NFL Week 13 Predictions, Picks, and Betting Tips

Our NFL Week 13 predictions, picks, and betting tips for all games are on this page. This week, our Top Ten NFL Power Rankings are on our predictions page as well. This is a break from last week and the previous weeks this season, where our power rankings were a stand-alone article. They are useful to look at when making predictions so both the rankings and the chart of picks can be found below.

NFL Week 13 Preview: Normal Scheduling Resumes

NFL Week 13 will follow a normal schedule. There are 13 games involving 26 teams, meaning six teams have byes for the week (noted below). There is one Thursday Night Football game (update: Dallas beat Seattle 41-35), seven Sunday early games, three Sunday afternoon games, and one Sunday Night Football game. The week will end with one game on Monday Night Football. None of the games will be played outside of the USA.

What teams have a bye in NFL Week 13?

The six teams that have a bye in NFL Week 13 are the Baltimore Ravens, the Buffalo Bills, the Chicago Bears, the Las Vegas Raiders, the Minnesota Vikings, and the New York Giants. There are no teams that are coming off of a bye. All 32 teams in the NFL were scheduled for games in Week 12. That does mean that no one will have a huge advantage in terms of rest. However, perhaps the teams that played on Thursday in Week 12 will enter Week 13 just a little bit more chipper.

Week 13 Top Ten NFL Power Rankings

The top team in our Top Ten NFL Power Rankings has been the Philadelphia Eagles for a number of weeks now. They cheated death in Week 12, kicking almost a 60-yard field to force overtime against Buffalo, surrendering an FG to open overtime, and then marching downfield for a game-winning TD. They will remain our No. 1 team with adjustments to the other teams below.

1. Philadelphia Eagles: 10-1 (no change)
2. Baltimore Ravens: 9-3 (no change)
3. Kansas City Chiefs: 8-3 (no change)
4. San Francisco 49ers: 8-3 (no change)
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: 8-3 (+1 with road win at Houston)
6. Dallas Cowboys: 8-3 (+3 with 35-point spread)
7. Miami Dolphins: 8-3 (+1 with a modest win)
8. Detroit Lions: 8-3 (-3 with a 7-point home loss to an unranked team)
9. Denver Broncos 6-5 (new entrant following win over Cleveland)
10. Cleveland Browns: 7-4 (-2 with big-spread loss to unranked team)

Bubble teams: Houston Texans at 6-5, Pittsburgh Steelers at 7-4

These power rankings are used as food for thought when looking at future games. However, they are more of an assessment of what has taken place as opposed to what will happen in the future. For instance, Cleveland is a team that might struggle to stay high in our power rankings. But for the time being, their previous results still earn them a spot.

At this point in the season, momentum can be factored in. Denver makes our Top Ten despite a worse record than Pittsburgh. Denver has won five straight. Also, two of their five wins have come at the expense of ranked teams, Cleveland and KC.

Monster Games: Best Games of NFL Week 13

There are a lot of good-looking games in NFL Week 13. If you were to look at games involving premium Super Bowl contenders, then the San Francisco 49ers vs Philadelphia Eagles game looks like the best match of Week 13. That is the No. 4 team in our power rankings on the road against the No. 1 team.

Seattle Seahawks vs Dallas Cowboys: Injury Report

The injury report for the Thursday Night Football game came out on Monday (first edition). There will be updates on Tuesday and Wednesday as well. Kenneth Walker III is on the injury report for the Seahawks as a DNP on Monday. He is considered doubtful for the upcoming game. With a short week for rest, injuries are a bigger deal for teams that play on Thursday. They have fewer days to recover.

Dallas has shortened from -7.5 to -9.0 (bet365) between Sunday and Monday. With all the scoring they’ve accomplished this season, the OVER for total points looks like the best bet. The OVER started at 46.0 and we went with that. It has since budged to 47.5.

NFL Week 13 Predictions and Picks

The chart below will turn into a table of results as the week goes by. You can see the results from NFL Week 12. Also, you can see how our betting tips did last week.

NFL Week 13 Preview

49ers vs Eagles

The Eagles have a huge injury report and the 49ers do not. What looked like the best game of the week heading into Week 13 now looks like it could be a disappointment. Take the 49ers to cover -2.5 with the chance that Philadelphia might save their soldiers for another battle, a privilege afforded to teams who are 10-1.

Panthers vs Buccaneers

Frank Reich is fired and NFL bettors have to be asking themselves, “Now what?” Will the Carolina Panthers still cash for their anti-backers? The Panthers were 18 to 1 to have the worst record this season and have so far delivered for those who bet against them. The right move for the game at hand is to take the OVER for total points. It is low at just 37.0 and the fired coach could have some positive effects on the team.

