NFL Week 18 Computer Picks: Bengals Can Still Make The Playoffs

We’re headed to the NFL’s final week of the regular season. Many teams are sitting starters and waiting for the playoffs. Other teams are fighting for a playoff spot, and some have waived the white flag. With all of that said, I used the AI Model to find the best value on the NFL board for Week 18. Let’s get right to it! 

Picks Summary

• Ravens -17.5 (-110) at Bet365
• Bengals ML (-125) at Caesars Sportsbook
• Lions ML (-155) at Bet365

Cleveland Browns vs. Baltimore Ravens 

Saturday, January 04, 2025 – 04:30 PM ET at M&T Bank Stadium 

The AI Model believes the Ravens will add a 32-13 win over the Browns in Week 18. Ultimately, a win against the Browns would give the Ravens the AFC North division. The Ravens won’t rest starters, so the Ravens will likely dominate in this game. Meanwhile, on Bet365, the Ravens are -17.5. They’d cover with a 32-13 win. 

A Big Game For The Ravens 

The Ravens want to clinch the AFC North on Saturday against the Cleveland Browns.  

For one, the Browns already beat the Ravens at their home earlier this season. But the Browns have since made a change at quarterback, putting Dorian Thompson-Robinson as the starter to close out the season. 

Thompson-Robinson has looked way worse than Winston. He’s had no touchdowns and six interceptions during the year while carrying an 18.9 QBR.

The Ravens, who have struggled against the pass throughout the season, won’t have many issues stopping Thompson-Robinson. He’s completed below 60% of his passes in both of his last two starts. 

Baltimore’s Offense Is Insane 

The Ravens have scored over 30 points per game behind Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. 

On the other hand, the Browns have scored less than 16 points per game. The AI Model is like a massive differential in this game.  

It makes sense. The Browns have a differential of -9.5, and the Ravens have a differential of +8.25. That all gets to about a 17-point differential. Baltimore should be able to win a three-touchdown, knowing just how bad Cleveland has been at tackling and in the secondary.  

Take the Ravens at -17.5. It’s a wild spread, but still reasonable.   

NFL Pick: Ravens -17.5 (-110) at Bet365 (check our Bet365 Review)

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers 

Saturday, January 04, 2025 – 08:00 PM ET at Acrisure Stadium

The AI Model likes the Bengals to escape the Steelers on the road, 24-23. You can find the Bengals at -125 via Caesars, which is good value.  

Cincinnati Can Still Make The Playoffs! 

The Bengals need a lot of help and a win on Saturday to make the playoffs. But they’re still in the race, so we’ll get another classic performance from Joe Burrow.  

Joe Burrow would be an NFL MVP candidate if the Bengals were in the playoff hunt all year. He’s thrown for 4,641 yards, 42 touchdowns, and has only eight interceptions this season. 

The Bengals have won four consecutive games and will now face a Steelers team that has lost three consecutive games. The Bengals have all the momentum heading into this one, and the Steelers have already clinched a playoff spot.  

Pittsburgh’s Defense Looks Bad 

The Pittsburgh Steelers have allowed at least 27 points in four of the last five games. That’s not typical for the Steelers, but it proves just how lackluster they’ve been in the second half of the season. 

Pittsburgh began the season red hot but hasn’t lived up to expectations to close the year. Take the Bengals at -125 NFL odds.

NFL Pick: Bengals ML (-125) at Caesars Sportsbook (check our Caesars Sportsbook Review)

Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions 

Sunday, January 05, 2025 – 08:20 PM ET at Ford Field 

Our AI Model suggests the Lions will defeat the Vikings, 28-27, at home to close out the regular season. This would give the Lions the top seed in the NFC. You can find Detroit at -155 via Bet365, which is clearly the best option. 

The Lions Did The Right Thing! 

The Detroit Lions played for nothing last week against the 49ers. However, the team’s head coach, Dan Campbell insisted he’d play his starters and try to win the game.  

The Lions did just that. The starters played the entire game, nobody got injured, and the Lions helped boost their ego.  

But now some suggest that the Lions, who played their starters in that game, will have a hard time beating the Vikings this week.  

That’s blasphemous. Detroit, like all teams, played a regular season game and will now prepare for another regular season game. They’ll be fine. At 14-2, the Lions can earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a win in this game.  

Can Minnesota’s Defense Hold It Together? 

The Minnesota Vikings have allowed just 18.81 points per game this season. However, I’d say the defense hasn’t been as good as Detroit’s this year. It’s an average defense with a quality run defense, but it’s nothing the Lions can’t beat.  

After all, Detroit scored nearly 33 points per game and added at least 34 points in each of their last four games. The Lions should outscore the Vikings and escape with a win. 

Let’s back the AI Model and take the Lions at -155 on the moneyline.   

NFL Pick: Lions ML (-155) at Bet365

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