Happy New Year everyone, as we return from vacation with our Week 18 Picks podcast.
Hope everyone had a swell Christmas and that Santa brought you the gift of winning your NFL Fantasy pool. If you didn’t welcome to the sucky club, but that doesn’t mean that there still isn’t plenty of value in some bets, fantasy and more.
Week 18 picks can be tricky, since some teams are playing for everything, and a lot of teams are playing for nothing. When looking at game picks and predictions, there are numerous factors that can motivate a team from getting tape for a new team next year, to not wanting to hear home town boo’s one last time.
Wade and Ryan are over the lag of the jet, and ready to pop out their Week 18 picks. Remember that there are two Saturday games on as well, so saddle up for a weekend of NFL fun.
If you want to tickle yourself with the podcast of all the picks, and listen to the boys hash out their picks, just click on the link here, or find us on Apple, Spotify, etc.
Saturday
Texans (9-7) vs -3 Colts (9-7) +47.5
There are two games on Saturday, but we’re only going to touch on the first one in this article, as there are so many other games to look at than a listless and resting Ravens Steelers game.
The Texans have CJ Stroud back and the kid is cooking again. Despite losing some of his top receivers to injury, CJ might be able to get that magic back, and put himself in the chat of rookie of the year once again.
The Colts have had a good run after losing their new QB at the start of the year, but Minshew mania has dimmed in Indy. Shave off your moustaches kids, that was so Movember. It doesn’t help that the O line is soft, and aside from Pittman-the wide receivers are pretty inconsistent. Colts are favoured by 3 at home, but how motivated will they be in this contest?
Ryan likes the Texans in an upset, with CJ being too much for Indianapolis in the final week of the year.
Wade is also taking the Texans in an upset here, and expects CJ and Schultz to have some big connections and overs in this game.
Ryan-Texans 27 Colts 25
Wade-Texans 26 Colts 24
Sunday
Falcons (7-9) vs -3 Saints (7-9) +42.5
The Falcons have almost found themselves in a playoff spot despite the bone-headed play calling of Arthur Smith throughout the season. With the moustache gone, the Falcons have been running again, as well as tightening up their run D to keep them in games. Maybe not last week against the Bears, but in their division, they know they have to win.
Carr and the Saints are like watching parents get divorced in a busy restaurant, while the kids sit there in silent. What the hell is going on? Are you guys talking? Derek has been inconsistent, and the defence struggles to contain without Lattimore in the line-up. Final game of the season, Who ‘dat, day, dot, doh!
Ryan has the Saints to march in at home, and upset Arthur and the birds.
Wade thinks that if the Falcons just run it double-headed, they can win the game, and get the upset.
Ryan-Saints 22 Falcons 17
Wade-Falcons 23 Saints 21
Bears (7-9) vs -3 Packers (8-8) +45.5
Where did these Bears come from? With Montez Sweat heating up the defence, Justin Fields auditioning for his future, and the first pick in the 2024 Draft, Chicago is doing fun football.
Things are looking bright for next season, with plenty of options to look at, and a solid base to build on.
Just gotta beat those pesky Packers at Lambeau first.
Green Bay has been menopausal this season, showing hot flashes of brilliance, and then cold discomfort and nagging questions about the future. Is Jordan Love the man of the future? He sure seems like it some times, and then he makes incredibly dumb plays consistently.
Wade of course is taking his Bears to beat up another good win here. Chicago has been on a roll, and with a nemesis match-up against the Packers, the Bears will look to grab the last win, and ruin the Packers playoff hopes.
Ryan originally wanted to choose the Packers, until his senses regained, and he chose the Bears. He can’t trust Love, but who can really?
Ryan-Bears 23 Packers 21
Wade-Bears 28 Packers 21
That’s it for our Week 18 Picks podcast, make sure that you follow us on Facebook, Insta, and X.