The NFL betting regular season closes with a full schedule of intra-divisional games loaded with playoff implications, and a few snoozers that aren't worth your time or money.

The Shield continues its recent trend of flexible scheduling. There are two games on Saturday and 14 on Sunday.

The Saturday games will begin at  4:30 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. EST. The Sunday afternoon schedule will feature games starting at 1 p.m. and 4:25 p.m. There will be one matchup – Buffalo at Miami for the AFC East – that begins at 8:20 p.m. 

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Baltimore clinched homefield in the AFC, while San Francisco has done so in the NFC. The Cowboys and Eagles are playing for the NFC East title, but they aren't matched together. Dallas visits Washington. And the Eagles face the Giants at MetLife.

Both the AFC and NFC South are also up for grabs. The Buccaneers pulled the lucky straw here, as they visit the Panthers. Meanwhile, the Falcons entertain the Saints.  

2023 NFL Week 18 Picks

Now it’s on to our Week 18 NFL picks to back on your favorite sports betting app. 

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2023 NFL Week 18 Best Bets To Back Today

Saturday, January 6 

Pittsburgh Steelers At Baltimore Ravens, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)

Buzz: The Ravens demolished the Dolphins in Week 17, clarifying any questions or concerns about which team in the AFC is most dominant heading into the postseason. The road to the Super Bowl for the AFC goes through Baltimore and the Ravens have a bye next week, as well as this one. Hence, they are home dogs. There's a real question how much MVP-In-Waiting Lamar Jackson will play in this game. LJ is 12-1-1 ATS when getting points. But this one doesn't matter for Baltimore. And the only thing better than a bye is two byes. The Steelers need a win to stay in the playoff chase. They'll get it. 

Best Bet: Steelers -3.5 (-110) with DraftKings Sportsbook

Houston Texans At Indianapolis Colts, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)

Buzz: We may need the ghost of Oppenheimer to figure out all the different scenarios and tiebreakers for the final AFC playoff spots. For the Texans, it's pretty simple. Win and you're in. Lose and you're out. The Colts get in with a win, and can still back in if they don't. But it gets complicated. From the bettor's perspective, this will be one of the most competitive games of the week. The Texans are tough on the road within the division, having won 7 straight. C.J. Stroud was healthy and dealing in Week 17. He's going to close out his Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign with a road win. 

Best Bet: Texans ML (-105) with DraftKings Sportsbook

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Sunday, January 7 

Cleveland Browns At Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. (CBS)

Buzz: Loser gets Ohio State. The Browns are locked into a wild card spot. The Bengals were eliminated from the postseason with their 25-17 loss to the Chiefs in Week 17. Browns QB Joe Flacco has thrown for more than 250 yards in each of his 5 starts and Cleveland has won 4 straight. The Browns have gone over the points total in 8 straight on the road. Look for the Browns to pull away in the second half. And stack some points. 

Best Bet: Over 40 Points (-110) with DraftKings Sportsbook

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Atlanta Falcons At New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. (CBS) 

Buzz: The NFL got the NFC South right with its flexible, intra-divisional scheduling in Week 18. There are pathways for the Falcons and Saints to win the NFC South. But each begins and ends in Charlotte. A Buccaneers' win over the Panthers at 1 p.m., and this game means nothing but draft position. The Falcons have been grounded of late and have lost 3 of 4 down the stretch. The Saints delivered their best performance of the season Sunday at Tampa Bay. The Saints are at home and there will be much scoreboard watching inside the Caesars Superdome. Still, New Orleans should cover this at home with ease. 

Best Bet: Saints -4.5 (-110) with DraftKings Sportsbook

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. (FOX)

Buzz: The Buccaneers blew a shot to clinch the NFC South in Week 17 by losing 23-13 to the Saints at home. The Panthers all-but quit in a 26-0 loss to the Jaguars in Week 17 - a Jaguars team without Trevor Lawrence. Baker Mayfield could clinch Comeback Player of the Year honors with an NFC South title. But the Buccaneers need to re-establish their running game against a porous Panthers defense. The Panthers have lost 11 of 12 against the NFC. This will be 12 of 13. The Buccaneers need a get-right game headed into the playoffs. Even after Sunday's loss, the Bucs are 10-6 ATS, above their 8-8 number straight up. 

Best Bet: Tampa Bay -5.5 (-110) with DraftKings Sportsbook

Minnesota Vikings At Detroit Lions, 1 p.m. (FOX)

Buzz: The Vikings got curb-stomped by the Packers Sunday night 33-10. They've run out of "QB saviors," having gone through Joshua Dobbs, Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall since Kirk Cousins' injury. They can still make the playoffs, but they need a win here and lots of help. The Lions, meanwhile, will be growling about the Taylor Decker non-two-point conversion for decades. They are angry beasts and shall exorcise their fury and frustration upon the Vikings, turning Ford Field into the Roman Colosseum. And Russell Crowe isn't walking through that door. Perhaps Dan Campbell himself will suit up for this one. Philly's loss to the Arizona opened the door for the Lions to get the No. 2 overall seed. Motivation a plenty. 

Best Bet: Lions -4 (-110) with DraftKings Sportsbook

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Jacksonville Jaguars At Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m. (CBS)

Buzz: The Jaguars got a break Sunday in facing onto-to-2024 Carolina Panthers at home. Jacksonville won 26-0 without Trevor Lawrence, who missed the first start of his career - high school, college, or pro. Lawrence should be back for this one in what is pretty much a must-win game for the Jags. This game could be the final Tennessee Waltz for Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, who has been on the hot seat all season. 

