After four winners last week, Paul Higham returns with three more top tips for Sunday's Week 16 action in the NFL as Baltimore look to prove they're top dogs.
Recommended bets
2pts Ravens (-8.5) to beat the Browns at Evens
1pt Eagles to beat the Cowboys at 11/10
1pt Kansas City Chiefs -4.5 and Over 46.5 Total Match Points at 5/2
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Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns
It’s the NFL’s big surprise package against the league’s biggest disappointment as the high-flying Ravens face the overhyped Browns in Cleveland with Baltimore on a 10-game winning streak and looking to tie-up the top seed in the AFC.
That home field advantage could be huge, so Baltimore will be going all-out to sew that up, not to mention exact revenge for the Browns actually beating them earlier in the season. From there Ravens QB has been compiling one of the best seasons in history as seems certain to be named the MVP – while Cleveland has flattered to deceive but has ultimately disappointed.
Jackson has been phenomenal when leading this all-powerful running game, which has piled up 2,830 rushing yards this season (a whopping 772 yards more than anyone else) and could well set a new single-season record for team rushing yards. The Browns have stunk against the run in the last month, so this could get ugly quickly.
The Ravens are Super Bowl favourites for a reason, as they’ve blown away some of the top teams in the league – hammering the Patriots, Seahawks, Rams and Texans from between 17-39 points. They run over the opposition, get ahead, and let their defence do the rest. They’ll be far too good for Cleveland.
Kansas City Chiefs @ Chicago Bears
The Bears’ decision to draft quarterback Mitchell Trubisky in 2017 ahead of Patrick Mahomes comes into sharp focus here as the reigning MVP comes to Chicago with the AFC West champs to show fans in the Windy City just what they could’ve won.
Mahomes has fired the Chiefs to four straight wins and needs two touchdowns at Soldier Field to reach 75 passing scores in just his 30th game – that would eclipse the great Dan Marino for the quickest in history. How does that draft feel again Chicago fans?
To make matters worse, Chicago are out of play-off contention and although at times that can lift the pressure, usually it means just that extra percent or two is missing and, trying to stop the Chiefs, that’s a drop-off you just can’t afford.
If Chicago are to get anything out of the game, they’ll have to do it on the ground, which in itself is a damning indictment of Trubisky’s quarterback play. With the Chiefs defence as it is, though, there can be enough joy for both sides to see them just about get over the points total.
Best bet: Kansas City Chiefs -4.5 and Over 46.5 Total Match Points 5/2
Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles
The one all-powerful NFC East is now the poor relation in quality terms to the rest of the league, with this clash between two 7-7 teams being a title decider in a division that nobody seems to want to win!
The Cowboys will clinch the title with a win and are slight favourites to do so but there are a few reasons why Philly are worth a chance - firstly due to the ferocious atmosphere the home crowd will whip up for this divisional showdown. There’s also Dak Prescott’s injury worry and Jason Garrett’s obvious coaching flaws that could be exposed by Super Bowl winner Doug Pederson in a one-off big game.
Carson Wentz has been playing well and tight end Zach Ertz can cause the Cowboys real problems in their coverage, where they largely use run-stopping linebackers who will struggle against Ertz’s ability to get open both in short and long pass situations.
It’s certainly a close call, but at odds-against at home it’s worth taking the team that still has plenty of Super Bowl winners in their ranks to win this big game.
Best bet: Eagles to beat the Cowboys at 11/10
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