The temperatures are dropping but the heat is on in the home stretch of the NFL season.
The NFL Week 16 odds are piping hot, fresh out of the oddsmakers' crockpot on Sunday night.
When you’re this deep into the schedule, the spreads and totals don’t leave much margin for error. If you’re going to make the most of this efficient market, you need to get the best of the number, which means grabbing openers before a major move or waiting later to pad those NFL picks and predictions with extra points.
These are the "Bet Now, Bet Later" spreads and totals for Week 16.
Week 16 bet now, bet later picks
- Eagles (-3.5) at Commanders: Bet Now
- Broncos at Chargers (-3): Bet Later
- Buccaneers at Cowboys (Over 48.5): Bet Now
- Steelers at Ravens (Under 46.5): Bet Later
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
Philadelphia Eagles (-3.5) at Washington Commanders: Bet Now
The Philadelphia Eagles can put a bow on the NFC East with a win over the Washington Commanders in Week 16.
Philadelphia out-muscled Pittsburgh this Sunday in a 27-13 win that wasn’t even that close. The Eagles coughed the ball up early, setting up the Steelers for 13 first-half points before Philly slammed the door in the second half and dominated one of the best defenses in the league for 400 yards of offense.
The Commanders barely beat New Orleans deploying two backup QBs in Week 15 and haven’t looked right since early November. Jayden Daniels was tortured by Vic Fangio’s defense when these rivals clashed back in Week 11, throwing for just 191 yards with one TD and an interception.
I’m buying up Eagles -3.5 now, getting Philadelphia below the undervalued key number of -4.
Best odds to bet Eagles -3.5 right now
Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers (-3): Bet Later
Thursday Night Football is a heavy game in the AFC playoff race.
The Los Angeles Chargers back into the short week off a bad home loss to Tampa Bay while the Denver Broncos defense (and Jonathan Taylor’s TD gaffe) did the deed versus Indianapolis.
Market perception of these teams is headed in opposite directions and so is this spread, opening Chargers -3 with the vig on the field goal getting shorter. If you like L.A., you’ll want to wait and see if you can buy the Bolts back below the key number.
Los Angeles won the first meeting with the Broncos, 23-16 as 3-point chalk in Denver back in Week 6. Since then, the Broncos have won six of their last eight. However, those victories have come against quarterbacks Anthony Richardson, Jameis Winston, Gardner Minshew, Kirk Cousins, Bryce Young, and Spencer Rattler.
The two losses in that span came to Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, and Justin Herbert is in that same class of QB. I’m not discounting the Bolts bad showing to the Bucs as much as some, considering it was a "letdown/look-ahead" spot off a tight game with the Chiefs in Week 14 and looking past Tampa Bay to the short week vs. Denver.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys (Over 48.5): Bet Now
Sunday Night Football could present plenty of fireworks when Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers come to Jerry’s World.
Tampa Bay and the Dallas Cowboys sit in the lower third of most defense statistics, with the Bucs bad against the pass and the Cowboys rotten against the run. Those weaknesses open the door for each other’s offensive strengths and could turn this indoor tilt into a shootout. While the Cowboys have nothing but pride on the line, Tampa is trying to win the NFC South.
Dallas is averaging almost 28 points per game over the last four outings, boosting its Over/Under record to 9-5 O/U, including 5-2 O/U inside AT&T Stadium. The Bucs have scored 31 points an outing in their last four and have an identical Over/Under count along with a 5-2 O/U record on the road.
This total sits just below 49 points, so it won’t take much action on the Over to send this soaring upward toward the key number of 50 points. I’m betting Over 48.5 now.
Best odds to bet Over 48.5 right now
Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens (Under 46.5): Bet Later
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens have two of the most explosive offenses in the NFL, both boasting 49 passing plays of 20-plus yards and a collective 18 home runs of 40-plus. Those offensive eruptions have drawn an opening total of 46.5 points for their crucial Week 16 clash.
But when it comes to the AFC North, current form means squat when divisional rivals run into each other. Pittsburgh and Baltimore are known for their hard-nosed defensive battles, going 1-8 Over/Under in their head-to-heads since 2020.
They played back in Week 11 and stayed well below the closing total of 48.5 points, with the Steelers edging out an 18-16 win at home.
Pittsburgh’s offense looked lost without WR George Pickens in Week 15, managing just 163 yards of offense and putting up 13 points in the first half — thanks to some Eagles turnovers — before getting goose-egged in the final 30 minutes. Pickens’ status for Week 16 is a must-watch injury update and if he does practice, this number could tick up.
Should this total tick to the key number of 47 points or beyond, I’d take a long look at the Under later in the week.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
