Free NFL betting tips, picks and predictions: Week 17 handicap betting and touchdown scorers

NFL best bets: Week 17

1pt Green Bay Packers (-4) to beat the Chicago Bears at 10/11

1pt Detroit Lions (+6) to beat the Minnesota Vikings at evens

1pt Brandin Cooks (Texans) 100+ receiving yards and to score a Touchdown at 4/1

1pt Philip Rivers (Colts) 300+ passing yards and T.Y. Hilton (Colts) 100+ receiving yards at 13/2

For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record

Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears betting tips

• When: Sunday at 21:25
• TV: NFL Redzone on Sky Sports Mix/Free to watch on Sky Bet

The Chicago Bears have a lot riding on this game, as a win will see them safely through to the Play-Offs – a remarkable achievement when you consider they only put an end to a six-game losing streak a few weeks ago.

However, the visit of Green Bay is a frightening prospect. The Bears will have been hoping this week 17 clash was a dead rubber for the Packers but, as things stand, Aaron Rodgers’ side need a win at Soldier Field to secure their status as the NFC’s #1 seed in the postseason.

Despite some better Chicago form of late, this puts Green Bay firmly in the driving seat here. Rodgers has all but secured his third NFL MVP Award at this point due to some of the best quarterback play of his career, and the ground game of Green Bay has impressed all season long.

Throw in a strong defence and a receiver in Davante Adams who has cemented his status as one of the league’s top three wide-outs, and this game looks a daunting prospect for a Bears team that has consistently faltered offensively this season.

The Packers holding home-field advantage in the Play-Offs is massive, and you just know Rodgers will relish the chance of securing it at the home of Green Bay’s oldest rivals.

Best Bet: Green Bay Packers (-4) to beat the Chicago Bears at 10/11

Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions betting tips

• When: Sunday at 18:00 GMT
• TV: NFL Redzone on Sky Sports Mix/Free to watch on Sky Bet

Don’t expect a classic in this one, as the two other teams in the NFC North go head-to-head in a game with minimal implications.

Both sides are out of the Play-Off race and the players on the field will have more than an eye on the 2021 season when they hit the gridiron on Sunday. For that reason, I don’t expect the favoured Vikings to dish up a blowout, and instead I’d rather take a chance on the Lions.

Detroit have home-field advantage in the game, rookie running back D’Andre Swift is set for a big performance and Dalvin Cook – the Vikings’ premier attacking threat – will not be suiting up.

Plus, there’s the added intrigue of Matt Stafford.

There’s a feeling around the league that this could be the Lions’ quarterback final game with the franchise that drafted him over a decade ago, and he’ll be keen to end things on a good note if that is to be the case. He’s been beaten up by opposing defences this year, but Stafford is a supreme competitor and he will certainly take to the field on Sunday if he possibly can.

A vintage Stafford performance will consolidate trade interest from other teams around the league, so I expect the former Georgia Bulldog to do all he can to put himself in the shop window on Sunday.

Best Bet: Detroit Lions (+6) to beat the Minnesota Vikings at evens

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Indianapolis Colts betting tips

• When: Sunday at 21:25 GMT
• TV: NFL Redzone on Sky Sports Mix/Free to watch on Sky Bet

The Colts head into their week 17 clash with the Jaguars with very clear intentions. Essentially they have to win the game – which they should – and pray that one of the other four Play-Off contenders in the AFC slip up.

You’d do well to find anyone predicting a Jaguars win in this one, and the market reflects that, so we have to look elsewhere for value in this AFC South match-up.

There are two intriguing subplots that stand out to me, and they both concern members of the Indianapolis offence.

Quarterback Philip Rivers has hinted this week that a failure to reach the postseason could signal the end of his illustrious career, while wide receiver T.Y. Hilton does not currently have a deal in place with Indy next season – despite his recent admittance that his aim is to eventually retire with the franchise that drafted him.

The best way for Rivers and Hilton to extend their careers with the Colts is to make the most of a poor Jacksonville team and put up numbers that the Indianapolis front office can’t ignore, and with the list of inactives the Jaguars will be dealing with on Sunday, there’s no reason why the veteran duo can’t pile the pain on the worst team in the NFL.

Hilton has been leading the Colts receivers in all categories over the last month, and while Rivers has only hit the 300-yard mark three times this season, his most productive performance of the year (363 yards) came in week one.

The Colts’ opponents that day? The Jacksonville Jaguars.

Best Bet: Philip Rivers (Colts) 300+ passing yards and T.Y. Hilton (Colts) 100+ receiving yards at 13/2

Tennessee Titans @ Houston Texans betting tips

• When: Sunday at 21:25 GMT
• TV: NFL Redzone on Sky Sports Mix/Free to watch on Sky Bet

These two combined for a massive 78 points when they met back in week six, and neither has played considerably better on defence since, so we can expect points aplenty here.

Tennessee are the team with everything to play for here, but after J.J. Watt’s impassioned post-match speech last week, I’m not expecting Houston to sit back and allow their divisional rivals to claim the AFC South title with ease.

In terms of finding value here, my first thought was Titans’ receiver Corey Davis (11/8 to score anytime) but due to his boom-or-bust level of consistency this season, I’m going to switch my focus to a receiver on the opposite side of the field.

In their aforementioned week six clash, Brandin Cooks reeled in nine catches for 68 yards and a touchdown. However, that was during a period of the season where Cooks was regularly sharing the limelight with the likes of Will Fuller and Randall Cobb.

Nowadays, Cooks is the undisputed #1 target on that offence, and with the way Deshaun Watson has been throwing the ball lately, I’m confident Cooks can make up the 32 yard-deficit from week six and record a 100-yard, touchdown game for the second game on the bounce.

Best Bet: Brandin Cooks (Texans) 100+ receiving yards and to score a Touchdown at 4/1

Odds correct as of 1615 GMT on 02/01/21

Responsible gambling

We are committed in our support of responsible gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.

If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, or visit begambleaware.org.

Further support and information can be found at GamCare and gamblingtherapy.org.