Cardinals vs Steelers

This is the ugly game of the week from a betting perspective. There’s nothing in the main markets that really jumps out. But Pittsburgh on the moneyline is the right move at -260. The Steelers look really good on their injury report and that means their defense should be keeping the Arizona Cardinals in check.

Broncos vs Texans

The Denver Broncos vs Houston Texans is actually a showdown? That would have been hard to believe heading into the NFL season. However, Houston has done well behind their rookie QB, CJ Stroud. Meanwhile, Denver started to click under their new coach just over a month ago. The winner of this huge game will be 7-5 and right in the thick of things for the NFL playoffs.

Jerry Jeudy was on the injury report for Denver but the Texans have their share of DNPs as per the injury report publications. Bettors should be taking the Broncos to win here following a bit of a dip in Stroud’s play in recent weeks, just after everyone started mentioning him as an MVP candidate.

Dolphins vs Commanders

The Miami Dolphins could use a statement game here. The spread of -9.5 looks pretty small. Even with Miami’s injury concerns this week, Washington can be opposed without much hesitation. The problem in Washington, quite simply, is Ron Rivera. But Miami believers need to be worried about the team’s constant injury problems. You do not want any money on Miami for playoff success this season.

Colts vs Titans

Jonathan Taylor is on the injury report and he is doubtful for this Week 13 game. However, the Tennessee Titans have their QB Will Levis as questionable for the game. That could bring Ryan Tannehill back into the saddle. He has not played since October 15th and the rest might have done him well. Take the Titans at +1.0.

Chargers vs Patriots

This game is between two major underachievers this season. The total points have been set at just 40.5. New England has problems with their QB. The LA Chargers have problems with the supporting cast. You have to like this game to go UNDER 40.5.

Lions vs Saints

There is definitely something not to like about Detroit and the way they’ve either lost or squeaked by in some of their games since their bye week. They are on the road at -4.0 as favorites. Also, Detroit is 4-1 when visiting this season. You have to like Detroit’s chances of having a bounce-back game against a New Orleans team that didn’t have a great injury report on Wednesday.

Falcons vs Jets

Both of these teams have quarterback issues. Tim Boyle had nothing last week for the Jets, in fact, NY should have stuck with Zach Wilson. There’s talk of Aaron Rodgers coming back sooner than anticipated but will it be too late?

Atlanta’s Desmond Ridder has had a disappointing season. However, what stands out with this game is that the total points are really low at just 34.0. Bettors must be anticipating a punt fest. But there’s a chance that Boyle’s second chance is better than his first. Take the OVER for total points. When it’s that low, it’s never out of reach.

Monday Night Football NFL Week 13: Bengals vs Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars are in pretty good shape heading into Week 13. The same can’t be said of the Cincinnati Bengals. Their season is currently hanging by a thread as just a 5-6 team that’s already down their QB1. Jacksonville noted a lot of players on their injury report but at least a lot of them were on there for purposes related to rest.

The big concern is related to Jake Browning. His passer rating was acceptable last week at 96.2 but he took four sacks and only rushed for nine yards. His QBR was only 22.5 last week, which was really low. You have to know that the Bengals have worked all week to try and solve the problems as they try to salvage their season. However, the Jags are a bad team to face when you are not playing smoothly. Look for the Jags to win this one by ten.

What to Consider When Betting Early in NFL Football

When you are betting on games in NFL football for a target week ahead of the conclusion of the previous week, then you could get burned by the injury report. Conversely, the injury report might help you out. For example, Week 12 is not complete at the first time of writing this page. If you bet a team in Week 13, then the complexion of your bet could change if the team you back loses their QB1 to injury in Week 12. Conversely, your odds get juicier if the team you oppose develops injuries.

On that note, if you are targeting Week 13, then bet against teams that look like they have some scheduling luck going against them. You have to like Green Bay on early odds. They played on Thursday in Week 12, they came away with a win, and they don’t play again until Sunday night in Week 13. That means they will have nine full days off between games, giving plenty of time for all the minor aches and pains to heal. Conversely, KC plays on Sunday in Week 12 still. There’s a chance that they are worse for wear after that game. So you can oppose KC on that basis — not to mention that Green Bay has looked a little better lately while KC hasn’t put up that many great spreads this season.

The opening spread on GB is +7.0 (bet365) (-110). For a home game on lots of rest, that looks like a very good pick.