Betting
11/27/24
10 min read
2024 NFL Week 13: Expert Picks, Predictions For Every Game
NFL Week 13 might be our favorite week of the year. Not only do we get three Thursday games on Thanksgiving, but there is also a Black Friday contest and two awesome primetime games to finish out the week.
Nearly every game has some sort of playoff implication, and there is nothing better than late November or early December football. So, without further ado, here are the lines and the picks for every game this week:
NFL Week 13 Expert Picks, Predictions
Chicago Bears (4-7) vs. Detroit Lions (10-1)
Spread: Lions -10.5
Total: 48.5
There is something that just feels right about the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions playing on Thanksgiving. However, this game will be more exciting than in recent years, with both teams having star quarterbacks and the Lions having the NFL’s top-ranked offense.
Thursday games tend to be higher-scoring, which favors the Lions here. Look for Detroit to continue its winning streak and improve to 11-1 with another divisional win.
Score Prediction: Lions 31, Bears 17
New York Giants (2-9) vs. Dallas Cowboys (4-7)
Spread: Cowboys -4
Total: 38
Are the Dallas Cowboys back? No, but at least they played some admirable football in Week 12, defeating the Commanders in Washington. The Cowboys get another favorable matchup in Week 13, with the New York Giants coming off an ugly loss and starting a banged-up Tommy DeVito.
The Cowboys have plenty of their own injuries, but the defense has looked better in the last two weeks. Look for Micah Parsons and the rest of the defense to keep the scoring down and win a low-scoring contest in Dallas.
However, stay away from the point spread, as these are two bad teams with bad quarterbacks under center. The unpredictability of both players makes this a difficult game to bet on when it comes to the point spread.
Score Prediction: Cowboys 20, Giants 17
Miami Dolphins (5-6) vs. Green Bay Packers (8-3)
Spread: Packers -3.5
Total: 47
Arguably the most “fun” game of Thanksgiving, the Miami Dolphins have been red-hot on offense since Tua Tagovailoa returned to the lineup. And with a record of 5-6, they certainly aren’t out of the playoff picture in the AFC. They have an easy schedule coming up, but this is their toughest game remaining.
Can they go on the road, play in the cold, and beat one of the NFL’s best teams? That seems like a tall task, considering just how balanced the Green Bay Packers are on both sides of the ball. Look for Green Bay to continue to lean on Josh Jacobs and its defense to get a win. Expect a close contest, but for the Packers to take care of business at home on a short week.
Score Prediction: Packers 27, Dolphins 22
Las Vegas Raiders (2-9) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (10-1)
Spread: Chiefs -13
Total: 42
The Black Friday game is a rematch of the 2023 Christmas Day contest, where the Las Vegas Raiders dominated the Kansas City Chiefs with their defense. That would be the last game the Chiefs would lose the rest of the way, and they didn’t lose again until Week 11 of the 2024 season.
Don’t expect a similar outcome this time around, as the Raiders will be making another quarterback switch with Aidan O’Connell set to return to the lineup. Stay ahead from this point spread. The Chiefs have been historically awful in the Patrick Mahomes era covering double-digit spreads, but take Kansas City to win as it leans on its defense.
Score Prediction: Chiefs 24, Raiders 13
Arizona Cardinals (6-5) vs. Minnesota Vikings (9-2)
Spread: Vikings -3.5
Total: 45.5
The Minnesota Vikings have done a great job winning close games during the last month, but we know how hard it is to do that consistently. You just aren’t going to win every coin-flip game, but that’s what the Vikings have done for the majority of the season.
This seems like a good spot for the Arizona Cardinals, who should be able to beat the blitz due to Kyler Murray’s legs. Expect another close game for Minnesota, but for the Cardinals to pull off the upset and get back on top in the NFC West.
Score Prediction: Cardinals 26, Vikings 23
Houston Texans (7-5) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9)
Spread: Texans -5.5
Total: 43.5
It’s hard to trust either of these teams right now because they can’t protect their young quarterbacks. But with Trevor Lawrence’s status unknown for Week 13, it’s really hard to pick the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Their offense has been downright disgusting with Mac Jones under center, and his inability to escape pressure makes this unit look even worse. Expect this to be a defensive struggle on Sunday, where points come at a premium. But expect the Houston Texans to find a way to get back on track and get a win in Jacksonville on Sunday.
Score Prediction: Texans 20, Jaguars 17
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (4-7)
Spread: Bengals -3
Total: 46.5
The Pittsburgh Steelers dropped a winnable game in Week 12, losing to Jameis Winston and the Browns on Thursday night. The Steelers still hold a 1.5-game lead over the Ravens in the AFC North, but their upcoming schedule is loaded with divisional opponents and Super Bowl contenders.
Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Bengals will need to win out in order to have a chance to make the postseason. But there is nothing about this team that suggests they are capable of doing so. Take the Steelers to bounce back and for the offense to score 27+ against the Bengals in Week 13.
Score Prediction: Steelers 27, Bengals 21
Los Angeles Chargers (7-5) vs. Atlanta Falcons (6-5)
Spread: Chargers -1.5
Total: 47.5
This is another incredibly important game for both sides. The Los Angeles Chargers need to win to avoid falling behind the Broncos in the AFC Wild Card race. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Falcons lead the NFC South, but the Buccaneers have closed the gap.
