NFL Week 17 Look-Ahead Lines: Do oddsmakers now rate the Bengals higher than the Ravens?

Every week, the LVH SuperBook (@LVSuperBook) in Las Vegas releases “look-ahead” point spreads before the current week’s games have been played.

Some notable Week 17 nuggets:

Are the Bengals now considered superior to the Ravens in the eyes of oddsmakers? Accounting for three points of home-field advantage, the Cincinnati -3.5 spread appears to indicate so. Keep in mind, Baltimore rolled 44-13 when these two teams met in the season-opener. One possible factor in this line: The Ravens can clinch the division with a victory over the Giants this Sunday, which would make the following game almost meaningless.

Speaking of clinching, the Falcons can secure home-field advantage by winning at Detroit this weekend, which would mean they’d probably rest starters against the Buccaneers in Week 17. The LVH tried to protect themselves from that scenario by setting that spread at Atlanta -3 (-120).

The biggest game of the weekend—and one that will likely get slotted in for Sunday Night Football—is the Cowboys’ trip to the Redskins in what could be a de facto NFC East championship game, but the LVH is waiting to release a spread.

There are two gigantic spreads on the board: Broncos -16.5 vs. Chiefs, and 49ers -15 vs. Cardinals. If it holds, the Denver line would be the largest we’ve seen all season and the highest since last year’s Colts were 16.5-point underdogs in a 24-10 loss at Baltimore in Week 14. Underdogs of more than two touchdowns are 6-109 since 1989, but 64-49-2 (56.6%) against the spread.

Road teams are favored in only three of 15 lined games. The most tempting home underdog is probably the Vikings +4.5 against the Packers, when Adrian Peterson will be aiming for the single-season NFL rushing record.

Looking for a last-ditch Survivor Pool selection? We can guarantee the Titans will be a popular pick as 6.5-point home favorites over the Jaguars. Chances are that no one still alive has already selected Tennessee.

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SUNDAY, DEC. 30

New York Jets
at Buffalo Bills -3 (-120)

Miami Dolphins
at New England Patriots -12

Baltimore Ravens
at Cincinnati Bengals -3.5

Cleveland Browns
at Pittsburgh Steelers -7

Houston Texans -4
at Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars
at Tennessee Titans -6.5

Philadelphia Eagles
at New York Giants -12

Dallas Cowboys
at Washington Redskins OFF

Chicago Bears -2.5
at Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers -4.5
at Minnesota Vikings

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
at Atlanta Falcons -3 (-120)

Carolina Panthers
at New Orleans Saints -4

Kansas City Chiefs
at Denver Broncos -16.5

Oakland Raiders
at San Diego Chargers -4.5

Arizona Cardinals
at San Francisco 49ers -15

St. Louis Rams
at Seattle Seahawks -7.5