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Week 16 NFL Odds - Lookahead Lines - Picks & Best Bet Predictions

by Mike Allen - 12/11/2024

NFL Week 16 lookahead lines and odds Kirk Cousins Atlanta Falcons

December is always an exciting time in the NFL, filled with intrigue and uncertainties. It's also when we see matchups of playoff teams/contenders against those who aren't into it emotionally and potentially tanking on purpose.

Then you have the teams who play hard for the 1st half, and if the game seems out of reach, they pack their bags early and call it a day.

I feel you if you don't want to deal with double-digit betting odds or bet on bad teams. That's great. The latter is an even better strategy, because you can use it for all 18 weeks of the NFL season.

For every game, the sportsbooks release different betting lines. The first one released is the lookahead line, which comes out on Tuesday afternoon of the previous week. Yesterday, the lookahead lines were released for Week 16's games. You'll see some betting limits on the lookahead lines, but you can still throw down hundreds of dollars if you please. On Sunday evening, the books will re-release the odds after the games. This is where you see a lot of recency bias.

There are different strategies for betting on the NFL, each with its positives and negatives. The benefits of betting a game right before kickoff are the most efficient market price, you can see where the public and sharp money has gone, and you know who's playing and who isn't.

What do you lose with this strategy? You lose the expected value on the betting line. That's a big one. For example, we played the Cowboys vs Bengals over 45 on the lookahead, but it was 49.5 by the time anyone saw it the week preceding the game. It was a wacky ending, but the total fell on the key number of 47. That ship has sailed once you lose 4 or 5 points of expected value.

We are just 2-2 over the past two weeks in our lookahead lines best bets, but we've been on the right side of the forthcoming line movement about three out of four times and 18-9 ATS.

Doc’s Sports offers NFL expert picks for every game on our NFL predictions page.

NFL Week 16 Lookahead Lines Best Bets

Detroit Lions (-7) at Chicago Bears Odds (+7) Total: 48

(Dec 22nd at 1:00 PM Chicago, IL)

We mentioned the double-digit betting lines, but this is about the same. If the books hung a 6.5, I would worry. They opened this one up at (-7), though, for the Lions, and these odds are likely only headed in Detroit's direction.

The Chicago Bears have played the NFC North tightly. And, overall, they've been a much better offense at home. I get all that, but this is essentially Christmas weekend. Chicago still had something to play for when these teams first met. Remember, though, that the Lions blew them out in the 1st half and took their foot off the gas in the 2nd. We then saw Matt Eberflus flush his job down the toilet in the final seconds.

Week 15 could be the week we see the Bears pack it in as they travel to Minnesota on Monday. Add in the short week, and Detroit will likely climb above touchdown favorites. I don't see them making the same mistake they did in the first game.

Win or lose, if we continue to accrue positive EV, we make money.

Pick: Detroit (-7)

New York Giants (+9) at Atlanta Falcons Odds (-9) Total: 41.5

(Dec 22nd at 1:00 PM Atlanta, GA)

We warned you about that double-digit point spreads already. And with Atlanta playing with their backs against the wall this week, we could see a strong performance. That and more unraveling from the Giants could push this line up to 10 or higher.

The Falcons aren't exactly the sexiest team around at the moment, but Kirk Cousins is still a vet and has the chance this week against the Raiders and next when they host the Giants to save their sinking season.

The New York Giants are (-140) to finish the season with the worst record, while the Raiders, who have the same record, are (+260). The word is out, and it looks like the tank is on for the G-Men.

Pick: Atlanta (-9)

LA Rams (-2.5) at New York Jets Odds (+2.5) Total: 46

(Dec 22nd at 1:00 PM East Rutherford, NJ)

We get to fade a team with no playoff chances and, simultaneously, back one that's currently 33% and hungry to make the postseason.

LA has been inconsistent, and whales have continued to pour money on the Jets, thinking the team had already hit bottom.

This is about the number. I would take LA now, because, with moderate performances from each this week, the line could touch 3 or even cross it to (-3.5).

These are public angles. I know. Out of 10 weeks of our lookahead lines best bets, there have been maybe two underdogs, and that was a Mike Tomlin auto bet. It's okay to have a public play, but you had better get out ahead, and the lookahead lines best bets are a great way to do that.

Take the Rams on the moneyline, though. We just said we want to get ahead of the number, but remember, the moneyline moves right along with the spread. Anytime you have a betting favorite under a field goal, remember not to be greedy and take the moneyline odds instead.

Pick: LA Moneyline (-145)

More NFL Odds - Week 16 Lookahead Lines

Denver Broncos (+3) at LA Chargers Odds (-3) Total: 42

(Dec 19th at 8:20 PM Inglewood, CA)

Houston Texans (+4) at Kansas City Chiefs Odds (-4) Total: 44.5

(Dec 21st at 1:00 PM Kansas City, MO)

Pittsburgh Steelers (+5) at Baltimore Ravens Odds (-5) Total: 46.5

(Dec 21st at 4:30 PM Baltimore, MD)

Cleveland Browns (+6) at Cincinnati Bengals Odds (-6) Total: 50

(Dec 22nd at 1:00 PM Cincinnati, OH)

Arizona Cardinals (-3.5) at Carolina Panthers Odds (+3.5) Total: 46.5

(Dec 22nd at 1:00 PM Charlotte, NC)

New England Patriots (+12) at Buffalo Bills Odds (-12) Total: 46.5

(Dec 22nd at 1:00 PM Orchard Park, NY)

Philadephia Eagles (-3) at Washington Commanders Odds (+3) Total: 47.5

(Dec 22nd at 1:00 PM Landover, MD)

Tennessee Titans (+4.5) at Indianapolis Colts Odds (-4.5) Total: 42.5

(Dec 22nd at 1:00 PM Indianapolis, IN)

Minnesota Vikings (-2) at Seattle Seahawks Odds (+2) Total: 45.5

(Dec 22nd at 4:00 PM Seattle, WA)

San Francisco 49ers (-1.5) at Miami Dolphins Odds (+1.5) Total: 49

(Dec 22nd at 4:25 PM Miami Gardens, FL)

Jacksonville Jaguars (+1) at Las Vegas Raiders Odds (+1) Total: 39.5

(Dec 22nd at 4:25 PM Las Vegas, NV)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3.5) at Dallas Cowboys Odds (+3.5) Total: 47

(Dec 22nd at 8:20 PM Arlington, TX)

New Orleans Saints (+13) at Green Bay Packers Odds (-13) Total: 42

(Dec 23rd at 8:15 PM Green Bay, WI)

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