NFL betting preview: Week 17 lines, totals
For one final time during the regular season, let's go over the key point spread and total moves for Week 17.
Detroit Lions at Green Bay PackersOpening odds: GB -8 / 44
Current odds: GB -8 / 45.5
The Detroit Lions-Green Bay Packers game has seen more movement on the total, which went from 44 to 45.5 late on Saturday. The Lions have gone under the total in six straight games as their offense is depleted of starting skill players. Bettors are hitting the Packers at MGM resorts in Las Vegas with six times as many tickets on Green Bay as of Saturday night.
Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay BuccaneersOpen: ATL -2 / 50
Current: ATL -2 / 52
Both the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been listed as favorites during the week, with the opening line shifting to Tampa Bay -2 before coming all the way back around. There was a slight uptick in the total for two teams who combined for 63 points in their first meeting.
Carolina Panthers at New Orleans SaintsOpen: NO -7.5 / 44.5
Current: NO -7 / 43
It'll be a battle of backup quarterbacks when the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints meet in the regular-season finale. Carolina's Kyle Allen is the backup to the backup, Taylor Heinicke, who was injured in his first career start last week. The Saints are giving the nod to Teddy Bridgewater, who will fill in for MVP hopeful Drew Brees. The market shaped the Saints as seven-point favorites and two backup quarterbacks starting the game brought the total down a few points.
New York Jets at New England PatriotsOpen: NE -14 / 47.5
Current: NE -13.5 / 46.5
The New England Patriots are one of the public's favorite teams to bet on a weekly basis due to name alone. In Week 17, however, New England was hit off -14 and down to -13.5 against the New York Jets, who just placed cornerback Morris Claiborne and wide receiver Quincy Enunwa on injured reserve over the weekend. The Patriots saw their hot run covering the spread as a double-digit favorite snapped last weekend against the Buffalo Bills.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston TexansOpen: HOU -9 / 40.5
Current: HOU -7 / 40.5
A big swing in line movement in the Jacksonville Jaguars-Houston Texans game might come down to when bettors got their number. The Texans opened as nine-point favorites, trickled all the way down to -6.5, and bumped up to -7 on Saturday in most shops. The Jaguars are handing the reins back to quarterback Blake Bortles, who was benched for Cody Kessler a few weeks ago. With two teams trending in opposite directions, the Texans were garnering five times as many betting tickets as Jacksonville.
Miami Dolphins at Buffalo BillsOpen: BUF -3.5 / 38.5
Current: BUF -5.5 / 39.5
There's no surprise the Buffalo Bills saw action during the middle of the week - the Miami Dolphins have been incompetent away from home, covering only two of the previous 12 spreads as visitors. They'll play in what's expected to be below-freezing temperatures Sunday. Buffalo is a hot team for the public in Week 17, with seven times as many tickets riding on the Bills at MGM.
Dallas Cowboys at New York GiantsOpen: NYG -6 / 42.5
Current: NYG -6 / 41
Oddsmakers are expecting the Dallas Cowboys to lay down in Week 17 with a playoff bid already secured. The five-win New York Giants are giving a whopping six points at home and will close the season without star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who hasn't played since Week 13. The Cowboys are the third-worst scoring offense on the road but have held their last seven opponents to the team total under when playing away from home.
Philadelphia Eagles at Washington RedskinsOpen: PHI -6.5 / 42
Current: PHI -7 / 41.5
Sitting as 6.5-point road favorites with backup quarterback Nick Foles and looking for some magic one final time this season, the Philadelphia Eagles finally hit -7 in most shops early Saturday. Getting five times as many tickets as the Washington Redskins, the Eagles need a win and a Minnesota Vikings loss to make the playoffs.
Chicago Bears at Minnesota VikingsOpen: MIN -6.5 / 41.5
Current: MIN -6 / 40.5
Bettors are put in a tricky spot with the Chicago Bears, who need a win and some help in Week 17 to get a first-round bye. It's uncertain whether the Bears starters will even be in for the second half if the No. 2 seed Los Angeles Rams are taking care of the San Francisco 49ers, but oddsmakers have shaded this one toward the Minnesota Vikings. The Bears will be down safety Eddie Jackson, wide receiver Allen Robinson, and linebacker Aaron Lynch.
Arizona Cardinals at Seattle SeahawksOpen: SEA -13.5 / 40
Current: SEA -13 / 38.5
The Arizona Cardinals-Seattle Seahawks game figures to be one of the more boring games of the day, and that's what bettors are likely thinking with the lowest total on the board dropping a couple more points since the opener.
San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles RamsOpen: LAR -6 / 50
Current: LAR -10 / 48
It took one 22-point win over the Cardinals for the Rams to get bettors back on the bandwagon. A team that took a significant step back over the previous month was steamed from -6 to -10 during the week, despite being down star running back Todd Gurley. The 49ers will also miss key players on offense as wide receivers Dante Pettis and Marquise Goodwin are out.
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh SteelersOpen: PIT -16.5 / 47
Current: PIT -14 / 45.5
The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the week's double-digit favorites and could have been the chalkiest, had it not been for the -16.5 dropping down and settling at -14. The Cincinnati Bengals are limping to the finish line and won't have cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick or wide receiver Tyler Boyd for the finale.
Los Angeles Chargers at Denver BroncosOpen: LAC -6.5 / 41.5
Current: LAC -6.5 / 43.5
Off a loss to the four-win Oakland Raiders, the Denver Broncos have become fade material for bettors. The Los Angeles Chargers are one of the trendy teams in Week 17, getting seven times as many tickets at MGM. Two teams on hot runs to the under have seen a two-point jump on the total since the opener.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore RavensOpen: BAL -6.5 / 41.5
Current: BAL -6.5 / 40.5
Bettors hit the Cleveland Browns earlier in the week to move the number down to four, only to see the Baltimore Ravens bet back up to the original spread just days later. The total is on the move down as these two combined for 21 points in the previous meeting.
Oakland Raiders at Kansas City ChiefsOpen: KC -13.5 / 54
Current: KC -14 / 52
The Raiders put up 33 points at home on the Kansas City Chiefs in the first meeting, but initial movement on the spread and total has bettors thinking otherwise in Week 17. The Raiders are off an emotional win in the presumed final game in Oakland and now have to go on the road, where they're averaging a league-low 13.9 points per game this season.
Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee TitansOpen: IND -1.5 / 44
Current: IND -3 / 44.5
The Week 17 prime-time game features a win-or-go-home game between the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans. The Colts received a bulk of the early action, getting pushed up to three-point favorites. Titans starting quarterback Marcus Mariota isn't expected to play.
Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.
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