Three playoff contenders feature among our top money-line tips for a super Sunday of American football action...
Kansas City Chiefs to beat Atlanta Falcons – {ODDS:123721075:37/20}
The Falcons are a formidable offensive team. They have scored the most points in the NFL, and also rank first in yards per play.
But their opponents on Sunday have succeeded in shutting down prolific sides this season.
The Chiefs have already beaten the Oakland Raiders, New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers, all of whom currently rank in the top 10 in points per game.
And while they rarely win by wide margins, they have won six of their last seven and currently sit second in the AFC West.
Atlanta have conceded 27.5 points per game – the fourth-highest mark in the NFL – and another high-scoring affair is likely here.
But the Chiefs’ knack for winning close games should give them the edge.
Chicago Bears to beat San Francisco 49ers – {ODDS:123721713:10/11}
In a meeting of two of the three worst teams in the NFL, the Bears’ superior defence should earn them just their third win of the season.
The 49ers have allowed 31.3 points per game – the highest mark in the NFL – as well as the third-most yards per play.
Chicago rank 11th and 25th in those categories, respectively.
And while Bears quarterback Matt Barkley’s stats inspires little confidence, he led his team to a respectable 21 points against the Tennessee Titans last week.
He will likely better that total this week, considering San Francisco have allowed 30 points or more in six of their last seven games, and haven’t won since the first week of the season.
Oakland Raiders to beat Buffalo Bills – {ODDS:123722272:5/8}
With another shootout win over the Carolina Panthers last week, the Raiders extended their winning streak to five games.
Their defence is an obvious weakness, but their offense – which ranks seventh in yards per play, sixth in total yards, and fifth in points per game – continues to shine.
That they rank fourth in passing yards and 10th in rushing is illustrative of just how well-rounded their attack is.
Buffalo, meanwhile, are the league’s best rushing team but simply cannot throw the ball.
That will hurt them if they fall behind early and need to make a comeback.
The Bills won’t be helped by a 2,600-mile trip across the country, either.
Seattle Seahawks to beat Carolina Panthers – {ODDS:123723005:2/7}
Carolina triumphed when these teams met in the divisional round of the playoffs last season, but the opposite result is very likely this weekend.
The Panthers have lost two of their last three, and are yet to beat a team with a winning record this season.
The Seahawks, meanwhile, have only lost three games all season and are unbeaten at home.
And while they suffered a surprising defeat against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last weekend, they had won three in a row before that.
The defensive discrepancy between the two teams should prove telling.
Seattle have allowed fewer points per game than any other team, while only eight teams have conceded more than the Panthers.
