the team overcome the odds in winning in Jacksonville and has some momentum to take into Week 14.

The Bengals are hosting the Indianapolis Colts (7-5) who have won four games in a row and would be a Wild Card team in the Conference if the season was to end today. Indianapolis fans are perhaps even thinking about winning the AFC South having moved to just a single game behind the Jaguars after the latter were beaten by the Cincinnati Bengals, although two losses to Jacksonville means Indianapolis are effectively two games behind.

That will not matter much for a team who are ahead of the curve as far as their development goes.

After winning just four games in 2022 and starting the season with a rookie Quarter Back, the Indianapolis Colts were expected to be an also-ran while giving Anthony Richardson plenty of experience. Unfortunately Richardson was knocked out for the season early in the year and Gardner Minshew has shown that he is one of the better backups in the NFL.

In reality Minshew has perhaps been more of a hindrance than a help for an Indianapolis team that will want to power themselves through the running game and hope the Quarter Back avoids back-breaking mistakes. While he has still made some, in the main Gardner Minshew has just gotten out of his own way for long enough to help the Colts win four games in row.

Jonathan Taylor is expected to be absent again, but Zack Moss has made the most of his opportunities at Running Back and can help keep the Colts in front of the chains. Leaving Gardner Minshew in manageable down and distance is important for Indianapolis who will know that there are holes in the Cincinnati Secondary that can be exploited as they look for a big win over a potential Wild Card rival.

The expectation is that the Quarter Back will be able to make enough plays through the air to keep the chains moving and the Colts could have a strong day.

Perhaps more important to the outcome of the game is the return of Grover Stewart to the Indianapolis Defensive Line- they have struggled to stop the run without him, but Stewart was a big part of the early successes Indianapolis had at the line of scrimmage and they will be looking to bottle up Joe Mixon after his big outing in a primetime spot on Monday.

The Bengals Offensive Line have been playing well of late so have to be respected, but having Stewart back should help the Colts as they look to force Jake Browning to beat them through the air.

Jake Browning will not be lacking confidence after his showing to help the Bengals beat the Jaguars, but this Colts Secondary is playing better than the Jacksonville one. He will also be under some real pressure from the Indianapolis pass rush, which has been really effective during their winning run and makes up for some of the big rushing holes that have been given up in recent games.

That pressure up front has helped Indianapolis no end and they can give Jake Browning more troubles than Jacksonville did. You can still expect Ja'Marr Chase to pick up his yards, but the Colts may make a few more stops and that can help them win this one on the road.

The expectation is that the Colts Defensive unit can show up in Week 14 and they can make enough plays to just bring Jake Browning back down to earth and it looks wise to take the points with the road underdog who have every reason to belive they win outright.

Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears Pick: There is an extremely outside chance that the Chicago Bears (4-8) can use their Week 12 upset of the Minnesota Vikings to push a late run towards the Wild Card places. One of those spots will be taken by the team that finishes second in the NFC East, but the other two places are available for any team that can produce a late run.

The Bears would likely need to win out, but that might get them close considering they have to play the likes of the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers before the end of the regular season.

They can also play with some freedom knowing the Carolina Panthers are doing all they can to ensure the Chicago Bears finish with the Number 1 Pick in the NFL Draft again. That will put some pressure on Justin Fields to show he can be the player that can become the franchise Quarter Back for the Chicago Bears, while Head Coach Matt Eberflus may need a strong end to the season to ensure he has another year in charge.

All of this will be in the thinking of the Bears as they come out of their Bye Week and prepare to face the Detroit Lions (9-3) for the second time in four weeks. The Bears should have earned the road upset at the Lions in Week 11, but fell to a late loss and that will give the home team plenty of motivation.

Detroit Head Coach Dan Campbell has played down the revenge factor, but the additional chance to play spoiler for a NFC North rival will charge up the Chicago crowd.

