THE BEST GAMES TO BET
TEXANS at CHARGERS
Saturday, 4:30 p.m., Chargers by 2, 40
HANK’S HONEYS: If you go strictly by the matchups, you have to favor the Texans defense. Their edge rushers are their strength pitted against the Chargers’ weakness at OT. Justin Hebert will be under siege. C.J. Stroud took a step backwards last week against the Raiders but he’ll be getting rookie RB Woody Marks back for the first time since Week 14. The timing couldn’t be better. The Chargers will be without their best run stopping LB with Denzel Perryman suspended for the last two games. Houston, too, has injury concerns at the OT spots. Rookie phenom Aireontae Ersery is out and Trent Brown is dealing with a leg injury.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Texans and the under
RAVENS at PACKERS
Saturday, 8 p.m., Packers by 2 ½, 46 ½
HANK’S HONEYS: With both QBs questionable to play, there is no telling how to treat this one although we are leaning in a certain direction. Obviously, if they can make it to the field, Jordan Love (concussion) should be more capable than Lamar Jackson, who would be severely limited as a runner with a badly contused back. And if it comes down to the backups, Malik Willis showed he can get the job done. Can Tyler Huntley? The Ravens seem to be undone by the same issues and that has to weigh on a team. Late season trips to Lambeau Field aren’t much fun, especially if the Packers can wrap up the division.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Packers and the under.
GIANTS at RAIDERS
4:05 p.m., Raiders by 1, 42
HANK’S HONEYS: Bet the under. These two offenses stink. After that, flip a coin. The Giants have been the better team over the course of the season. The Raiders have been better lately. The spark provided by Jaxson Dart has dried up and the Giants D still can’t stop the run. That’s one area Las Vegas might be able to exploit with Ashton Jeanty, who broke off big runs against the Texans’ elite D. The Raiders also have the best player on the field in Maxx Crosby, so there’s that, and the Giants have yet to win a game on the road. With the No. 1 pick on the line, just lose baby?
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Raiders and the under.
PATRIOTS at JETS
1 p.m., Pats by 13 ½, 43
HANK’S HONEYS: The number still doesn’t seem high enough with the Pats continuing to play for the No. 1 seed and the Jets in turtle mode. It’s going to take a slew of turnovers and special teams plays for the Jets to stay in this but the Pats have been efficient in both areas and we know the Jets D just doesn’t force fumbles or INTs. In fact, no one is playing worse football than the Jets, not the Giants, not the Raiders. Their rookie QB is staring into the headlights without weapons and their defense is being riddled each week. Drake Maye is looking at another 300-yard day. And we don’t see Mike Vrabel allowing for any kind of letdown.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Patriots and the under.
BUCS at DOLPHINS
1 p.m., Bucs by 5 ½, 46 ½
HANK’S HONEYS: The Bucs continue to disappoint, but if there’s ever a week to get right, it’s this one. The Dolphins have hoisted the white flag as they see what they’ve got in QB Quinn Ewers, leaving all the motivation with Tampa Bay. True, the Bucs can still sneak into the playoffs even if they lose here, but they desperately need to build momentum into their season-ending showdown with the Panthers. Getting more out of Baker Mayfield is imperative. That didn’t happen last week. But Mike Evans will be back for a second straight game and the timing should return.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Bucs and the under.
CARDINALS at BENGALS
1 p.m., Bengals by 7, 52 ½
HANK’S HONEYS: The Cardinals have dropped seven straight, including six losses ATS, while allowing 34.6 points per game. They’ll leave Phoenix for windy, rainy, chilly weather that will be very conducive to packing it in. You can’t say that about Joe Burrow. He’s been on a tear since returning from injury and with Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase both healthy, he’ll spread the field against a bottom-tier pass defense that’s beat up. Jacoby Brissett had been hanging in there but his play has slipped over the last few weeks. Cincy’s defense has also been improved now that it doesn’t have to be on the field the entire game.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Bengals and the over.
JAGUARS at COLTS
1 p.m., Jags by 6 ½, 47
HANK’S HONEYS: The Colts seem to have run out of steam. Philip Rivers was only going to do so much. They are hurting at two key spots, offensive tackle and cornerback and can’t seem to get a stop on defense. The Jaguars are full of mojo right now. Trevor Lawrence is finally playing like a No. 1 pick and their energetic defense keeps making plays. Indy has to rely on Jonathan Taylor but the Jaguars’ run defense shut him down on their first meeting and can do it again. With their eye on the potential No. 1 seed, there is little chance of a letdown facing a wounded divisional rival.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Jaguars and the over.
SAINTS at TITANS
1 p.m., Saints by 2 ½, 38
HANK’S HONEYS: The Saints are laying the groundwork for next season behind rookie QB Tyler Shough, whose progress is far exceeding that of Cam Ward. They have been a step ahead of lower tier teams by playing hard and physical. Their D has been getting great penetration, creating negative plays. With Ward’s tendency to hold onto the ball too long, turnovers are bound to happen. Tony Pollard has been effective recently but he’ll be up against a very good New Orleans run defense.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Saints and the under.
EAGLES at BILLS
4:25 p.m., Bills by 2, 45
HANK’S HONEYS: Ordinarily, this is the type of game Josh Allen would dominate but with neither team playing for anything other than playoff seeding, Allen will be less motivated. The Bills have shown a little more lately but the Eagles are getting two pieces back on either side of the ball, OT Lane Johnson and DT Jalen Carter. Johnson’s value can’t be overstated. The Eagles don’t operate at peak efficiency without him. With him, Saquon Barkley will be better able to exploit Buffalo’s run defense. Carter, likewise, changes everything against the Bills’ running threat, James Cook. It’s tough to bet against the Bills in a December home game. We do so with the utmost caution.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Eagles and the under.
BEARS at 49ERS
8:20 p.m., Niners by 3, 51
HANK’S HONEYS: The Bears have the rest advantage, having played on Saturday with the 49ers on a short week. But the 49ers’ offense is on a roll behind Brock Purdy, and the Bears defense has been too reliant on takeaways, something the Niners don’t generally suffer. The 49ers, surprisingly, control their own destiny for the No. 1 seed so there’s little chance Kyle Shanahan will allow his team to look ahead to the Week 18 showdown with Seattle. All that said, we love the over. The 49ers defense is just average at best. The Bears will score, just not enough to get the cover.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: 49ers and the over.
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LOOK BUT DON’T TOUCH
STEELERS at BROWNS
1 p.m., Steelers by 4, 34 ½
HANK’S HONEYS: The Steelers are playing to their culture again by running the ball and playing a better brand of defense. The Browns will miss Quinshon Junkins as both a runner and receiver while the Steelers should put enough pressure on Shedeur Sanders to force him into rookie mistakes. Still, this is a tricky spot for the Steelers, DK Metcalf’s suspension notwithstanding. They come off a huge emotional win over the Lions and have the Ravens on deck. A lot depends, of course, on the Saturday night result. A Ravens loss in Green Bay clinches the division. That would allow the Steelers to rest players.
CAN’T HELP YOURSELF?: Browns and the under.
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BEST OF THE REST
SEAHAWKS at PANTHERS
1 p.m., Seahawks by 7, 42 ½
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Panthers and the under.
RAMS at FALCONS
Monday, 8:15 p.m., Rams by 8, 49 ½
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Falcons and the over.
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WEEK’S BEST BET: Jaguars. They stay hot.
LAST WEEK: 10-6; OVER/UNDER: 7-9
OVERALL: 112-125-2; OVER/UNDER: 135-100-4
BEST BETS: 9-7
