For many teams that remain in the NFL playoff picture heading into Week 18, the math is complicated. However, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking at a win-and-you're-in scenario heading into a matchup with the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. The Panthers are guaranteed to finish with the worst record in the NFL, but don't own the rights to their first-round pick, so they'll try to play spoiler against an NFC South rival.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET and the Buccaneers are 4.5-point favorites in the Week 18 NFL odds via the SportsLine consensus. Which side should you pick that game and what other Week 18 NFL spreads should you target as you place your NFL bets? All of the Week 18 NFL lines are listed below, and SportsLine's advanced computer model has all the NFL betting advice and NFL predictions you need to make the best Week 18 NFL picks now.
The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up well over $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception. The model enters Week 18 of the 2023 NFL season on an incredible 181-129 run on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season. It is also on a 35-21 roll on top-rated NFL picks since Week 7 of last season.
The model also ranked in the top 10 on NFLPickWatch four of the past six years on straight-up NFL picks and beat more than 94% of CBS Sports Football Pick'em players four times during that span. Anyone who has followed it is way up.
Now, it has turned its attention to the latest Week 18 NFL odds and locked in picks for every NFL matchup. Head here to see every pick.
Top Week 18 NFL predictions
We can tell you one of the model's Week 18 NFL picks is the Lions (-4) cover the spread at home versus the Vikings on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. Detroit has already clinched the NFC North but could still move up to the No. 2 seed in the NFC with a win and losses by Dallas and Philadelphia, and they've already announced that they're not planning on resting their starters.
The Lions have covered in their last six games against the Vikings, including in a 30-24 victory two weeks ago when Minnesota still had hopes of winning the division. Jahmyr Gibbs piled up 100 yards from scrimmage and scored twice while Amon-Ra St. Brown had 12 catches for 106 yards and a touchdown in the win. Ultimately, the model is predicting another strong day for the Detroit offense, predicting the Lions cover the spread in nearly 60% of simulations.See which other teams to pick here.
Another one of its Week 18 NFL predictions: The Packers (-3) cover against the Bears in a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff at Lambeau Field on Sunday. Scenarios exist where Green Bay makes the NFL playoff bracket with a loss on Sunday, but the mathematics are simple: If they earn a victory, they are in.
The Packers will take on a red-hot Bears squad that has won four of its last five games. However, the Packers have psychology on their side, winning the last nine in the series. That's a big reason why the model is predicting that Green Bay covers the spread in well over 50% of simulations.See which other teams to pick here.
How to make Week 18 NFL picks
The model has also made the call on who wins and covers in every other game on the Week 18 NFL schedule and just revealed four teams that outright win nearly 70% of the time.You can only get every pick for every game at SportsLine.
So what NFL picks can you make with confidence, and which four teams should you lock in now? Check out the latest NFL odds below, then visit SportsLine to see which teams win and cover the spread, all from a proven computer model that has returned well over $7,000 since its inception, and find out.
Week 18 NFL odds, lines, spreads
Get full NFL picks at SportsLine
Sunday, Jan. 7
Buccaneers at Panthers (+4.5, 36.5)
Browns at Bengals (-7, 37.5)
Vikings at Lions (-3.5, 46)
Jets at Patriots (-1.5, 30.5)
Falcons at Saints (-3, 42)
Jaguars at Titans (+3.5, 41)
Seahawks at Cardinals (+3, 47.5)
Bears at Packers (-3, 45)
Broncos at Raiders (-3, 37)
Chiefs at Chargers (-3.5, 35)
Eagles at Giants (+5.5, 42)
Rams at 49ers (-4, 41)
Cowboys at Commanders (+13, 47)
Bills at Dolphins (+2.5, 48.5)
