NFL Week 18 Odds: Plenty of Postseason Scenarios to Play Out

Plenty of playoff scenarios exist as we head into the final week of the NFL's regular season, and we're looking at the opening NFL Week 18 odds and betting lines from our best NFL betting sites to give us an idea of what to expect.

The final week of the NFL's regular season features two games on Saturday and a whopping 14-game slate on Sunday. The Baltimore Ravens (13-3) and San Francisco 49ers (12-4) — who are both front-runners to win it all in our Super Bowl odds — have clinched the AFC and NFC playoff bye weeks, respectively. 

Only four AFC teams have punched a ticket to the postseason with one game remaining. The current sixth-seeded Buffalo Bills (10-6) square off with the Miami Dolphins (11-5) on Sunday Night Football with the AFC East title on the line. While Miami is heading to the postseason for sure, a Buffalo loss could result in the Bills missing out.

The AFC South continues to be in disarray as the final week of action approaches. The Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7) currently hold the division lead due to tiebreakers, but a loss to the Tennessee Titans (5-11) opens the door for either the seventh-seeded Indianapolis Colts (9-7) or the eighth-seeded Houston Texans (9-7). The Colts and Texans will face off in a win-and-in scenario on Saturday.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) visit the Ravens in their season finale. Pittsburgh's fate is no longer in its own hands, and the team will need to rely on a mix of losses and ties elsewhere. 

The playoffs are already secured for five NFC teams, but the NFC East and NFC South titles are still undecided. The Dallas Cowboys (11-5) and Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) have secured playoff spots, and the NFC East title is still within reach for both. They will each face eliminated division rivals, with the Eagles visiting the New York Giants (5-11) and the Cowboys on the road against the Washington Commanders (4-12). Dallas currently holds the division lead based on tiebreakers.  

The NFC South is tightly contested, much like the AFC South. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8), New Orleans Saints (8-8), and Atlanta Falcons (7-9) all have a shot at winning the division. If the Buccaneers beat the Carolina Panthers (2-14), they secure the NFC South crown. In the event of a Bucs loss and a Saints win against the Falcons, New Orleans claims the NFC South title. However, if the Bucs lose and the Falcons defeat the Saints, Atlanta would emerge victorious with an 8-9 record, holding the best divisional game record.

The Green Bay Packers (8-8) are in the driver's seat for the final wild-card berth. Green Bay faces the Chicago Bears (7-9), and a victory puts the Packers into the postseason. A loss opens the door for the Seattle Seahawks (8-8), Saints, or Minnesota Vikings (7-9) to claim the final seed.

Here’s a closer look at all of the NFL Week 18 odds from our best sports betting sites.    

NFL Week 18 odds and lines

There's an advantage to betting the early NFL odds while trying to beat the closing line. The closer you wait until kickoff to make your NFL picks, the more difficult it becomes to identify edges and secure the best number on most side or total wagers.

That's why it's important to start monitoring the NFL opening odds each week as soon as possible. A proactive approach is the first step to long-term success.

Best NFL Week 18 spreads

(Odds via )

Week 18 is a real mixed bag, as teams that have clinched often choose to rest starters and players who have been nursing injuries. Seven home teams opened as underdogs, but an eighth joined the list when the Colts flipped from 1-point favorites to 1-point underdogs. The Commanders are getting 13 points in the largest spread of the week and are still the only team receiving double-digit points.

We've seen movement toward key numbers in numerous games where starters are confirmed to be resting in Week 18, as the Bengals and Chargers spreads have grown following reports that the Browns and Chiefs will roll out backup quarterbacks. 

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Best NFL Week 18 moneylines

(Odds via )

We already see signs of teams that are likely to sit stars as we look at the opening moneylines for Week 18. Baltimore opened as a +162 home underdog shows that NFL MVP favorite Lamar Jackson is unlikely to see the field, but the line has moved toward the Ravens anyway throughout the week as faith in their backups continues to grow. 

Value has already diminished in some spots. The Chiefs confirming they're resting star QB Patrick Mahomes has sent the Chargers from -120 to -190, while the Bengals have gone from -220 to -320 following the news that the Browns will rest signal-caller Joe Flacco.

More lines should continue to move throughout the weekend as more information becomes available.

Best NFL Week 18 Over/Unders

(Odds via )

Another week, another slew of low-scoring games on the agenda. Six Week 18 contests are opening with a total of fewer than 40 points, largely due to backup QBs, injured players, resting starters, and worsening weather. Like the spreads and moneylines, the confirmed news of starters resting has impacted opening totals, as the Ravens, Browns, and Chiefs have all seen their totals lowered.

Even in a season full of low totals, the 30.5 for the Jets-Patriots game is notable. 

Just one game opened with a 50-point projection — the Bills at the Dolphins — but that's been steamed down to 48.5 in early action.

NFL betting odds pages

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Related pages

• Best Sports Betting Sites | Best Sportsbook Promos (U.S. only)