After taking the week off last week, it was time to get back on the horse. One of the things that occurs during a long NFL season is that you begin to get a bit burned out. You’re not making the right decisions (as witnessed by the 2-4 record for Week 11 and Week 12) and it is time to take a break. That break has been energizing but it comes at a time of the year when prognosticating is at its most difficult.
Plenty of the games this NFL Week 14 will be affected by the weather. Snow is predicted in Cleveland for the Browns game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, which will affect the Jags’ offense (especially if QB Trevor Lawrence is unable to go) and on the over/under for the game. In Cincinnati, there will be plenty of rain, which could inhibit both the Bengals and the Indianapolis Colts. In Baltimore, there is an 88% chance of rain – this means that the legs of Ravens QB Lamar Jackson are going to get a workout.
When it gets this late in the season, these are the things that you must be on the lookout for – injuries and the weather. They’ll make a big difference in what you might do when it comes to the bets (and don’t ask me to explain the Pats/Steelers game from Thursday night, where they topped the O/U in just the first half). As always, all advice is offered for entertainment purposes only, but be ensured that a significant amount of thought has gone into each selection (home team in ALL CAPS).
(All lines are provided by HardRockBET)
Indianapolis Colts v. CINCINNATI BENGALS (-1.5)
The Bengals have had a hard time this year, with QB Joe Burrow going down with a torn tendon in his wrist that ended his season. His backup, Jake Browning, led the team to a stirring victory over the Jags on Monday night. I think that Browning is going to do it again against the Colts, who will also have the disadvantage of being a dome team that has to play in the elements on Sunday.
PICK: Bengals -1.5
Seattle Seahawks v. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (-13.5)
This is one of those “the spread is too high” picks for the NFL Week 14 schedule. I’ve spoken about it previously that these are professional sports teams – they’ve got too much pride to get blown out of the water by their opposition, no matter how good or bad the seasons are going. San Fran is going to win this game, and probably not breathe hard in doing it, but I see the Seahawks keeping it with a touchdown, maybe a little more, but within the spread – and that’s our objective, winning the bet, not the game.
PICK: Seahawks +13.5
Buffalo Bills v. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (-1.5)
In a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship Game – and on the same grounds where the game was contested back in January – both teams come to the game looking to maintain their positions in the playoff race. The Bills and the Chiefs are looking up at the Miami Dolphins in the race for the #1 seed in the AFC, and both teams are also coming off losses (the Chiefs lost to the Packers, while the Bills went down to the Eagles). You might think that the Bills have the edge this NFL Week 14, coming off their bye week, but I see the Chiefs looking to get rid of that taste of the Packers beatdown (the Chiefs were never in the game, to be honest) and taking out their frustrations on the Bills.
PICK: Chiefs -1.5
NFL Week 11-12 Results – 2-4
NFL 2023 Season Results – 15-20-1
