NFL Bettors Eye Division-Deciding Matchups, Odd Spreads in Difficult Week 18

5 days ago 2

The final week of the NFL regular season is filled with a handful of playoff-deciding contests, a few big spreads, and some key starters sitting out.

Key Takeaways

Week 18 features eight spreads of more than a touchdown.
The Panthers and 49ers are getting the bulk of bettors’ attention for Saturday.
The public loves the Bears and Bills on Sunday.

It starts Saturday, with the Panthers taking on the Buccaneers (-3) in a critical NFC South showdown. The Seahawks (-1.5) visit the 49ers in the late game to decide the NFC’s No. 1 seed and the West division title.

On Sunday, the AFC’s top seed is up for grabs between the Broncos, Jaguars, and Patriots. The Sunday night prime-time game between the Ravens (-3.5) and Steelers determines the AFC North.

Aside from those battles, the rest of the Week 18 slate is about resting star players for playoff-bound teams like the Eagles and Chargers or figuring out if winning hurts draft positioning.

That makes most games difficult for bettors to figure out. Eight games have spreads of more than a touchdown, and four have double-digit favorites.

Week 18 Games (Sat.-Sun.)

DraftKings Splits

BetMGM Splits

theScore Bet Splits

Panthers-Buccaneers (-3)	CAR 53% bets CAR 53% handle	CAR 60% bets CAR 60% handle	CAR 62% bets CAR 60% handle
Seahawks-49ers (+1.5)	SF 64% bets SF 75% handle	SF 71% bets SF 74% handle	SF 63% bets SEA 52% handle
Colts-Texans (-10.5)	HOU 55% bets HOU 62% handle	HOU 57% bets HOU 60% handle	HOU 61% bets HOU 80% handle
Titans-Jaguars (-13.5)	JAX 54% bets TEN 59% handle	JAX 55% bets JAX 73% handle	JAX 63% bets JAX 66% handle
Browns-Bengals (-7.5)	CIN 53% bets CIN 83% handle	CIN 60% bets CIN 59% handle	CIN 54% bets CIN 71% handle
Cowboys-Giants (+3.5)	DAL 70% bet DAL 67% handle	DAL 68% bets DAL 53% handle	DAL 77% bets DAL 56% handle
Packers-Vikings (-7.5)	GB 66% bets MIN 51% handle	MIN 51% bets MIN 66% handle	GB 68% bets MIN 60% handle
Saints-Falcons (-3.5)	ATL 58% bets ATL 52% handle	NO 60% bets NO 72% handle	ATL 54% bets NO 63% handle
Jets-Bills (-8.5)	BUF 90% bets BUF 86% handle	BUF 84% bets BUF 65% handle	BUF 91% bets BUF 58% handle
Dolphins-Patriots (-10.5)	NE 59% bets NE 66% handle	NE 68% bets NE 78% handle	NE 62% bets NE 80% handle
Chargers-Broncos (-12.5)	LAC 67% bets LAC 82% handle	LAC 63% bets LAC 58% handle	LAC 68% bets DEN 52% handle
Commanders-Eagles (-4.5)	PHI 73% bets PHI 60% handle	PHI 79% bets PHI 70% handle	PHI 78% bets WAS 62% handle
Lions-Bears (-3)	CHI 64% bets CHI 89% handle	CHI 86% bets CHI 95% handle	CHI 53% bets CHI 80% handle
Cardinals-Rams (-7.5)	LAR 80% bets LAR 60% handle	LAR 85% bets LAR 88% handle	LAR 83% bets LAR 61% handle
Chiefs-Raiders (+5.5)	KC 54% bets KC 80% handle	KC 72% bets KC 79% handle	KC 55% bets LV 67% handle
Ravens-Steelers (+3.5)	PIT 56% bets BAL 52% handle	PIT 50% bets BAL 54% handle	PIT 55% bets PIT 77% handle

Saturday action

The 49ers are the most-bet team by wagers and handle at BetMGM. The Panthers are right behind them in tickets, which isn’t surprising with those two teams playing in Saturday’s standalone games. Needing a win to clinch the division, the Panthers are also the most popular underdog moneyline team at BetMGM.

San Francisco and Carolina are getting the majority of the action at all three operators that provided betting splits, with the Seahawks dominating in handle at theScore Bet only.

Bettors are also making the over 47.5 in Seahawks-49ers the most-wagered total at BetMGM, with Panthers-Bucs over 43.5 third.

Sunday’s best

The Bears (-3) need a win over the Lions to clinch the NFC’s second seed, and bettors are banking on that happening. Chicago is the second-most-bet team by handle at BetMGM, and the Bears are getting 89% of the handle at DraftKings and 95% of the money at BetMGM.

The Bills (-8.5) are also among the most-bet teams this week, and with Josh Allen expected to play despite a foot injury, the public is pounding Buffalo, which is getting 90% of the tickets and 86% of the money at DraftKings.

The Ravens are also a popular pick to cover against the Steelers at BetMGM and are leading in handle at DraftKings as well, but Pittsburgh is getting more action at all three operators.

Big favorites

Jacksonville can clinch the AFC South with a win over Tennessee (+13.5). While the Jags are dominating the betting percentages at BetMGM and theScore Bet, DraftKings bettors are split, with 59% of the money backing the Titans to stay under the big number.

The public isn’t getting scared off of Houston as a 10.5-point favorite, as the majority of the tickets and money at all three operators is going against the Colts. The Patriots are expectedly dominating the betting as 10.5-point favorites over the Dolphins, but bettors are mostly backing the 12.5-point underdog Chargers, even without quarterback Justin Herbert, at Denver.

Weird ones

Philadelphia is less than a touchdown favorite at home against the Commanders (+4.5) this week in a strange spread, but the Eagles are expecting to rest a ton of starters in Week 18. That’s not deterring bettors, who are putting the majority of handle and wagers on the favorite at DraftKings and BetMGM. Washington has seen more money at theScore Bet.

The Falcons-Saints game could be for nothing, or it could determine the NFC South for the Panthers if they lose Saturday. An Atlanta win and a Buccaneers victory would lead to a three-way tie for the division, which would go to Carolina. Bettors are split on this one, with the 3.5-point underdog Saints seeing some money at BetMGM and theScore Bet.

In a game between two losing teams, the Raiders can lock up the top pick in the 2026 draft with a loss to the 5.5-point favored Chiefs, and most bettors are banking on that. However, Las Vegas is getting 67% of the handle at theScore Bet.

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