Best Bet: TBD with DraftKings Sportsbook

New York Jets At New England Patriots,  1 p.m. (CBS)

Buzz: Will this be Bill Belichick's final game as coach of the Patriots? The Patriots acquired Belichick from Gang Green back in the day, eventually making a trade to consummate the move. The Patriots have never needed a defeat more in the 21st Century than they do here. If the Patriots do lose, they will clinch at worst the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL Draft. But don't expect Belichick - or his defense - to roll over. New England has beaten New York 15 straight times. While neither offense is capable of producing much more than turnovers, these teams have gone over in 7 of the 8 games heading into this one. 

Best Bet: Over 33.5 Points (-110) with DraftKings Sportsbook

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Chicago Bears At Green Bay Packers, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)

Buzz: The Bears were eliminated in Week 17, despite their win over Atlanta. The Packers are in with a win over their long-time rivals here. Both Justin Fields and Jordan Love solidified their roles as franchise QBs in 2023. In Love's his first season as a starter, he's been spectacular, throwing for for 34 TDs against just 11 picks. He's poised for an NFL Films storybook ending by clinching a playoff berth over Chicago amid the January chill of Lambeau Field in the late CBS slot. By the way, the Packers have covered in 9 straight at home against the Bears. Love can officially take ownership of the Bears from Aaron Rodgers with a win here. Don't sweat the hook at 3.5 points. This one could move to 5 by the end of the week. 

Best Bet: Packers -3.5 (-110) with DraftKings Sportsbook

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Kansas City Chiefs At Los Angeles Chargers, 4:25 p.m. (CBS) 

Buzz: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce may opt to spend the weekend on Catalina Island. The AFC West champion Chiefs (What Else Is New?) are locked into the No. 3 spot in the AFC. The August AFC West Champion Chargers are on to 2024 - and maybe Bill Belichick as their new head coach. No doubt Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid want to get some more work in on offense, but expect to see more scrubs in the second here than you would at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The Chiefs' under-appreciated defense may pitch a shutout here. It's the only reason why KC is the postseason this season. 

Best Bet: Under 35.5 Points (-110) with DraftKings Sportsbook

Seattle Seahawks At Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. (FOX) 

Buzz: The Cardinals won their Super Bowl with a stunning 35-31 upset of the Eagles at the Linc in Week 17. A loss here hold the No. 2 overall pick in the draft. The Seahawks got plucked by the Steelers at home in Week 17. Seattle needs a win, plus a Packers loss to the Bears to make the playoffs. There will be scoreboard watching at State Farm Stadium. The Seahawks cannot be trusted. The Cardinals are dangerous in this spot at home. 

Best Bet: Cardinals +3.5 (-110) with DraftKings Sportsbook

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Los Angeles Rams At San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m. (FOX) 

Buzz: Sam Darnold vs. Carson Wentz? The Dream Week 18 matchup the NFL envisioned when it scheduled this one. Or not. The 49ers own the No. 1 seed, homefield, and a first-round bye in the NFC. They can make it a two-week bye here. The Niners are still banged up and need the extra week to get well. The Rams clinched a playoff spot in Week 17 with their 26-25 win over the Giants. LA holds hold the No. 6 seed in the NFC, is 6-1 since the bye, and has sped-up the post-Super Bowl rebuild by a full season. 

Best Bet: Rams ML (+150) with DraftKings Sportsbook

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Philadelphia Eagles At New York Giants, 4:25 p.m. (CBS) 

Buzz: The Eagles need a win here and a Dallas loss to reclaim the NFC East. Philadelphia's defense continued to crack in Week 17 in a 35-31 home loss to Arizona. The post-Super-Bowl hangover finally caught up with the Eagles late this season. Philly went 0-5 ATS in December, and lost 4 of those games outright. The only team they beat during that stretch? The Giants on Christmas Day 33-25. 

Best Bet: Giants +6.5 (-110) with DraftKings Sportsbook

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Dallas Cowboys At Washington Commanders, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)

Buzz: The Cowboys clinch the NFC East with a win. Expect Washington coach Ron Rivera to be among the first casualties on Black Monday. This is a big number, but the Cowboys could be looking at a 27-7-type victory here. We're leaning on the total here, The Cowboys have gone under in their past four games. And they're playing to win here, and don't need to run up anything.  

Best Bet: Under 48 Points (-110) with DraftKings Sportsbook

Denver Broncos At Las Vegas Raiders, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)

Buzz: The Chiefs are the only AFC West team to make the playoffs. These two postseason also-rans are playing for nothing but personal pride and multiple roster spots next season. The Raiders have won 7 straight over the Broncos and covered in 11 of 12. The Broncos have been besot by dysfunction this season, benching Russell Wilson in favor of Drew Lock. Antonio Pierce's players have his back and he should return next season as the full-time head coach. The Raiders want it more. 

Best Bet: Raiders ML (-142) with DraftKings Sportsbook

Buffalo Bills At Miami Dolphins, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)

Buzz: The NFL saved the best for last. Buffalo at Miami for the AFC East title. Both teams could well be in the playoffs by the time this one kicks off. The Dolphins took a beating in Baltimore Sunday, losing 56-19. In addition, Bradley Chubb suffered an ACL injury as Mike McDaniel still had him on the field with less than 4 minutes to play. Genius. The Dolphins have only beaten one team (Dallas) with a winning record this season. Any weather-related homefield edge for Miami has been abated by the 8:20 p.m. kickoff. The Bills are playing their best ball of the season, having won 4 straight riding their defense and running game. 

Best Bet: Under 50 Points (-110) with DraftKings Sportsbook

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