With the 2018 NFL regular season entering its stretch run portion, there may be no better time for an NFL fan or betting enthusiast to cash in with a potentially winning wager. Week 13 highlights this thought process as several matchups have the look of both, must-see or must-bet matchups that no football fan or betting aficionado should miss out on. In an effort to help you cash in consistently all season long, I’ve highlighted the top three must-bet games on the NFL Week 13 docket.
NFL Week 13 Must Bet Games – 2018 Season
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New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys (-1.5)
The Saints went 11-5 in a super competitive NFC South division that placed three teams in the playoffs a year ago. Not only that, but New Orleans improved their defense in a big way by finishing 10th in points allowed (20.4 ppg) to give their always explosive offense, led by future hall of Famer, Drew Brees, the help they’ve needed since they won the Super Bowl back in 2010.
Dallas recorded a respectable 9-7 record a year ago, but make no mistake about it, the Cowboys aren’t in the same caliber if teams as New Orleans heading into 2018. Dallas finished the 2017 campaign ranked a modest 14th in scoring (22.1 ppg) and 13th in points allowed (20.8 ppg) and didn’t so nearly as much to improve their roster as I believe they should have. Brees and gifted running back Alvin Kamara will both have their way in this Week 13 NFC battle.
NFL Week 13 Betting Pick: New Orleans +1.5
Baltimore Ravens at Atlanta Falcons (-3.5)
The Ravens blew their chance to make the playoffs a year ago by losing their regular season finale at home against Cincinnati and that loss illustrates everything that is wrong with the Ravens heading into 2018. I know Baltimore tried to upgrade their offense by adding veteran receivers Michael Crabtree, John Brown and Willie Snead and rookie tight ends Hayden Hurst and Mark Andrews, but the fact of the matter is that quarterback Joe Flacco is pretty damned awful if you ask me.
Baltimore has a very good defense that ranked a phenomenal sixth in points allowed last season and while their offense ranked ninth in scoring (24.7 ppg), I don’t think they’re good enough to beat an Atlanta Falcons team that ranked eighth in points allowed (19.7 ppg) and a respectable 15th in scoring (22.1 ppg).
While Baltimore’s numbers on both sides of the ball are better than Atlanta’s I like Matt Ryan far more than I like Flacco and I believe Atlanta’s offense is going to be a lot better than it was last season. I like the Falcons to hold it down at home in this one to get the win and narrow ATS cover.
NFL Week 13 Betting Pick: Atlanta -3.5
Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-1)
The Carolina Panthers went 11-5 last season and a solid 5-3 on the road while Tampa Bay went 5-11 and 4-4 at home. The Panthers wept the Bucs last season, winning 17-3 in Tampa Bay as a 1.5-point road dog in Week 8 and 22-19 at home in Week 16, although they never came close to covering the chalk as a 10-point favorite in that contest.
For this Week 13 NFC South division rivalry, I like Carolina to get the win despite being on the road simply because they are far superior to Tampa Bay on both sides of the ball. The Bucs may or may not have head coach Dirk Koetter leading them by the time this matchup rolls around since I’m expecting Koetter to be fired either during the season or immediately thereafter.
Cam Newton and the Panthers should have some legitimate playoff hopes while Tampa Bay wants to just get back to being a respectable team and one that should be shooting to go 8-8 at best.
NFL Week 13 Betting Pick: Carolina +1
