Week 14 NFL ATS Picks: Three Up And Three Down With Trio of Expert Picks
Posted by Peter Brennan on Thursday,December 8, 2016 10:22, EDT in
It’s three up and three down when it comes to Week 14 NFL ATS picks! Can the Jacksonville Jaguars hold off the desperate, defense-first Minnesota Vikings this Sunday? Will the Cleveland Browns upset the Cincinnati Bengals in their Week 14 AFC North divisional mismatch?
Last but not least, will the Miami Dolphins bounce back from their humbling loss the last time out to handle an Arizona Cardinals team that is still holding on to a tiny sliver of postseason hopes? You’re about to find out the answers to all three questions right now!
Analyzing The Week 14 NFL ATS Picks: Three Up And Three Down With Trio of Expert Picks
Minnesota at Jacksonville
When: Sunday, Sept. 11 at 1:00 PM ET
Where: EverBank Field, Jacksonville, FL
NFL Odds: Minnesota -3.5
Analysis: The Minnesota Vikings (6-6 SU, 7-5 ATS) have lost two straight and four of their last five games, but put up a helluva’ fight in their heartbreaking 17-15 loss to Dallas on Thursday night while covering the NFL betting line as a 3-point underdog. The Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10 SU, 6-6 ATS) have lost seven straight games and looked as incompetent as ever in their humbling 20-10 loss to Denver this past weekend while failing to cover the spread as a 3.5-point underdog.
Minnesota has had big trouble scoring the ball ever since offensive coordinator Norv Turner abruptly quit after Week 5, but there’s a good reason why a compelling 80 percent of public bettors like Minnesota and that would be because Jacksonville doesn’t look like they could bet an elite college team these days.
Minnesota has an elite defense that ranks fourth in points allowed (17.4 ppg) and one I expect to harass pitiful Jags quarterback Blake Bortles into at least one costly turnover and likely two. Minnesota is 9-4 ATS in their last 13 road games while Jacksonville has gone 2-5 ATS in their last seven games and 1-4 SU in their last five against the Vikes. Simply put, I have no doubt whatsoever that Sam Bradford will lead Minnesota to the easy win and ATS cover!
Pick: Minnesota 24 Jacksonville 17
Cincinnati at Cleveland
When: Sunday, Sept. 11 at 1:00 PM ET
Where: FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, OH
NFL Odds: Cleveland -5.5
Analysis: The Cincinnati Bengals (4-7-1 SU, 3-8-1 ATS) looked rock-solid in their 32-14 win over Philadelphia as quarterback Andy Dalton tossed two TD passes to lead the Bengals to victory and an easy cover as 1.5-point favorites over the Birds.
Cleveland (0-12 SU, 2-10 ATS) remained winless by falling to Eli Manning and the New York Giants 27-13 two weeks ago while failing to cover the spread as a 6.5-point underdog. The Browns have problems on both sides of the ball and have failed to score more than 13 points in each of their last four games.
76 percent of public bettors like the Bengals to get the win and ATS cover and I say the pick for Cincy is an absolute no-brainer with Cincinnati going 5-1 ATS in their last six games against the Browns and Cleveland going 0-5 ATS in their last five home games.
Pick: Cincinnati 31 Cleveland 14
Arizona at Miami
When: Sunday, Sept. 11 at 1:00 PM ET
Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, FL
NFL Odds: Arizona +1.5
Analysis: Arizona snapped its two-game losing streak by beating Washington 31-23 this past weekend while covering the NFL betting odds as a 2.5-point home favorite as Carson Palmer tossed three TD passes. Running back David Johnson leads the NFL in total yards from scrimmage and added to his total by rushing 18 times for 84 yards and one score while adding nine catches for an additional 91 yards and another touchdown.
The Miami Dolphins had their six-game winning streak emphatically snapped in their 38-6 blowout loss against Baltimore last weekend while never coming close to covering the spread as a 3.5-point underdog as Ryan Tannehill reverted back to his mediocre ways by tossing three interceptions. For me, this Week 14 pick is a near-lock as I fully expect Arizona to get the SU win and ATS cover. I know the Cardinals have been wildly inconsistent this season, but they also have the better quarterback and head coach in this matchup, not to mention arguably the best all-around offensive player in the league in David Johnson.
While Miami has gone 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven games, the Fins are also just 5-11-1 ATS in their last 17 home games. I say forget about Arizona’s uninspiring 1-5 SU and ATS marks in their last six road games and simply go along with the 56 percent of public bettors that like Arizona to get it done in this Week 14 Inter-conference clash.
Pick: Arizona 27 Miami 21
