From the best NFL games to bet this weekend, to the ones you should steer clear of, check out Sean Brennan's guide to get you through the weekend a winner. Then check out how the rest of our crew of pigskin experts see this weekend's action as they pick against the spread.
FANTASY FOOTBALL FRIDAY: EARLY PLANS FOR 2013
EAGLES at GIANTS
1 p.m., Ch. 5, Giants by 7½, 46
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: Seems like a long time ago when the defending Super Bowl champs looked like a lock for the NFC East title. Now roughly 86 different things — including peace in the Middle East and a surefire hangover cure — need to happen for Big Blue to get a chance at defending its crown. But the first step is getting a win vs. the "We quit back in October" Eagles. Should be easy enough, you say? Well, consider this: Philly has won five straight games in the Swamps of Jersey and eight of the last nine meetings overall. Furthermore, Philly will be starting Humane Society Poster Child Michael Vick, who happens to own a 3-1 record as a starter vs. the Giants. Vick, who hasn't played since suffering a concussion on Nov. 11 vs. Dallas, is getting the nod due to Nick Foles' broken finger. If the Giants are to receive a belated Christmas miracle, they may not know it until after the Cowboys-Redskins game, somewhere around midnight Sunday night. But Eli the Optimist thinks Big Blue could be in for a Sunday Fun-day: "It's not like a bunch of upsets have to happen," he said. "You never know what might occur."
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Giants and the under
JETS at BILLS
1 p.m., Ch. 2, Bills by 3, 39½
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: People around the Jets have talked about what a smart guy Greg McElroy is, having scored an impressive 48 on the NFL's Wonderlic test. McElroy's brilliance was on full display this week for all to see when — just a few days removed from being sacked 11 freakin' times by the lowly Chargers — he was found to have a concussion and will not be playing the part of Jets piñata this week vs. Mario Williams and the Bills. Well played, Greg. Mrs. McElroy didn't raise no fool! So we're back to having beleaguered Mark Sanchez with his hands under Nick Mangold's butt and boy howdy, Tim Tebow fans are howling mad. But being suspicious by nature, it's my own conspiracy theory that the Jets are hoping Mario and Friends make McElroy's beatdown last Sunday vs. San Diego look like a kid's play date and maybe, just maybe, Mark won't want to come back to try to play quarterback for the Gang Greenies next year. (But if Michael Vick is wearing the green next year, I think a "take-your-dog-to-the-game" day is mandatory.)
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Bills and the under
PACKERS at VIKINGS
4:25 p.m., Packers by 3½, 46½
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: It's pretty simple from the Packers' perspective: Win and you claim the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye. Lose, and most likely you drop to No. 3 and buh-bye to that first-round hiatus. It's a tad more complicated on the Vikings' side: Win and you are the No. 6 seed and in the playoffs for the first time since 2009. Lose, and you better hope the Bears, Cowboys and Giants go down as well. It might be the best of Sunday's docket with MVP candidates Aaron Rodgers and Adrian Peterson showing their wares, with each having something big to play for. Green Bay has won five straight in this series with Mr. Discount Double-Check competing 73.1% of his passes with 14 touchdowns and just three picks in that span. Peterson, for his part, has rushed for more than 175 yards three times vs. the Packers' porous defense. A Pack loss could set up a rematch between these two in the wild-card round.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Vikings and the over
BEARS at LIONS
1 p.m., Bears by 3, 44½
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: Playoff scenarios make for some strange bedfellows. Take the Bears, for instance. Following their promising 7-1 start with a 2-5 slide, Chicago now finds itself needing a win here and some help from (gasp!) the hated Packers. That's like the Occupy Wall Streeters asking Goldman Sachs execs for money for better tents. Like a Hatfield asking a McCoy to borrow a cup of sugar. Like Obama telling Boehner, "Hey, forget this fiscal cliff stuff. Wanna go to the Redskins-Cowboys game, Johnny?" It must be killing Lovie Smith, who, when he took over as Bears head coach nine years ago, said it was his mission to beat the Packers year in and year out. Hasn't panned out that way and if it doesn't on Sunday, Lovie, with his butt already on the hot seat, could be out in Chicago. Desperate Bears make for dangerous Bears.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Bears and the under
COWBOYS at REDSKINS
8:20 p.m., Ch. 4, Redskins by 3, 49
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: The Redskins are riding their longest winning streak (six games) in 16 years and need one more victory to lock up their first NFC East title since 1999. If you're a Cowboys fan, you might want to turn away from these numbers: The Boys apparently don't like the bright lights, having dropped eight of their last nine Sunday night games, RG3 has thrown for six TDs without a pick in his last four home games and Dallas — unlike Washington — has no safety net Sunday. Lose and the Cowboys go home, win and they're the NFC East champs. The Skins can still get in with a loss if the Bears and Vikings also go down.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Redskins and the under
