Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Week 13 NFL picks and best bets for the Sun’s handicapping contest

Raiders at Packers

Mike Roemer / Associated Press

Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers gets away from Oakland Raiders’ Maurice Hurst during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in Green Bay, Wis.

The Green Bay Packers had arguably the worst performance in the NFL last week, losing 37-8 to the 49ers as 3.5-point underdogs. They'll need to have one of the best this week to cash the best bet of two members of the Sun's handicapping contest.

Otherwise, contest picks are all over the betting board for NFL's week 13 slate. The other best bets are a winless team at home and a divisional road favorite, making all the picks look a bit combustible.

The competition remains tight with five weeks to go in the contest, which requires each sportswriter to pick six games including a two-point best bet.

Read below to find all of this week's picks.

Ray Brewer

Points: 48.5 (41-30-1)

Colts minus-2.5 vs. Titans

Redskins plus-10 at Panthers

49ers plus-6 at Ravens

Steelers plus-2 vs. Browns

Patriots minus-3 at Texans

Two-point best bet: Chargers minus-3 at Broncos. Denver will struggle to score with Brandon Allen at quarterback. Allen, in three appearances, has a 38.5 quarterback rating and is only completing 46% of his passes. Meanwhile, the Chargers are coming off a bye.

Case Keefer

Points: 47 (40-32)

Giants plus-6.5 vs. Packers

Redskins plus-10 at Panthers

Rams minus-3 at Cardinals

Chargers minus-3 at Broncos

Steelers plus-2 vs. Browns

Two-point best bet: Bengals plus-3 vs. Jets Is Andy Dalton really that much better than Ryan. Finley? Yes, he is. Recency bias has clouded perception to be otherwise, but Dalton gives the Bengals a much better chance to win their first game. Players don't want to go winless, and this is Cincinnati's best chance to avoid that fate.

Justin Emerson

Points: 42.5 (34-37-1)

Ravens minus-6 vs. 49ers

Titans plus-2.5 at Colts

Cardinals plus-3 vs. Rams

Patriots minus-3 at Texans

Chiefs minus-10 vs. Raiders

Two-point best bet: Packers minus-6.5 at Giants. The Packers are 8-3 and rolling toward a playoff spot. The Giants are not doing that. New York is home to the worst amount of football teams per metro area this year and the Giants might be the worst of the two. Home field won't be enough to get them within sniffing distance of Green Bay.

Mike Grimala

Points: 36.5 (28-42-2)

49ers plus-6 vs. 49ers

Titans plus-2.5 at Colts

Raiders plus-10 at Chiefs

Broncos plus-3 vs. Chargers

Texans plus-3 vs. Patriots

Two-point best bet: Packers minus-6.5 at Giants. They're not as bad as they looked against San Francisco last week — they can't be.

Past Winners: 2012 — Case Keefer; 2013 — Case Keefer, Ray Brewer (tie); 2014 — Case Keefer; 2015 — Case Keefer; 2016 — Ray Brewer; 2017 — Case Keefer, Jesse Granger (tie); 2018 — Case Keefer

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

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