The Falcons have a significant rest advantage, as they are coming off a Week 12 bye. Meanwhile, the Chargers played a physical game against the Ravens on Monday Night Football. A short week for the Chargers, during which they have to travel to Atlanta, could prove to be too much, so take Kirk Cousins and the Falcons to win at home on Sunday.
Score Prediction: Falcons 24, Chargers 23
Indianapolis Colts (5-7) vs. New England Patriots (3-9)
Spread: Colts -2.5
Total: 42.5
If you like to watch young, exciting quarterbacks, this is your game. Drake Maye and Anthony Richardson have shown incredible flashes this season, but their down-to-down consistency needs work.
It would help if they got more consistent play from their receivers, but that is a topic for another day. The Indianapolis Colts have a stronger rushing attack and can lean on it to win this game. Don’t expect a lot of points, as both offensive coordinators will want to limit the passing attempts for their young signal-callers.
Score Prediction: Colts 23, Patriots 20
Tennessee Titans (3-8) vs. Washington Commanders (7-5)
Spread: Commanders -5.5
Total: 44.5
The Washington Commanders are in the middle of a three-game losing streak after dropping a home game to the Cowboys in Week 12. The offense has struggled in recent weeks to start fast, and it’s been the biggest reason they’ve lost these games.
The Tennessee Titans have a strong defense, and they might be able to limit Jayden Daniels for a majority of the game. But to expect Will Levis and the Titans to score more than 21 points might be a stretch if they don’t get turnovers on defense.
Take the Commanders to win, but expect a close game in Washington in Week 13. And stay far away from that point spread.
Score Prediction: Commanders 24, Titans 21
Seattle Seahawks (6-5) vs. New York Jets (3-8)
Spread: Seahawks -1.5
Total: 41.5
The Seattle Seahawks are road favorites heading into Week 12 after a massive win against the Cardinals. They currently lead the NFC West, but all four teams are within a game of each other after last week.
This should be a favorable spot for Seattle, but don’t be surprised if the New York Jets put together a strong game plan coming off the bye week. There aren’t any playoff implications for the Jets, so the pressure is officially off them now. So don’t be surprised if they play more relaxed and pull off the upset on Sunday.
Score Prediction: Jets 23, Seahawks 20
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6) vs. Carolina Panthers (3-8)
Spread: Buccaneers -6.5
Total: 46.5
The resurgence of Bryce Young has made the Carolina Panthers more fun to watch, and this is suddenly a good game on Sunday afternoon. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are just one win behind the Falcons in the NFC South, but they’ve already lost both games to Atlanta.
The Buccaneers will need to surpass them in wins to earn the division title, but it’s possible considering their upcoming schedule. That starts with getting a win against the scrappy Panthers, who will be a tough out for every team left on their schedule. Take the Buccaneers to win, but be careful about the point spread here.
Score Prediction: Buccaneers 27, Panthers 23
Los Angeles Rams (5-6) vs. New Orleans Saints (4-7)
Spread: Rams -2.5
Total: 48.5
The loss to the Eagles was a tough one for the Los Angeles Rams, but they aren’t out of the playoff hunt in the NFC. They are just one game back of the division lead and have the offense to compete with any contender in the conference.
However, their defense needs to step up and show that it can stop the run against quality opponents. This will be a good test for them in Week 13, as Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill can be a lot for the Rams' defense. If the Rams can hold up there, they’ll have a good chance to win this game and get back to .500.
Score Prediction: Rams 24, Saints 21
Philadelphia Eagles (9-2) vs. Baltimore Ravens (8-4)
Spread: Ravens -2.5
Total: 50.5
The best game of the weekend features arguably two of the best three rosters in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Baltimore Ravens. Both teams played in Los Angeles this week, but the Ravens played a far more physical game on Monday night.
Lamar Jackson has an unreal record against NFC opponents, but the Eagles have too many weapons on offense and should have no problem putting up points against Baltimore’s defense. This should be a really close, contested game. But look for A.J. Brown to be the difference-maker in this one, as the Ravens don’t have anyone on the roster that can slow him down in a big game.
Score Prediction: Eagles 28, Ravens 24
San Francisco 49ers (5-6) vs. Buffalo Bills (9-2)
Spread: Bills -6.5
Total: 45.5
The Buffalo Bills are -6.5 favorites against the San Francisco 49ers, which is a good indicator that Brock Purdy likely won’t play in Week 13 or will be severely limited. The same can be said for Nick Bosa, who missed last week with a hip injury.
Buffalo is rested and should be ready for this bad-weather game. And with the No. 1 seed still on the line for the Bills, look for them to lean on Josh Allen’s legs and win a big game in prime time. Take the Bills -6.5 and expect them to cover the spread in Buffalo.
Score Prediction: Bills 27, 49ers 20
Cleveland Browns (3-8) vs. Denver Broncos (7-5)
Spread: Broncos -5.5
Total: 41.5
The final game of the weekend features the red-hot Denver Broncos, who need to continue winning to keep teams like the Bengals, Dolphins, and Colts from potentially stealing their wild-card spot. But this won’t be an easy out for the Broncos.
The Cleveland Browns are coming off 11 days of rest to play this game. Myles Garrett and the Browns have talent on defense, but they haven’t always played up to their potential. How will rookie Bo Nix play in primetime?
Probably pretty well, considering who will be calling plays on the sideline. Look for Denver’s defense to be the difference-maker in this game and for the Broncos to get another win in Week 13.
Score Prediction: Broncos 24, Browns 15
