NFL Week 14 Early Advanced Lines: Patriots favored by 3.5 at Texans; Jags by 1 vs Colts

John Morgan

8 years ago at 10:00 pm ET

Matthew Emmons - USA TODAY Sports

While NFL referees seem to be unable to distinguish what is and what is not offensive or defensive pass interference, the professional handicappers in Las Vegas have a vision for pro football week 14. The Westgate has published their ‘look ahead’ lines for next week’s games and see the Patriots as 3½ point road favorites for next Sunday night’s game at Houston. Bill O’Brien’s Texans have won four in a row and five of their last six to pull themselves in to a first place tie in the AFC South; Sunday they travel to Buffalo to face the 5-6 Bills in a key game for AFC playoff implications.

In another game critical to both the AFC South and the AFC wild card race, the Indianapolis Colts travel to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars. In an earlier meeting in Indy the Colts escaped with a three-point overtime victory after the Jaguars missed two late field goals; the 4-7 Jags are listed as a one-point favorite over the under achieving 6-5 Colts.

Other games of note include Arizona favored by six over Minnesota and Denver, off their overtime victory versus New England, as a 6½ point home favorite against division rival Oakland. Perhaps the best game of the week – Pittsburgh at Cincinnati – has no early line due to Ben Roethlisberger‘s concussion. In a rarity the Cleveland Browns are favored, despite their 2-9 record and being forced to start third-stringer Austin Davis at quarterback; that says everything about the free-fall of the 2015 San Francisco 49ers.

8-3 Minnesota Vikings at 9-2 Arizona Cardinals (-6)

Thursday, December 10 at 8:25 pm ET on NFLN

6-5 Pittsburgh Steelers at 9-2 Cincinnati Bengals (no line)

Sunday, December 13 at 1:00 pm ET on CBS

5-6 Buffalo Bills (-1) at 4-7 Philadelphia Eagles

Sunday, December 13 at 1:00 pm ET on CBS

6-5 Atlanta Falcons at 11-0 Carolina Panthers (-8)

Sunday, December 13 at 1:00 pm ET on FOX

2-9 San Francisco 49ers at 3-8 Cleveland Browns (-3)

Sunday, December 13 at 1:00 pm ET on FOX

5-6 Washington Redskins at 5-6 Chicago Bears (-3½)

Sunday, December 13 at 1:00 pm ET on FOX

~~4-7~~ 4-8 Detroit Lions at 4-7 St. Louis Rams (-2)

Sunday, December 13 at 1:00 pm ET on FOX

3-8 San Diego Chargers at 6-5 Kansas City Chiefs (-8½)

Sunday, December 13 at 1:00 pm ET on CBS

4-7 New Orleans Saints at 5-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-4)

Sunday, December 13 at 1:00 pm ET on CBS

6-5 Indianapolis Colts at 4-7 Jacksonville Jaguars (-1)

Sunday, December 13 at 1:00 pm ET on CBS

2-9 Tennessee Titans at 6-5 New York Jets (-7½)

Sunday, December 13 at 1:00 pm ET on CBS

10-1 New England Patriots (-3½) at 6-5 Houston Texans

Sunday, December 13 at 8:30 pm ET on NBC

5-6 Oakland Raiders at 9-2 Denver Broncos (-6½)

Sunday, December 13 at 4:00 pm ET on CBS

3-8 Dallas Cowboys at ~~7-4~~ 8-4 Green Bay Packers (-9)

Sunday, December 13 at 4:25 pm ET on FOX

6-5 Seattle Seahawks (-4½) at 4-7 Baltimore Ravens

Sunday, December 13 at 1:00 pm ET on FOX

5-6 New York Giants at 4-7 Miami Dolphins (pick’em)

Monday, December 14 at 8:30 pm ET on ESPN

And just for fun, here are the prop bet odds that were available when the NFL schedule was released more than seven months ago:

Vikings at Cardinals (-5½)
Falcons at Panthers (-3½)
Saints (-2½) at Buccaneers
Lions at Rams (-1½)
Patriots (-1½) at Texans
Colts (-6) at Jaguars
Raiders at Broncos (-10½)
Chargers at Chiefs (-2)
Titans at Jets (-4)
Seahawks (-1) at Ravens
Steelers at Bengals (-1)
49ers (-2½) at Browns
Bills at Eagles (-3½)
Redskins at Bears (-4)
Cowboys at Packers (-4½)
Giants at Dolphins (-3)