Wounded Lions could be dangerous opponents for Rams

Best bet
Detroit +10

Some of this season's leading lights have straightforward-looking assignments this week, but that means some outsiders have been handed hefty handicap starts which they are capable of covering.

The best bet of the bunch looks to be in Detroit where the Lions will be looking to make up for their Thanksgiving defeat to NFC North rivals Chicago against the Los Angeles Rams, who have lost just one of their 11 games this season. Sean McVay's side regained the lead in the NFC playoff race when New Orleans lost at Dallas on Thursday.

As their record suggests, the Rams look one of the strongest teams in the league and they are dynamic enough on both sides of the ball to suggest they have an excellent chance of reaching February's Super Bowl in Atlanta.

However, while they have been posting plenty of points - only Kansas City can better their average of 35.4 points per game - they have not been winning by huge margins.

Just one of their last seven victories has been by ten points or more and they face a team who have bloodied a few noses at Ford Field this season.

Green Bay, New England and Carolina have all left Michigan with nothing to show for their efforts and the Lions had plenty of opportunities to beat the Bears last time out only to make mistakes at crucial times in a 23-16 loss.

It may be fanciful to suggest that the Rams will lose on the road again, three weeks after they went down in New Orleans, but they could be made to battle all the way and the Lions are in all-or-nothing mode as they try to avoid finishing with a whimper.

Next best
Baltimore

Two teams who are moving in opposite directions meet in Georgia and the visitors from Maryland can see off Atlanta.

The Ravens are keeping close tabs on AFC South leaders Pittsburgh after consecutive wins over Cincinnati and Oakland and their offensive play has been given a new dimension with rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson providing an additional ground option. Unheralded running back Gus Edwards has posted 118 and 115 rushing yards in his two starts and will be a threat if he's not slowed by an ankle injury.

Meanwhile, Atlanta have failed to score 20 points in any of their last three games and are on the brink of elimination from the playoff race. They have already lost to the other three AFC North teams - Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Cleveland - and could be set for an unwanted clean sweep.

Best points bet
Under 55.5 points in Kansas City at Oakland

The Chiefs were not far away from scoring 56 points on their own in their last game, an epic 54-51 defeat by the Rams, but they shouldn't need anything like that number to see off their AFC West rivals Oakland.

Kansas City are the heaviest scorers in the league but they are going to have bigger fish to fry in the next couple of weeks as they look to claim the division, with home games against Baltimore and the LA Chargers followed by a trip to Seattle before they face the Raiders again in the final week.

So don't be surprised if they take their foot off the gas as they approach the end of their game in California.

Only Buffalo and Arizona have scored fewer points than the Raiders this season so it is unrealistic to expect them to contribute heavily to the final score.

The Chiefs' own threat has been downgraded by the loss of running back Kareem Hunt, but his replacement Spencer Ware is a capable performer.

Best player bet
C Newton to score a touchdown

Carolina fell to a 30-27 defeat to Seattle last week but running back Christian McCaffrey put in another thrilling display, scoring two touchdowns and topping 100 yards both through the air and on the ground.

The Panthers' opponents Tampa Bay will need to keep him in close check and that should allow talismanic quarterback Cam Newton to take matters into his own hands close to the goal line.

Newton has scored four TDs already this season and is capable of adding to that tally against a team who have conceded 43 touchdowns this season, more than any team in the league.

Recommendations
Detroit +10
2pts 9-10 Betfair
Baltimore
1pt 21-20 general
Under 55.5 points in Kansas City at Oakland
2pts 10-11 Betway, Hills
C Newton to score a touchdown
1pt 7-4 Sky Bet

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