NFL Week 16 Betting Odds

Christmas used to belong to the NBA. The pro hoopsters were the only show in town on December 25, showcasing the best teams in the league against one another.

However, this Christmas, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has his fingers in the mincemeat pie. Jones’ franchise is headlining the NFL’s lone Christmas Day game along with the Arizona Cardinals.

Oddsmakers have set Dallas as a 6.5-point road favorite in Arizona. This line opened at the key number of six at most books and instantly went up to 6.5.

With this being the only football game on the board this Saturday, expect that number to jump around like a hyperactive kid that just opened the Playstation they’ve been pining after. Especially once Cowboys faithful, full of Christmas cheer and half the liquor cabinet, start betting Big D hand over fist.

The Cowboys are coming off a nail bitter against the Washington Redskins in which they coughed up a 20-point lead in the second half to come away with a last-minute 33-30 victory, failing to cover as 9.5-point home favorites.

Arizona is coming off a loss to possibly the worst team in the NFL in Week 15. The Cardinals fell 19-12 to the Carolina Panthers, losing as 2.5-point road underdogs. With makeshift QB John Skelton under center, Arizona isn’t posing much of a threat with the football.

However, the Cards have done a better job on defense in recent games, holding their last three opponents to under 20 points. Those stats haven’t come against elite teams, but hey, neither is Arizona. They’ve done a good job against the pass in those contests, holding opposing QBs to an average of 165 yards while allowing just one touchdown through the air and posting four interceptions and five sacks.

If the Cowboys let the Cardinals hang around like they did the Redskins, Arizona could be the Grinch that stole Jerry Jones’ Christmas and spoil many bettors’ holiday.

Here’s a look at couple more Week 16 games

Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns (+3.5, 39.5 at Sportsbook.com)

These are the same Ravens who stumped the red-hot defending Super Bowl champs in Week 15, right? So what’s with the short odds against a Browns team that just lost back-to-back games to Buffalo and Cincinnati? I know there is a possible letdown stop here, but this line has already climbed from its opening of +3 and will continue to grow as Sunday draws closer.

Indianapolis Colts at Oakland Raiders (+3, 47.5 at BetUS Sportsbook)

This line seems a little too short for most football bettors, but there is a ton of pressure on the Colts to keep winning after escaping with a 34-24 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday. The Raiders are just young, talented, and ignorant enough not to grasp the situation, and still have a shot at winning the AFC West.

Other Week 16 odds at BetUS Sportsbook:

Carolina at Pittsburgh (-13.5, 37)
Detroit at Miami (-3.5, 41.5)
San Francisco at St. Louis (-1.5, 39.5)
Washington at Jacksonville (-6.5, 45)
Tennessee at Kansas City (-5, 42)
N.Y. Jets at Chicago (N/A)
New England at Buffalo (+9, 44)
San Diego at Cincinnati (+7.5, 44)
Houston at Denver (+2.5, 48.5)
N.Y. Giants at Green Bay (N/A)
Seattle at Tampa Bay (-6, 43.5)
Minnesota at Philadelphia (N/A)