There are three super important games heading into Week 18.
On Saturday, the Carolina Panthers will battle the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the NFC South. Later that night, the Seattle Seahawks will take on the San Francisco 49ers for the NFC West and the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Then, on Sunday night, the Baltimore Ravens will compete against the Pittsburgh Steelers for the AFC North division.
Below, we’ll discuss all three games and talk about the betting lines and the NFL odds Week 18.
NFL Odds Week 18 At-a-Glance
Many games don’t have many implications. Some teams are going to take off in Week 18 and start worrying about the future.
However, there are three games this weekend that matter a ton for the playoffs. I’ll talk about all three matchups, provide trends and other insights, and give my outlook for each game.
Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3 -110)
Saturday, January 03 – 04:30 PM ET
The Carolina Panthers can finish the regular season with a winning record and a playoff berth with a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this weekend.
The Panthers already escaped the Buccaneers earlier this month. However, this time, they’ll be on the road, in a win-or-go-home environment.
Ultimately, the Buccaneers have an intense pass rush that should make Bryce Young a little uncomfortable. The Bucs should also be able to run the football well against Carolina with their trio of running backs.
At this time, the Buccaneers have dropped from -3.5 to -3 against the spread. But while the line movement is favoring Carolina, I like the home team to pull this one out. It’s already the playoffs for these two teams. I’m taking Baker Mayfield and his receiving core, despite the struggles they’ve had this season.
Meanwhile, the total has dropped from 45.5 to 43.5. Bettors aren’t confident in Tampa Bay’s offense. It’s understandable, but at home, expect the Bucs to lock in.
Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers (-1.5 -105)
Saturday, December 03 – 08:00 PM ET
The San Francisco 49ers are 12-4 this season. However, they’ve got a differential of about 4.8 points per game this season. For a 12-4 team, that’s very weak. You’d expect better.
The 49ers are pulling out close games this season. They’re not blowing anyone out. The Seahawks, on the other hand, have a differential of nearly 11 points. The defense has played way better overall, and the offense is healthier.
The 49ers are the favorites at home after opening at +1.5. That has since flip-flopped. But after allowing 38 points to the Bears on Sunday night, it’s hard to trust the 49ers in this one.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (+3.5 -110)
Sunday, January 04 – 08:20 PM ET
There’s excitement that Lamar Jackson will be available to play quarterback for the Ravens this weekend. Bettors have moved the Ravens from -3 to -3.5 with the news that Jackson should return.
But the Ravens had success rushing the football last weekend against the Packers. Lamar Jackson isn’t healthy enough to run the football like Tyler Huntley did last weekend.
If anything, Jackson will hurt Baltimore’s chances of winning this weekend. Therefore, consider the Steelers at +3.5 with the line movement. Many bettors will count the Steelers out after losing to the Browns last week. But they’ll get back on track, especially at home.
Stay Aware In Week 18!
I’m confident in betting on the three games listed above, knowing what’s at stake. There will also be odds for other Week 18 games on.
But before you bet those games at a reputable sportsbook, make sure you research the games to know which players are out, which teams are tanking, and so forth. Do your due diligence if you’re looking to bet on other NFL games than the three mentioned above.
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*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
