NFL Week 16 Parlay Picks and Odds

Am I alone? Does the wild card process confuse you too? What if there’s like a five-way tie for the third wild card position? How do they break that tie?

NFL Sportsbooks

I’m going to look up those answers. But meanwhile, let’s put together our four-team parlay bet for NFL week 16.

Buccaneers at Panthers Parlay Betting

Buccaneers vs. Panthers Pick

Time: Sunday, December 26 @ 1 PM ET

Totals Odds: Over 44 Points (-110) / Under 44 Points (-110)

The Play: UNDER 44 POINTS (-110)

Cam Newton will start for the Panthers, although head coach Matt Rhule had indicated that Sam Darnold, recently cleared from his shoulder injury, will play too. Apparently they want to make sure they don’t want him around any more.

We know that the Bucs will come out fired up, especially Tom Brady, after suffering his first shutout loss as a starting quarterback since 2006. But Tampa Bay is not fully stocked. Chris Godwin (knee injury) is out for the season. Mike Evans has a hamstring injury, so who knows. Leonard Fournette also has a hamstring issue. It’s good news that Antonio Brown is able to come back. But this won’t be as imposing a wide receiver group as we are accustomed to seeing from the defending Super Bowl champs.

Remember that Carolina is still #1 in the NFL in yards allowed per drive. So they won’t be lighting up the scoreboard like a pinball machine.

NFL Parlay Odds

Lions at Falcons Parlay Betting

Lions vs. Falcons Pick

Time: Sunday, December 26 @ 1 PM ET

Totals Odds: Over 43 Points (-110) / Under 43 Points (-110)

The Play: UNDER 43 POINTS (-110)

Right now there is considerable question as to whether Jared Goff, who tested positive for COVID but referred to it as “like a mild cold,” will be cleared from the protocol in time for the game. If not, it’s Tim Boyle making his second NFL start. Coach Dan Campbell does not think his team would be “hindered.”

We’d probably disagree with that. Although we’d admit that Goff isn’t the kind of guy who threatens a lot of defenses down the field, he did toss three touchdown passes as the Lions walked all over Arizona on Sunday. You can’t accuse Detroit of not trying hard, as they have a solid 9-5 record against the points.

At the same time, without D’Andre Swift and TJ Hockenson, the Lions will miss two of their very best offensive players (with apologies to red-hot rookie Amon-Ra St. Brown), and thus we are not sure how sustainable last week’s success is.

Bills at Patriots Parlay Betting

Bills vs. Patriots Pick

Time: Sunday, December 16 @ 1 PM ET

ATS Odds: New England Patriots -2.5 Points (-110) vs. Buffalo Bills +2.5 Points (-110)

The Play: PATRIOTS +2.5 (-110)

New England was victimized by a rampaging Jonathan Taylor last week, but in the five games prior to that 27-17 loss to the Colts, they allowed just 36 points. And they stand as the NFL’s second toughest defense in red zone situations, yielding TD’s just 46% of the time.

Last time they met, these clubs had to negotiate a huge wind factor in Orchard Park. The Pats did it better, putting the ball in the air just three times and pounding out 222 yards on the ground in the 14-10 win.

For all intents and purposes, these are the NFL’s two best teams against the pass.

In the run game, we can give the Patriots an edge, provided either Rhomandre Stevenson or Damien Harris can be available in the backfield.

NFL Parlay Picks

Washington at Cowboys Parlay Betting

WFT vs. Cowboys Pick

Time: Sunday, December 26 @ 8:20 PM ET

ATS Odds: Dallas Cowboys -10.5 Points (-105) vs. Washington Football Team +10.5 Points (-110)

The Play: WFT +10.5 (-110)

The WFT comes in on a short week, obviously, but now it’s desperate time, after the loss to Philadelphia, and they’ll have more players available. Taylor Heinicke has passed through the COVID protocols and will play.

As Tuesday’s game progressed, the Washington defense got steamrolled by the Eagles for 238 rushing yards. But the Cowboys don’t pound the rock like that. And for the six games previous to that, the WFT defense had revived itself, allowing just 290.5 ypg after taking all kinds of abuse earlier in the schedule.

Getting Heinicke back is a break; he’s been a 66.5% passer with 19 TD’s and 2931 yards.