And then there were two. Only one playoff spot is still up for grabs in each conference after the Jaguars beat the Titans on Saturday to clinch the AFC South title, completing a massive turnaround after picking first overall in back-to-back drafts.
There’s plenty still at stake Sunday as both the AFC and NFC feature three teams battling for one spot and some seeds have yet to be decided. Oh, and then there’s the potential of a coin toss to decide home field depending on the outcome of the Ravens-Bengals game.
This week more than any, you’re going to want to read the fine print as the NFL regular season comes to a close. And once it does, football continues Monday night when No. 3 TCU faces No. 1 Georgia for the College Football Playoff National Championship.
In today’s Winners Club you’ll find:
NFL Week 18 Game Lines
This is it. The regular-season finale. Not only did the Jaguars secure their division Saturday, but the Chiefs also locked up the No. 1 seed in the AFC. That means they earned the bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs – with the caveat that a potential conference title game against the Bills or Bengals, who only played 16 regular-season games, would be played at a neutral site rather than Arrowhead Stadium.
Below are the active clinching scenarios:
- Patriots: Clinch wild-card berth with a win over the Bills OR a Dolphins loss to the Jets, a Steelers loss to the Browns and a Titans loss to the Jaguars
- Dolphins: Clinch wild-card berth with a win over the Jets and a Patriots loss to Buffalo
- Steelers: Clinch wild-card berth with a win over the Browns, a Patriots loss to the Bills and a Dolphins loss to the Jets
- Eagles: Clinch NFC East and No. 1 seed with a win over the Giants OR a Cowboys loss to the Commanders and a 49ers loss to Cardinals
- 49ers: Clinch No. 1 seed with a win over the Cardinals and an Eagles loss to the Giants
- Cowboys: Clinch NFC East with a win over the Commanders and an Eagles loss to the Giants OR Clinch NFC East and No. 1 seed with a win over the Commanders, an Eagles loss to Giants and a 49ers loss to Cardinals
- Packers: Clinch wild-card berth with a win over the Lions
- Lions: Clinch wild-card berth with a win over the Packers and a Seahawks loss to the Rams
- Seahawks: Clinch wild-card berth with a win over the Rams and a Packers loss to the Lions
Seems simple enough, right?
Oh, and the No. 1 pick will also be decided Sunday. The Texans (2–13–1) are in the driver’s seat and can secure it with a loss to the Colts, who they tied with Week 1. If Houston wins and the Bears (3–13) lose to the Vikings, the top pick goes to Chicago. For what it’s worth, Alabama quarterback Bryce Young is a -120 favorite to go first off the board.
Read more about the clinching scenarios, coach firings and more in The MMQB’s Week 18 preview.
Try to keep all of this info in mind when you’re placing NFL wagers this week, and remember that you can get in on the action with SI Sportsbook’s Perfect 10 contest. Just pick 10 games against the spread to enter for a shot at a $10,000 prize. And for help with your selections, consult the picks my colleagues and I shared; I like the Cowboys to cover against the Commanders.
And if you prefer to engage in the player prop bet market, Frankie Taddeo has four picks for you.
1 p.m. ET (FOX): Buccaneers vs. Falcons (-4.5) | Total: 40.5 | Game preview
1 p.m. ET (CBS): Patriots vs. Bills (-9.5) | Total: 43.5 | Game preview
1 p.m. ET (FOX): Vikings (-7.5) vs. Bears | Total: 42.5 | Game preview
1 p.m. ET (CBS): Ravens vs. Bengals (-9.5) | Total: 39.5 | Game preview
1 p.m. ET (CBS): Texans vs. Colts (-1.5) | Total: 37.5 | Game preview
1 p.m. ET (FOX): Jets vs. Dolphins (-3.5) | Total: 37 | Game preview
1 p.m. ET (FOX): Panthers vs. Saints (-3.5) | Total: 41.5 | Game preview
1 p.m. ET (CBS): Browns vs. Steelers (-2.5) | Total: 40 | Game preview
4:25 p.m. ET (CBS): Chargers vs. Broncos (-2.5) | Total: 39.5 | Game preview
4:25 p.m. ET (CBS): Giants vs. Eagles (-14.5) | Total: 42 | Game preview
4:25 p.m. ET (FOX): Cardinals vs. 49ers (-14.5) | Total: 40 | Game preview
4:25 p.m. ET (FOX): Rams vs. Seahawks (-3.5) | Total: 41.5 | Game preview
4:25 p.m. ET (CBS): Cowboys (-8.5) vs. Commanders | Total: 40 | Game preview
8:20 p.m. ET (NBC): Lions vs. Packers (-4.5) | Total: 49 | Game preview
Not many fantasy leagues are still going on, but for those who play until the buzzer, just know that we still have you covered with the same player tools and recommendations that hopefully guided you to a winning campaign.