After winning on the road in Week 13, another road game is a tough scheduling spot for a Lions team that is much more effective indoors than they are outdoors. The win in New Orleans was within their dome, but this is going to be much tougher for Detroit with the tough December Chicago conditions a real factor.

The fact is that they are also playing an improving Chicago Defense who have had young players building experience in 2023. The Lions will look for David Montgomery to establish the run against his former team alongside Jahmyr Gibbs and that will be important to keep Detroit in front of the chains and make life a little more comfortable for Jared Goff.

In recent games Goff has been guilty of making some mistakes, while he is going to be facing a Chicago pass rush that has picked up since trading for Montez Sweat. The pressure up front has helped the Bears Secondary and Interceptions could be key for the home team looking to earn the upset.

Creating short fields will help the Chicago Quarter Back who returned from an injury to produce a strong game in the loss to the Lions in Week 11. Justin Fields had a decent throwing day, but was a real menace on the ground and the dual-threat Quarter Back is likely to have a similar outing in this one.

His ability to scramble inside the pocket should help Justin Fields find just enough time to throw down the field. The passing numbers are not particularly eye-catching, but Justin Fields has avoided making the mistakes through the air that has allowed Chicago to move the ball, although the Quarter Back will have to handle the ball better when scrambling after some fumbles that almost cost the Bears against the Minnesota Vikings.

Since being Drafted by the Bears, Justin Fields has played well against the Detroit Lions and similar is expected here. Chicago have not been very good coming out of a Bye Week in recent seasons, but they have matched up well with the Lions and they can keep this one close.

It is recommended to take more than a Field Goal worth of points where you can in a game that could potentially land on the key number 3 for either of these teams. However, there is every chance that is in favour of Chicago with this improved team having a Bye Week to really put a good game plan together and the Bears can be backed with the points as a home underdog.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Cleveland Browns Pick: Before the Monday Night Football game in Week 13, some were wondering if the Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4) may have enough to earn the Number 1 Seed in the AFC.

Things can change very quickly in the NFL.

Trevor Lawrence has picked up an injury that the Jaguars are hoping will 'only' keep him out of a couple of games and there are other banged up players on the Offensive side of the ball with Travis Etienne playing through an injury and Christian Kirk also sidelined. After allowing Jake Browning and the Cincinnati Bengals do what they like on Monday Night Football, the Jacksonville Jaguars may now be worrying about falling into the Wild Card battle, never mind chasing the Number 1 Seed.

It almost certainly going to be CJ Beathard at Quarter Back for the Jaguars and he has a difficult task facing the Cleveland Browns (7-5) who continue to send out a very strong Defensive unit onto the field.

Back to back losses through Quarter Back injuries of their own have slowed down some of the momentum, but the Browns still hold the Number 5 Seed in the AFC. Deshaun Watson is not coming back this season, but veteran Joe Flacco played well enough in Week 13 to offer encouragement, while Dorian Thompson-Robinson could also be back this week having flashed some positive signs in replacement of Watson.

Both may be used in Week 14, although the Browns will be looking for them to manage the game.

Instead the focus will be on Jerome Ford and Kareem Hunt who are likely going to be getting plenty of touches in what is likely to be wet conditions on Sunday afternoon. Both Running Backs are playing well enough to pick up from where Joe Mixon left off and they will be able to pound the rock between the tackles with success, while also showing off an ability to break some big gains as pass-catching Backs.

It should mean the Quarter Back, whoever it is, has a bit more time to make their throws and the Browns will be hoping that Amari Cooper is able to suit up. He is the concussion protocol so has to be considered doubtful, but the Browns will believe they can get enough from the Running Backs to at least move the chains and score the points that the Defensive unit can defend.

The Defensive of the ball is where Cleveland look to have a big edge and Jacksonville being without their starting Quarter Back may have a real problem moving the ball with any consistency.

