If you want to win money betting NFL games then you need to be willing to take teams no one else wants to bet. We refer to these teams as ugly dogs and you really have to hold your nose sometimes when you bet on them, but history has shown that going against the public works. We went 3-2-1 with the picks in Week 15 and that takes the season record to 37-32-2. We have six plays to look at for this week. Let’s take a look at the Week 16 Ugly Dog picks.
NFL Week 16 Ugly Dog Picks
Detroit Lions +9.5 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Lions are a bad team going nowhere and while the change to Darrell Bevell as the interim head coach gave the team a brief shot in the arm, there are a lot of problems in Detroit. On the other side, the Bucs need a win to clinch a playoff spot and that seems likely. The question is whether or not the Bucs cover the spread. Tampa has been somewhat leaky on defense of late, so perhaps the Lions can get a backdoor cover. We take the Lions as an ugly dog.
New York Jets +9.5 vs. Cleveland Browns
We got a win last week with the Jets in a shocking straight up win at the Rams. The Jets are still a bad team and they are going against a Cleveland team that is rolling. Since the Jets got their first win to avoid infamy, they now have nothing to play for and a rout seems likely. It is hard to do, but we are stuck taking the Jets plus the points as an ugly dog.
Jacksonville Jaguars +7.5 vs. Chicago Bears
The Jaguars are now in prime position to get the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft and Trevor Lawrence, so they can’t afford to screw things up by winning either of their last two games. People don’t talk much about tanking in the NFL, but you have to think head coach Doug Marrone has been told by ownership to make sure the team loses this game. Marrone said he hasn’t been told to lose, but would he admit it if he had? Chicago is still alive in the NFC Playoff race, so they have a lot to play for. This one really looks ugly as we take the Jaguars plus the points.
New York Giants +10.5 at Baltimore Ravens
This is another really ugly one, as the Giants can’t score, while the Ravens need to win out and get a little help to make the playoffs. The Giants could still win the NFC East, but the more likely scenario is that they get routed by the Ravens and are eliminated this week. We take the Giants as an ugly dog.
Atlanta Falcons +10.5 at Kansas City Chiefs
We have a lot of big underdogs this week and this is another one as we take the Falcons plus the big points. The Chiefs can wrap up the top seed in the AFC with a win this week and there is no reason to think they won’t roll against an Atlanta team that is done. The Falcons do have the offense to score some points, so perhaps they can get a backdoor cover. We take the Falcons as an ugly dog.
New England Patriots +7 vs. Buffalo Bills
Did you ever think you would see the Patriots listed as an ugly dog? Did you ever think they would be getting a touchdown at home against the Bills? That is the case this week and there is nothing to like about New England. They are out of the playoffs and with a loss will finish with a losing record this season. The Bills don’t have a ton to play for as they have already clinched the AFC East, but the Patriots are done. We take the Patriots plus the points as an ugly dog.
Check out the latest NFL Week 16 Odds at BookMaker Sportsbook!
