Dallas Cowboys

NFL odds: Raiders, Patriots both favored as AFC race heats up in Week 13

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The Raiders (9–2) would be the second seed in the AFC if the playoffs started today, but they still do not seem to be getting much respect from oddsmakers at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.

The Raiders sit atop the AFC West but would lose a tiebreaker with the Patriots right now for the No. 1 seed, as they prepare to host the Bills (6–5) as three-point favorites on the NFL point spreads in Week 13.

Oakland has gone 4–1 against the spread in its last five games, and they are 9–2 ATS in the past 11 meetings with Buffalo. However, the Raiders are just 1–8 ATS in their last nine home games while the Bills are 5-0-2 ATS in their previous seven road matchups against teams that have winning records.

The Patriots have a much easier opponent this week at home after edging the Jets 22–17 in a tough divisional game last Sunday. They will host the Rams (4–7) as 13.5-point chalk, although it is still up in the air whether or not tight end Rob Gronkowski will be on the field due to a back injury.

New England has gone 4–1 against the spread in its past five meetings with the Rams, but this point of the season has been unlucky for the team’s attempts to cover over the past decade—the Patriots have a dismal 1-8-1 ATS mark in their last 10 Week 13 games.

The Jets will get some extra time off following that loss to the Pats before they host the Colts (5–6) in the Week 13 Monday night matchup. The problem is, the Colts will have even more rest, since they last played on Thanksgiving night, a 28–7 loss to the Steelers.

Indianapolis was without starting quarterback Andrew Luck, who is expected to return after suffering a concussion in Week 11 against the Titans. The Colts are one-point favorites and have gone 2–7 ATS in the past nine meetings with the Jets, who are 6-0-1 ATS in their last seven December games.

The Steelers (6–5) have won two in a row since falling to the NFC-leading Cowboys (10–1) in one of the most entertaining games of the season in Week 11, and they will face a big step up in competition when they host the Giants (8–3).

If it was not for the Cowboys and their 10-game winning streak, more bettors would be talking about the Giants, who have quietly won six straight. New York is a 5.5-point underdog at Pittsburgh but has covered three of the previous four meetings.

Dallas will kick off Week 13 by visiting the disappointing Vikings (6–5) in the Thursday night game. The Vikings have dropped five of six following a 5–0 start, and they are 3.5-point home underdogs against the Cowboys, who are just 2–7 SU and 1–8 ATS in the teams’ past nine meetings.

The Lions (7–4) lead the NFC North after edging Minnesota 16–13 on Thanksgiving, and they will travel to New Orleans to take on the Saints (5–6) as 5.5-point road underdogs this week. New Orleans is 5–1 ATS in the past six meetings.

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