Recent games have seen teams being able to establish the run against the Browns Defensive Line, although it is much more difficult to believe Jacksonville can do the same. With CJ Beathard behind Center, the Cleveland plan has to be shutting down Travis Etienne and seeing if the backup can find spaces against a tough Secondary to keep the First Downs coming.

Trevor Lawrence with Evan Engram, Calvin Ridley and Christian Kirk could have given the Cleveland Secondary something to think about.

Two of those four are not expected to suit up though and that should help the Browns who can earn a big home win that puts them right back on track as far as the Wild Card spots go.

While it has been an up and down season for Cleveland, the Browns are 3-0 against the spread when set as the home favourite. With a bit of an advantage of an extra day to prepare, Cleveland can run the ball right at the Jaguars and force a couple of mistakes from a backup Quarter Back to ensure they win this game and cover the line set.

Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers Pick: The scheduling spot may not be the best for the San Francisco 49ers (9-3) as they come off a really big, statement making win in Week 13. The fact they are facing a Divisional rival that they blew out on the road in Week 12 might make the spot that much worse with so many talking up the 49ers, but the opportunity to earn the top Seed in the NFC will not be lost on the home team.

They face the Seattle Seahawks (6-6) again having demolished them on Thanksgiving Day on the road, while the road team will have had a mini-Bye having last played on Thursday Night Football. They put in a big effort, but ultimately came up short against the Dallas Cowboys, and even optimistic Head Coach Pete Carroll is not entirely sure if the Seahawks will be able to earn a Wild Card place.

Carroll has made it clear that he believes his team are good enough, but injuries are hurting the Seahawks as they continue to chug through an incredibly difficult run of games. Losing at the Los Angeles Rams will have been a disappointment, but Seattle have since been beaten by the 49ers and Dallas Cowboys and now face this rematch before hosting the Philadelphia Eagles.

The last three games look more winnable, but 9-8 may not be good enough for a Wild Card berth and so this is a big game for the Seahawks to try and reverse recent momentum.

Scoring enough points to do that will be incredibly challenging, despite the big performance at the Dallas Cowboys. Geno Smith and DK Metcalf both looked much healthier and have a few more days to prepare for this game than they would usually, but now they are facing a team that limited the Seahawks to just 220 Offensive yards two weeks ago.

Establishing the run will be extremely challenging for the Seahawks who could be without both Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet for this Week 14 game. Even with those two lining up, they would be facing a 49ers Defensive Line that effectively clamped down on the Eagles up front and so the pressure will be on Geno Smith at Quarter Back.

He was protected well enough in the loss to the Dallas Cowboys, but Smith was hit hard by the 49ers pass rush on Thanksgiving Day and has to expect the pressure to be all around him again. The 49ers have really rattled opposition Quarter Backs in recent games and it will mean Smith has to get the ball out of his hands quicker than he would like, while trying to expose a San Francisco Secondary that has been playing well enough.

Once again it feels like it will be a tough Offensive day for Seattle, while almost certainly going to be another day in the office for Brock Purdy and the 49ers.

Better health has led to some big Offensive performances for the 49ers and they are certainly looking like they are going to be in peak form heading into the PlayOffs. Brock Purdy has pushed himself into the MVP conversation, while Christian McCaffrey continues to churn out big yards running the ball or catching out of the backfield.

Christian McCaffrey helped the 49ers pick up 169 yards on the ground in the win over Seattle in Week 12 and he is expected to be a key part of establishing the run again. That will put the 49ers in a positive position whenever they have the ball and Brock Purdy should be able to make a few plays in the passing game to keep things moving.

With the run likely to be established and with a healthier Offensive Line, San Francisco should be able to hurt the Seahawks Secondary down the field. Even short passes to the likes of Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk never feel too far away from breaking open for big gains and George Kittle should also have a strong outing.

As mentioned, the spot is far from ideal after a hugely impressive statement making win in Week 13 and now facing a rested Divisional rival looking for revenge.

