The NFC table-top slobber knocker between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles is the unimpeachable highlight of matchweek 14 but with that game too close to call our NFL predictions cast their eyes elsewhere – in the direction of doughty defences and a big-margin-win machine.
NFL Week 14 predictions
Patriots @ Steelers – Under 30.5 points @ 1/1
Rams Under 15.5 points vs Ravens – 29/20
49ers (-13.5) to beat Seahawks @ 6/5
Bet on the latest NFL odds at Betzone
More misery in the offing for pathetic Pats against stingy Steelers defence
Things are going from bad to worse for the 2-10 New England Patriots, who have lost their last five outings and scored seven points or less in each of their last three, culminating in a shutout loss against the Chargers on home soil last time out.
Bill Belichick’s side average just 11.80 points on the road this season vs 14.83 in Foxborough so there’s every chance they may fail to improve on that humiliating total in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers have given up 13 points or less twice in their last three games and that dogged defence has been vital to keeping them competitive given they’ve scored less than 20 in six of their last nine games.
Tip: Patriots @ Steelers – Under 30.5 points @ 1/1
More value backing Baltimore to keep Rams points down than cover the spread
Only the Dallas Cowboys (25.17) and the Miami Dolphins (21.4) have a bigger positive differential between average home points scored and conceded per game this season than the Ravens (15.17).
However, the 10/11 about backing John Harbaugh’s side with a -7.5 handicap is readily passed over against a Rams outfit that have won their last three. Instead, we’re siding with the Baltimore defence to limit the visitors to under 15.5 points for a return of 29/20.
The Ravens average precisely 15.5 points conceded per game at the M&T Bank Stadium this term and have limited the opposition to 10 points or less in five of their nine victories. They can do so again against a visiting offence that have notched scores in the teens in five of their last 10 games.
Tip: Rams Under 15.5 points vs Ravens – 29/20
San Francisco record gives them great chance over covering the alternative spread
The 49ers are -10.5 favourites for the visit of the Seattle Seahawks but such has been their superiority in the majority of their nine wins this season that setting the bar a little higher in search of a richer reward is in order.
San Fran are 6/5 to win by 14 points-plus having claimed eight of their nine victories this term by a margin of at least 13. A 42-19 victory away to the previously 10-1 Eagles last time out shows they haven’t just been bullying cannon fodder either.
Seattle have taken L’s in four of their last five games including when going down 13-31 when the 49ers visited them back in matchweek 12 and should succumb in similar fashion once more.
