WITH just one more weeks of regular-season action, if you're not tuning into the NFL over the festive period, you're doing it wrong! This weekend, we have a potentially epic battle as, surprisingly Dallas can still make the playoffs, and the winners of the Seahawks and 49ers get the NFC West.
To talk us through that one, and two more intriguing matchups, here's our resident NFL tipster Nat Coombs who has been in sensational tipping form of late!
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LOCK
San Franciso 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks: Mon 30 Dec 01:20
Week 17 in the NFL is trickier than normal when it comes to picks, with an additional number of variables to consider, including playoff-bound teams with their eyes on the post-season resting players if their matchup is ultimately inconsequential for them – see the Ravens, who could well wheel out the backups in their match against the Steelers.
What makes that game even trickier is that Pittsburgh needs the win to keep their playoff hopes alive, hence the spread being just two points, when in more normal circumstances, it’d be greater.
Other games have a huge amount riding for both sides, and that’s where I’m looking first as the San Francisco 49’ers head to Seattle.
Seattle won the reverse match up in Week 10, but it went to the wire, the 49’ers were careless with the ball and offered up several turnovers that the Seahawks capitalised on and personnel-wise a lot has changed this time around. Firstly, the 49’ers offensive line is healthier, they have George Kittle back, and conversely, the Seahawks have lost their top three running backs, meaning they’ve brought back in veteran Marshawn Lynch, a former Super Bowl winner with the team who hasn’t played a down all season long. Given how much Seattle relies on the running game, this is a huge blow and it will put pressure on a passing unit that is flawed, despite having one of the best QB’s in the business in Russell Wilson.
Whoever wins the game lands the division, and in San Francisco’s case the number one seed and homefield advantage, and I think they have enough to get it done this time around with so much at stake.
Pick: 49’ers -3
Confirmed. Bringing the all-white drip to Seattle on Sunday. #94Niners ❄️ pic.twitter.com/o6VHAGfyxo
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 24, 2019
PUNT
Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 29 Dec 18:00
The Tampa Bay Bucs are one of the most watchable teams in the NFL right now with Jameis Winston simultaneously the most dynamic and flawed QB in the league. Tossing up picks like stocking fillers, he’s also presiding over one the most dangerous offenses in the NFL (averaging 29.1 points per game) that still is able to rack up points despite missing its top two receivers.
The Falcons have had a deeply disappointing season and Head Coach Dan Quinn could be one of those who gets his marching orders on Black Monday but they’re dangerous on their day, with a Top 5 offense in total yardage, just outside of the Top 10 on PPG (23.5 average).
Defensively, both sides rank in the Top 10 for points allowed – Tampa Bay 3rd with 28.1 and Atlanta 10th, allowing 25.1.
When these two met back in late November, 57 points were scored and this won’t be far off, in an end of season dead rubber shoot out.
Pick: Over 45.5
LONGSHOT
Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys
The fact that Dallas can still make the playoffs going into Week 17 is extraordinary, and their vanilla offensive performance against the Eagles was in stark contrast to the week prior against the LA Rams. The Cowboys are in must-win territory against the Redksins and need the Giants to do them a favour by beating Philly. Both games are going on simultaneously, so Dallas will give it everything against Washington who only have spoiler status to play for, and who will be without QB Dwayne Haskins – able back up Case Keenum deputises.
Washington is allowing opposition teams just under 26 points per game, Dallas is averaging that in scoring, so factoring in the urgency factor, the 31 points they scored in the corresponding fixture in Washington earlier this season, not to mention a presumably fired up Arlington faithful, I like the Cowboys to be pushing 30 points here.
Pick: Cowboys Team Total over 28.5