However, in saying that, the 49ers have won four in a row in the series and three of those wins have been by at least 18 point margins.

Since their Bye Week, the 49ers have won four in a row overall and all of those wins have been by at least 13 points, while San Francisco are 14-1 against the spread as the home favourite since the beginning of last season.

Covering this kind of line is never easy and there is always the potential for a backdoor cover, but San Francisco look focused and hungry Defensively and they can make enough plays to crush this NFC West rival again.

Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City Chiefs Pick: There has been a report out this week that has been very critical of Sean McDermott, although most are considering it a 'hit job' seeing as the criticisms are about events that took place several years ago.

The Buffalo Bills (6-6) Head Coach has apologised again, but the team are focusing on coming out of their Bye Week and looking to turn things around in what has been an underachieving season. The late Bye Week should help the players clear away some of the knocks and bruises, while there is clearly still time to right their ship even if the AFC East Divisional crown looks beyond them.

With just five games left, the Bills know they are in dangerous territory when it comes to potentially missing the PlayOffs. Recent seasons have seen the team narrowly miss out on a Super Bowl appearance, but the window feels like it may be closing on the current roster and big changes may be made if they are unable to earn a spot in the post-season and then have a deep run.

The remaining five games are far from easy and the Bills open with this tough game at Arrowhead against the slumping Kansas City Chiefs (8-4) who have lost three of their last five games. That has seen them lose some ground in the race to finish with the Number 1 Seed in the AFC, but a win here puts them back on track and Kansas City have not lost two in a row all season.

Kansas City have bounced back from all three losses to produce strong wins and covers of the spread line set so they have to be hugely respected. Despite perhaps not playing up the level we have come to expect, the Chiefs still have Patrick Mahomes at Quarter Back and the feeling is that he will get this team out of a slump and begin to build some momentum to take into the post-season.

Following this game, the Chiefs have a manageable looking schedule and a win would likely mean they are favourites to still finish with the best record in the AFC.

However, winning will be a challenge for Kansas City who have lost their last three home regular season games against the Buffalo Bills. There is no doubt that the latter have been built to knock off the Chiefs who have been considered the best team in the AFC in recent years and the Buffalo Bills have every chance of doing that again, despite their poor run of form into the Bye Week.

Injuries to key Defensive players have not helped, but Kansas City are likely going to be without Isaiah Pacheco who has established himself as arguably the third best skill player on the Offensive side of the ball behind Mahomes and Travis Kelce. He has been running the ball really well in recent games, but the Chiefs may struggle for a really strong impact on the ground if Pacheco is sitting out.

You have to believe that Patrick Mahomes will still have success throwing the ball, although his Receivers have been guilty of some big drops. The Quarter Back is likely going to be facing up to some pass rush pressure with Von Miller in the Buffalo line up despite an arrest for a domestic issue during the Bye Week, and that may help stall enough drives to give the Bills a chance of the 'upset'.

It will be interesting to see what kind of plan Buffalo have put together on the Offensive side of the ball having recently fired Ken Dorsey as Offensive Co-Ordinator. The Bills have perhaps not run the ball as they would have liked, but they have to have noticed the success the Packers had doing that against Kansas City in Week 13 and James Cook and Josh Allen should be able to pick up some big yards on the ground.

This will be important for Josh Allen to try and help him reduce some of the mistakes he has made when throwing the ball- over the course of the season, Allen has 13 Interceptions already, which is only one shy of his 2022 total, while the Quarter Back has not been as effective getting the ball into the End Zone through the air.

Being in third and manageable should make it easier to attack a Kansas City Secondary that struggled against Jordan Love at times last week. The Offensive Line has been able to keep the pocket clean for Josh Allen in recent games and the Bills can come out and make the plays they need on the Offensive side of the ball to win this one on the road.

