NFL Week 16 Best Bets and Picks For Saturday, December 24, 2022

Our NFL best bets are 42-17-2 since the season started and we're hoping to stay hot the rest of the way. Check out what we have for the Saturday, December 24 games for Week 16. With Christmas Day making for a weaker Sunday slate, this is a Saturday of NFL action you will want to be in front of a TV for. With that in mind, let's go ahead and find some winners before you all turn your attention to a Sunday filled with incredible NBA games. If you've been reading this column all year, you know you can trust in us to deliver you some good picks that you might not find elsewhere. Also, make sure you check out our Sunday best bets, too! 

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NFL Week 16 Saturday Best Betting Picks and Predictions

Lions vs. Panthers - 1:00PM ET

A lot continues to be made of Jared Goff's inability to perform at a high level in cold weather, but it's hard to worry about that when the Lions continue to win games — and cover in them. Detroit has won six of its last seven games coming into this one, with the team covering in all seven of those contests. Now, the Lions will continue to make a late push for the playoffs when they take on a Panthers team that is rather miserable.

Carolina still has an outside shot at winning the NFC South and sneaking into the playoffs, but the team is coming off of an eight-point loss at home to a Mitchell Trubisky-led Pittsburgh Steelers team. That type of performance makes it very hard to believe that the Panthers have what it takes to win this one. Carolina is also a team that really needs to run the ball effectively in order to stay competitive, but Detroit's rushing defense has been remarkable of late. Also, it isn't hard to imagine a scenario in which the Lions run all over the Panthers, much like Steelers running backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren did last week. 

It should also be pointed out that Detroit is 13-2 against the spread in the second half of the season since Dan Campbell became the team's head coach. 

PICK: Lions -2.5 (-110 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

🏈 Lions vs. Panthers Predictions
📈 Analysis: Lions vs. Panthers

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Giants vs. Vikings - 1:00PM ET

It's hard to find many good things to say about the Giants offense right now, but the team has still scored at least 20 points in each of the last four games. While that's not exactly a high number, you have to assume the team will be able to do a bit more damage than that against a Vikings team that is just 19th in the league in defensive DVOA this season.

Minnesota has given up 35.0 points per game over the last two weeks, and that gives us hope that New York can score at least 24 in this game. That would make it very hard for the Over not to hit, especially considering the Vikings have scored at least 33 points in three of their last six games. 

We also have to mention that the Over is 13-2 when Minnesota has played as a home favorite of 7 or fewer points over the last three seasons. The average total amount scored in those games was 56.1 points per game. With that said, don't be surprised if this turns into a shootout, even if it is a game in which Daniel Jones is one of the two quarterbacks. 

PICK: Over 47.5 (-110 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

🏈 Giants vs. Vikings Predictions
📈 Analysis: Giants vs. Vikings

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Raiders vs. Steelers - 8:15PM ET

The Steelers have won and covered in three of their last four games and they might have made it four in a row had Kenny Pickett not suffered a concussion in the 16-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens two weeks ago. But Pickett is back under center for Pittsburgh this week, which is huge when you consider how awful Trubisky looked. Pickett's return should be a huge boost for a Steelers team that isn't yet eliminated from playoff contention. 

Pittsburgh has been running the ball extremely effectively in recent weeks, as the team has racked up at least 150 rushing yards in three of its last four games. That ground game with Harris and Warren should be electric again this week — assuming Harris is able to shed his questionable tag and play. Pittsburgh's defense has been incredible lately, giving up 17 or fewer points in each of its last four games. That has come against weak competition, but Las Vegas' offense isn't exactly amazing. 

The Steelers should win this game as long as Josh Jacobs doesn't go absolutely wild — which isn't out of the equation given the way he has ran the ball this season. 

PICK: Steelers -2 (-110 at FanDuel Sportsbook)

PROPS: Raiders vs. Steelers Player Props and Touchdowns

🏈 Raiders vs. Steelers Predictions
📈 Analysis: Raiders vs. Steelers