RAVENS at BENGALS
1 p.m. Bengals by 2½, 41½
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: The Bengals, locked in as the No. 6 seed no matter what, have little to play except to build some momentum going into their first back-to-back playoffs since the 1981-82 seasons. There is, however, a chance at a little retribution after the Ravens soiled the start to their season with a 44-13 whipping in Week 1. Cincy has not been a kind outpost for the Ravens, who have dropped five of their last seven meetings in the Queen City. Andy Dalton also has something to prove against a Baltimore team he has never defeated and has just one TD pass and four INTs against. Sunday is that day.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Bengals and the under
TEXANS at COLTS
1 p.m., Texans by 7, 46½
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: After missing their chance to lock up the No. 1 seed in the AFC last week at home against the Vikings, the Texans have a considerably tougher challenge this week. Why, you ask? The Colts have nothing to play for, correct? That is correct, but it also marks the return of Chuck Pagano as Colts head coach — just how loud and emotional do you think Lucas Oil Stadium will be? — and there is the little fact that Houston is 0-10 all-time in Indianapolis. A slip-up here by the Texans, coupled with wins by Denver and New England, would mean bye-bye to a first-round bye for Houston. Lots o'pressure on the Texans.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Colts and the over
CARDINALS at 49ERS
4:25 p.m., 49ers by 16, 39
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: Let's see: Brian Hoyer, cut by both the Patriots and Steelers this season and picked up off the scrap heap by the Cardinals, makes his first NFL start against an ornery 49ers team that may have thrown away a first-round bye with last week's loss to Seattle and must face Mr. Aldon Smith, who has already set a single-season franchise record for sacks (19½) but is sack-less in his last two games. Good Lord, this sounds like the latest chapter of American Horror Story. This season, Hoyer is the fourth quarterback to start for the Cardinals, who have been outscored, 85-23, in their last three meetings with San Fran and, well, need I go on?
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: 49ers and the over
DOLPHINS at PATRIOTS
4:25 p.m., Patriots by 10½, 46½
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: The Pats are one game behind both Houston and Denver for a first-round bye, which will be motivation enough for Brady and Co. Now if they could just stop falling into those early-game, double-digit deficits, the ones that cost them a game to the Niners two weeks ago and nearly to the Jags last week. The Pats, who have won five straight vs. Miami, will be doing some scoreboard-watching as Denver will be playing at the same time. And though the Miami defense has been solid of late — allowing a total of 13 points in its last two games, both wins — those victories have come against Jacksonville and Buffalo. Brady takes aim at the 24th-ranked pass defense. Bull's-eye.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Patriots and the under
CHIEFS at BRONCOS
4:25 p.m., Broncos by 16½, 42½
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: Although the Broncos have won 10 straight, they still haven't locked up a first-round bye. That's probably bad news for the Chiefs. Hey, even Chiefs fans are hoping Denver wins so K.C. can lock up the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft in April. A Broncos win, coupled with a Houston loss in Indy, would give Denver the top seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. And considering the Chiefs have managed three offensive touchdowns and 43 total points in their last five road games, it doesn't look like Peyton Manning will have any trouble running his career mark vs. K.C. to 9-1.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Broncos and the under
BEST OF THE REST
BUCS at FALCONS
1 p.m., Falcons by 3, 48
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Falcons and the over
BROWNS at STEELERS
1 p.m., Steelers by 7, 33
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Steelers and the under
PANTHERS at SAINTS
1 p.m., Saints by 5½, 54
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Saints and the over
JAGUARS at TITANS
1 p.m., Titans by 4½, 42
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Jags and the under
RAMS at SEAHAWKS
4:25 p.m., Hawks by 10½, 40½
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Seahawks and the over
LOOK DON'T TOUCH
RAIDERS at CHARGERS
4:25 p.m., Chargers by 7, 45
BRENNAN'S BUZZ: San Diego-ites? San Diego-ans? People who live in San Diego are sure to turn out in droves to bear witness to the end of the Norv Turner Era. (That's sarcasm, just so you know.) No, it's the end of the line for Norv, so I'm sure the Powder Blue Boys are going to want to send him out with a bang.
CAN'T HELP YOURSELF: Chargers and the under
WEEK'S BEST BET
Saints: Finishing 8-8 after an 0-4 start is quite the accomplishment.
LAST WEEK: 12-4
OVERALL: 117-113-10
BEST BETS: 9-7
OVER/UNDER: 119-120-1
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