Beating the Kansas City Chiefs is never a foregone conclusion and this is a team that is 13-8 against the spread following a loss since Patrick Mahomes became the official starting Quarter Back. That includes covering in all three of those situations this season, but the expectation is that Sean McDermott will have a strong plan in mind and the Buffalo Head Coach is 7-0 outright after a Bye Week.

A motivated and desperate Buffalo team have won here on the road in October 2021 and October 2022 and the feeling is that the Bills will have enough on both sides of the ball to just take advantage of a banged up and out of sync Kansas City team.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys Pick: The NFC East battle is likely to go down to the wire, but you have to favour the Philadelphia Eagles (10-2) to become the first team in twenty years to win back to back Divisional titles. The Dallas Cowboys (9-3) will have something to say about that and a win for the Cowboys will put them in a strong position, but the remaining schedule looks to favour Philadelphia even if they end up on the wrong side of the result.

That is not to say that this game matters more to the Cowboys.

While a defeat will effectively mean entering the Wild Card, the Philadelphia Eagles may feel a loss will make them second favourites to earn the Number 1 Seed in the NFC. Despite the heavy home loss to the 49ers, you cannot underestimate the benefit of earning a Bye through to the Divisional Round of the PlayOffs by taking the Number 1 Seed as well as obviously having home advantage through the post-season for as long as that team is involved.

Since the new format of the PlayOffs, the Number 1 Seed in both Conferences has been a huge advantage and that means there is plenty on the line for the Eagles having lost to the 49ers and only holding a game advantage over San Francisco.

With that in mind, it looks a bad time to be banged up.

Jalen Hurts is going to go through the pain, but the Quarter Back did have to head back to the locker room in Week 13 as the 49ers really took it to the Eagles. This is another tough Defensive unit that Philadelphia will have to face and Philadelphia may struggle to run the ball as they did in the defeat to San Francisco.

If the Quarter Back is not feeling up to full health, the pressure is only going to make it tougher for Jalen Hurts as he throws from third and long. The Cowboys are likely going to be spying on Hurts if he takes off to run, while they do get plenty of pressure up front to try and rattle him.

Of course you have to respect the Philadelphia Offensive Line which did give Jalen Hurts time last week.

He has the Receivers to make some plays down the field, including a returning Dallas Goedert and so Jalen Hurts will likely be able to move the ball, although becoming one-dimensional would make it tough to find a lot of consistency on the Offensive side of the ball.

The Eagles should have success, but the same can be said for the Dallas Cowboys.

Mike McCarthy is expected to be on the sidelines calling his own plays and the Cowboys have been very good at home as they look to show they can beat one of the better teams in the NFL. They will be confident of picking up where San Francisco left off and that means establishing the run and keeping Dak Prescott in a positive position on the field.

Tony Pollard is not Christian McCaffrey, but he can be effective as both a runner and pass catching Back and he can at least keep the Cowboys in a strong position. The Offensive Line have opened up some solid running lanes, while they have also been very good in pass protection and that should mean Prescott has time to find his Receivers down the field with Brandon Cooks and CeeDee Lamb both capable of making the big catches for him.

Having that second option next to Lamb is key for Dallas and the feeling is that the Cowboys will have another strong Offensive output after producing over 400 yards in the first meeting between these NFC East rivals.

The Cowboys will have been very disappointed by that 5 point loss in Philadelphia, but they do look capable of earning revenge in their own Stadium where they have been dominant this season.

Dallas had over 100 yards more than the Eagles in the first meeting, while they have had more rest to prepare for this Week 14 game.

Philadelphia looked fatigued at the end of the loss to San Francisco having played Dallas, Kansas City, Buffalo and the 49ers in a five week stretch and that could be a factor at the end of this one too. Add in the strength the Cowboys have shown at home and the feeling is that Dallas will earn revenge in this one and put the Eagles Number 1 Seed in jeopardy.

Some will expect the Eagles to bounce back after a rare loss, but they are 1-3 against the spread in the week after a defeat since the beginning of the 2022 season.

