Table of Contents
  1. NFL Week 18 Picks Straight Up & Odds For All 16 Games
  2. NFL Week 18 Picks Straight Up: Chicago Bears ML (-155 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
  3. NFL Week 18 Picks Straight Up: Baltimore Ravens ML (-184 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
  4. How To Bet On NFL Week 18 With The BetMGM Bonus Code & Unlock $150 In Bonus Bets
  5. NFL Week 18 Spreads For All 16 Games Provided By BetMGM Sportsbook

Welcome to our NFL Week 18 Picks Straight Up! Happy New Year and congratulations to any fantasy football champions out there! It is time for the wackiest week of the NFL season: Week 18. With most playoff teams being decided already, key players taking the week off, and very few games with real stakes outside of draft position, this one might be a little tricky to predict! 

So without further ado, it is time to bring you our expert NFL Week 18 Picks Straight Up. Below, you will find my picks, some highlighted matchups, and the odds and spreads for every game this week.

 

 

 

NFL Week 18 Picks Straight Up & Odds For All 16 Games

With Week 18 here, we have some great matchups on paper between all 32 NFL teams! In the following section, you will find my predictions, with the teams I anticipate coming away with a victory highlighted in bold. Odds are courtesy of BetMGM:

 

 

 

NFL Week 18 Picks Straight Up: Chicago Bears ML (-155 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

Despite already clinching both a playoff berth and the division title, head coach Ben Johnson has urged that they are playing to win this game. The two-seed is on the line, this is a revenge game for the performance the Lions had earlier in the season, and Caleb Williams has the chance to be the first-ever 4,000-yard passer for the Chicago Bears. So, of course, Ben Johnson is playing to win. And I think he has a pretty good shot.

These teams are not the same squads as when they met up in Week 2. The Lions' secondary is decimated, their offensive line has regressed, Amon-Ra St. Brown is banged up, and they have been eliminated from the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears have since overcome a 0-2 start to the season, have a top-10 offense, a phenomenal offensive line, and the top defense in the NFL in terms of takeaways. Things have changed substantially since these teams first met, and with so much on the line for Chicago vs. a limping Lions team simply playing for pride, I am shocked that the line is this close. The books continue to sleep on this Bears team, and we can continue to take advantage.

 

 

 

NFL Week 18 Picks Straight Up: Baltimore Ravens ML (-184 at FanDuel Sportsbook)

Potentially the biggest matchup of this week is this one between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Winner takes the AFC North. Last time these two teams faced off, the Steelers came away with a dominant victory thanks to the arm of Aaron Rodgers and the hands of DK Metcalf. Unfortunately for the Steelers, this time around, they will be without a crucial part of that duo due to Metcalf's two-game suspension.

Without Metcalf, the Steelers' passing game was not only unimpressive, but it was borderline anemic, with Rodgers only able to muster up 168 passing yards on 39 attempts last week against the now 4-12 Cleveland Browns. While the Browns' defense is statistically better than the Ravens, I like the Ravens' defense heading into this one because they will not only be facing a Steelers offense without Metcalf, but the Steelers also lost Darnell Washington for the season. Washington has not only established himself as a big (literally) threat in the passing game, but his 6'7, 311lb frame is almost like having another offensive lineman on the field. Without him, I think both the running game and passing game take a hit for the Steelers.

Meanwhile, despite it taking 17 weeks for them to figure it out, the Ravens offense has finally discovered what works for them. FEED DERRICK HENRY. Last game, the Ravens handed the ball off to Henry a whopping 36 times, allowing him to rush for 216 yards and four touchdowns in a crucial 41-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers. Now, in another must-win game, I think the Ravens will lean into this game plan once again. When they last played the Steelers, the Ravens were able to out-rush the Steelers 217 to 34. With an emphasis on Henry and the Steelers' losses on offense, I think we will see a similar result, no matter who is under center for the Ravens, but this time, I think they will be able to pull off the win. 

 

 

 

How To Bet On NFL Week 18 With The BetMGM Bonus Code & Unlock $150 In Bonus Bets

If you want to make the most of our free picks, try signing up to BetMGM with our exclusive bonus code ALARM!

This welcome bonus is straightforward and inclusive, giving you the chance to place wagers on any matchup you like during NFL Week 18. After registering through this offer, simply deposit at least $10 and place a qualifying bet of $10 or more.

As long as you bet at least $10 with your first bet, you're ready to just kick back and root for it to win. If it does, you’ll get $150 in bonus bets, even if you're betting a big favorite like the Jaguars over the Titans! In other words, you’re getting 15/1 odds on anything when you become a new member with our BetMGM bonus code ALARM!

 

 

 

NFL Week 18 Spreads For All 16 Games Provided By BetMGM Sportsbook

We just unveiled our NFL Week 18 picks, and below are the spread odds for each matchup, provided by BetMGM Sportsbook:

  • Panthers +2.5 vs. Buccaneers -2.5
  • Seahawks -1.5 vs. 49ers +1.5
  • Packers +7.5 vs. Vikings -7.5
  • Titans +11.5 vs. Jaguars -11.5
  • Colts +10.5 vs. Texans -10.5
  • Cowboys -3.5 vs. Giants +3.5 
  • Browns +7.5 vs. Bengals -7.5
  • Saints +3.5 vs. Falcons -3.5
  • Dolphins +10.5 vs. Patriots -10.5
  • Cardinals +7.5 vs. Rams -7.5 
  • Lions +3 vs. Bears -3
  • Commanders +4 vs. Eagles -4
  • Jets +7 vs. Bills -7
  • Chiefs -5.5 vs. Raiders +5.5
  • Chargers +12.5 vs Broncos -12.5 
  • Ravens -3.5 vs. Steelers +3.5 

Be sure to come back and check out our NFL Week 18 Picks Against the Spread or take advantage of our BetMGM bonus code ALARM by signing up now!