Consult Matt De Lima’s Week 18 cheat sheet to get caught up on everything you need to know. And if your fantasy season is over, you can always keep it going with some DFS lineups. Shawn Childs has lineup picks sorted by tiers to build a winning roster.
Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: QB | RB | WR | TE | K & D/ST
Defense vs. Position Matchup Info
Bulldogs and Horned Frogs Meet in National Championship
After a pair of thrilling College Football Playoff semifinal games, No. 3 TCU and No. 1 Georgia, both quarterbacked by Heisman finalists, are the last teams standing.
UGA went undefeated in the regular season and won the 2022 championship game against Alabama. Expectations for the Horned Frogs were much, much lower—Sonny Dykes’s squad was picked to finish seventh in the Big 12.
The Bulldogs beat No. 4 Ohio State, 42-41, in the Peach Bowl and the Horned Frogs upset No. 2 Michigan, 51-45, in the Fiesta Bowl.
College Football Playoff National Championship
Monday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN): No. 3 TCU vs. No. 1 Georgia (-13) | Total: 63
Taddeo broke down the matchup and shared his against the spread and over/under picks in his betting preview, which you can find below:
“The line has ticked down since opening in favor of No. 1 Georgia as a 13.5-point favorite against No. 3 TCU at SI Sportsbook to the Bulldogs with a 13-point demand. Georgia has been favored in every game by an average of 26 points per game and is a double-digit favorite for the 14th time in 15 games.
“Kirby Smart’s club is 32-1 in its last 33 games and has historically been a lucrative team for bettors to back this time of year. The Bulldogs have posted an impressive 9-2 ATS (81.8%) mark over their last 11 bowl appearances.
“In last season’s title game, the Bulldogs beat Alabama, 33-18, covering as three-point favorites. On Monday, Georgia looks to become the first repeat champion since Nick Saban and Alabama won consecutive titles back in 2011 and 2012.”
More CFP Championship pregame reading:
TCU RB Kendre Miller ‘50-50’ for National Championship
Biggest Scheme Questions for TCU-UGA
Stetson Bennett: One Game Away from Becoming an All-Time Great
How TCU Took Over Football in the State of Texas
10 Stats to Know for the National Championship Game
In Other News
Damar Hamlin Posts Positive Message on Social Media: The Bills safety entered cardiac arrest in Monday’s game against the Bengals, which was later canceled. His condition has gradually improved throughout the week and he spoke with teammates Friday and had his breathing tube removed.
Sean McVay’s Future with Rams in Question: The Rams coach, one year removed from winning the Super Bowl, is reportedly weighing his options and will take some time to decide if he plans to return for 2023. L.A.’s championship defense was derailed by injuries.
Broncos Granted Permission to Interview Sean Payton: New Orleans granted Denver’s request to interview Payton, one of the hottest names on the coaching market, who is still under contract with the Saints. The Broncos job opened up when first-year coach Nathaniel Hackett was fired Dec. 26.
Lamar Jackson Has “Strong Chance” to Return for Playoffs: Baltimore’s former MVP quarterback will miss his fifth game in a row Sunday against the Bengals due to a knee injury but he is expected to be back for the wild-card game next week.
Thanks for reading Winners Club! I’ll be back in your inbox Wednesday morning with a playoff preview. Talk to you then.