The Cowboys did not cover in Week 13, but they are 10-3 against the spread as the home favourite over the last season and a half and it is nice to be able to go against the public and back the home team in this Sunday Night Football clash.

Green Bay Packers @ New York Giants Pick: The first season without Aaron Rodgers leading from Quarter Back looked to be drifting aimlessly, but Jordan Love looks to have finally figured something out. The inexperience was clear to see earlier in the season, but Love has helped the Green Bay Packers (6-6) win four of five games and they would have a Wild Card place in the NFC if the season ended today.

A lot of credit has to be given to the young players, but the Coaching Staff deserve praise for sticking with Jordan Love and giving him a good plan.

The expectation is that Love and the Packers Offensive unit can have another big showing after impressing in the win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football. That is a statement win and the Packers have to be careful about not looking past the New York Giants (4-8) who have won two in a row and who are coming out of a Bye Week with an outside chance of pushing for a return to the post-season.

Brian Daboll guided his team through to the Divisional Round of the PlayOffs last season and he will know his Giants team likely needs to win out if they are going to make the PlayOffs. There will be no mistaking how tough that will be considering the five games left, but all the Giants can do is come out in Week 14 and hope they can move another game closer to 0.500 for the year.

Tommy DeVito will continue to play at Quarter Back in place of the injured Daniel Jones, but this is a position that will likely be upgraded in the off-season. A new found fame will hopefully not go to DeVito's head after back to back wins, but this is another tough Defensive unit that will be in front of him and one that just made life very difficult for Patrick Mahomes.

The Giants may need to follow the Chiefs plan and that will be to run the ball through Saquon Barkley against the Packers Defensive Line which has struggled to clamp down up front. Getting Barkley going and keeping Tommy DeVito in front of the chains will give New York a chance, but this will only be effective as long as the game is close.

Any time the Giants are in obvious passing situations, the struggling Offensive Line will have a hard time keeping the Packers from flooding into the backfield and hitting the Quarter Back over and over again. Sacks and hurried throws stall Offensive drives and that will be the plan for the Packers as they look to secure another important victory.

A team coming out of a Bye Week will likely have worked on a solid game plan, but the New York Giants may not have the personnel to stop the Green Bay Packers when Jordan Love is on the field.

He may be going without Christian Watson, who continues to prove himself to be a valuable Receiving target when he is able to get on the field. Injuries have held Watson back in his relatively short NFL career and he will be a miss, while Aaron Jones looks like he may have to miss another week too.

However, AJ Dillon ran through the pain very effectively in the win over the Kansas City Chiefs and the Packers are likely going to be able to produce some big yards on the ground again.

That should aid Jordan Love, who is capable of scrambling for First Downs too, and he still has skill players that he can target in the passing game. In recent games, Love is averaging over 270 passing yards per game and has been well protected by his Offensive Line and both of these situations could show up again on Monday Night Football.

It should mean the Packers are able to pick up from where they left off in Week 13 and the scoring power can see them pull away as a big road favourite.

Green Bay have won their last two games by at least 7 point margins, but this is a different spot for them as they were big underdogs against the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs. Expectations are much more pressurised as the favourite, especially by this margin on the road, but the Packers are playing well enough to win and cover against a struggling New York Giants Offensive unit.

Tennessee Titans @ Miami Dolphins Pick: The NFL are trying something different in Week 14 of the 2023 season and that is not only by having two Monday Night Football games, but to have both played at the same time. The thinking behind that is harder to understand, but that is what the fans have to deal with as they get to choose between the Packers-Giants or this game.

The other is expected to be more competitive as the Miami Dolphins (9-3) head into this game as a huge favourite over the Tennessee Titans (4-8). The home team are chasing the Number 1 Seed in the AFC, while the road team have lost four of their last five games and are on the brink of elimination as far as the post-season is concerned.

