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NFL Week 18 Early Odds, Picks & Predictions (2023)

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There are five available playoff spots heading into Week 18 of the NFL season!

Which teams can hold on and earn another game via the playoffs?

Let’s talk about it below. Here are my favorite bets for Week 18.

Early NFL Week 18 Best Bets

All wagers are 1 unit | Odds courtesy of BetMGM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers

The Buccaneers are sitting at 8-8 on the season. However, a win against the Panthers in Week 18 would put them into the playoffs as the NFC South Champions.

Tampa Bay struggled with the Saints in Week 17. The pressure got to them, and the run game lacked. But towards the end of the game, Baker Mayfield hit some bombs down the field and got the Buccaneers back in the game for the time being. He almost returned to make the game a one-possession game, except Chris Godwin was out of bounds after he caught the two-point conversion to make it an eight-point game.

Either way, I was impressed with the fight out of the Buccaneers towards the end of the game. I think they’ll add that momentum against a two-win Carolina squad.

The Panthers fell to C.J. Beathard and the Jaguars, 26-0. The season is ultimately over for the Panthers, who won’t even get their No. 1 pick after wasting it in a trade for Bryce Young last year.

Let’s take the Buccaneers in a blowout.

Bet: Buccaneers -5.5 (-110)

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans

The Jaguars haven’t clinched the playoffs yet. They had eight wins in their first 11 games but are now just 9-7 on the year.

To clinch the playoffs, the Jaguars just need to beat the Titans. It’s unclear if Trevor Lawrence can play in this game. However, the Jaguars’ defense looked the best it looked all season in Week 17, holding the Titans to no points.

That was the first game that Lawrence missed in his career. Despite multiple injuries this year, he’s always found a way to play. Therefore, I expect him to try and play in this game.

The last time the Jaguars played the Titans, Jacksonville earned a 34-14 win at home. The Titans gained only 235 yards of total offense, while the Jaguars got close to 400 total yards. Jacksonville also didn’t turn the ball over in that game and added two turnovers of their own.

While the Jaguars are unsure about Lawrence, Will Levis is also injured for the Titans. He suffered a foot injury against Houston. With the season essentially over, the Titans will probably elect to roll with Tannehill and not risk any further injury to Levis.

Therefore, no matter who Jacksonville has at quarterback, I like them to escape on the road with a big statement win.

Bet: Jaguars -5.0 (-110)

Make sure to check out our other best bets for Monday:

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