After pushing the Indianapolis Colts to Overtime last week and still coming up short, you do have to wonder about the motivations of the Titans. It is an incredibly long shot for them to make the PlayOffs, even if they win out, while there has to be a huge motivation to try and play spoiler for Divisional rivals Houston and Jacksonville who make up three of their remaining four games.

No team ever wants to throw a game away, but it is very hard to imagine getting a full effort from the Tennessee Titans on Monday Night Football and the oddsmakers in Vegas clearly feel the same.

As has been the case in recent years, the Tennessee Titans very much feel like an Offensive unit that will go as far as Derrick Henry will take them. With a rookie Quarter Back, teams have really focused on closing down the Running Back and may have been effective at doing that, even if Derrick Henry will still be capable of a big gain at any time.

The Titans will be facing an improving Miami Defensive Line when it comes to playing the run and so they may need more out of Will Levis at Quarter Back. That may be asking too much against this healthier Miami Secondary which has been making plenty of big plays through the air, while the Dolphins can generate a pass rush to rattle Levis behind Center.

Jaelan Phillips will be a big loss in the bigger games to come, but Miami can still find a way into the backfield in this one and they may be able to shut down the Titans Offensively.

It will be up to the Titans Defense to try and keep this close and they may have some success against the high-powered Miami Offensive unit that piled up over 400 yards in their 45-15 win over the Washington Commanders in Week 13.

The Titans Defensive Line has remained pretty stout when playing the run, so it may not be easy for Mike McDaniels and his Miami team to get going on the ground. This has been an important part of the Miami successes in 2023, although the Head Coach will use plenty of motion and bubble screens in lieu of a run game if that is necessary.

Tua Tagovailoa will likely be used to expose the Titans Secondary, which is where the weakness of this Defensive unit can be seen, and he should be able to make some big connections with Jayden Waddle and Tyreek Hill. Last week Jayden Waddle had 52 yards and Tyreek Hill had 157 yards with 2 Touchdowns and the feeling is that these two players will be key in blowing this game open.

The Quarter Back has been well protected by the Offensive Line so those routes should be able to develop down the field and the Dolphins can win this one big.

Earning the Number 1 Seed in the AFC should keep the motivation high for the home team and the Defensive unit can make one or two late plays to just ensure this very big line is covered by the home favourite.

MY PICKS: Indianapolis Colts + 2.5 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Chicago Bears + 3.5 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Cleveland Browns - 2.5 Points @ 1.85 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

San Francisco 49ers - 11.5 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Buffalo Bills + 1.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Dallas Cowboys - 3.5 Points @ 2.00 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Green Bay Packers - 6.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Miami Dolphins - 13.5 Points @ 2.00 Coral (1 Unit)

Week 13: 2-2, - 1.18 Units (5 Units Staked, - 23.60% Yield)

Week 12: 6-1, + 5.23 Units (8 Units Staked, + 65.38% Yield)

Week 11: 5-2, + 2.54 Units (7 Units Staked, + 36.29% Yield)

Week 10: 3-5, - 2.35 Units (8 Units Staked, - 29.38% Yield)

Week 9: 3-2, + 0.82 Units (5 Units Staked, + 16.40% Yield)

Week 8: 2-2-1, - 0.18 Units (5 Units Staked, - 3.60% Yield)

Week 7: 3-2, + 0.82 Units (5 Units Staked, + 16.40% Yield)

Week 6: 4-3, + 0.56 Units (7 Units Staked, + 8% Yield)

Week 5: 4-3-1, + 2.46 Units (10 Units Staked, + 24.60% Yield)

Week 4: 3-5, - 2.35 Units (8 Units Staked, - 29.38% Yield)

Week 3: 4-4, + 0.43 Units (9 Units Staked, + 4.78% Yield)

Week 2: 3-4-2, - 1.36 Units (12 Units Staked, - 11.33% Yield)

Week 1: 5-2, + 2.51 Units (7 Units Staked, + 35.86% Yield)