The penultimate weekend of the NFL regular season is upon us, with playoff positioning still fluid in both conferences. Several teams are jockeying for seeding and tie breakers, while others are looking to secure momentum and confidence ahead of the postseason. Monday morning's slate has intriguing cross-conference matchups and divisional battles with real consequences, making every quarter count.
NFL Week 17 Monday Betting Tips
Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers
Monday 5.00am (AEDT)
Carolina host Seattle as they sit around 8-7 and still very much in the mix for the NFC South crown. The Panthers have shown flashes this season and are playing with urgency in late December, particularly on the defensive side of the ball where they have forced turnovers and kept games tight. However, they remain underdogs in this one and will likely lean on their home crowd and physical play to stay competitive.
Seattle arrive as the NFC’s current No. 1 seed at 12-3, having surged back into top spot with a thrilling overtime win over the Rams, including a dramatic two-point conversion to clinch it. Their playoff spot is already secured and they control their own destiny for the top seed if they can close strong, but they will need to manage a short week, travel and a Panthers defence that will bring energy. They’ve been one of the division’s most consistent units this season.
Prediction: Seattle should have too much overall balance, particularly on defence, for a Panthers team that hasn’t consistently beaten top tier opposition all season. The Seahawks win 27 to 17 and tighten their grip on the NFC’s No. 1 position.
Seahawks -7.5
$1.90 (1.5 Units)
Philadelphia Eagles at Buffalo Bills
Monday 8.25am (AEDT)
Philadelphia come in as 10-5 and already NFC East champs, with seeding still up for grabs. Their run to clinch the division featured strong offensive execution and timely defensive plays, and they have remained resilient through stretches where the margin for error has been tiny. The Eagles are battle-tested and know how to win close games, even when they haven’t always been at peak efficiency.
Buffalo head into this as an 11-4 club still in the mix for the AFC East title, with their own playoff seed on the line. Josh Allen is expected to play despite a recent foot injury and the Bills will be fighting not just for a win but for home field advantage leverage. They have missed some key contributors on defence but remain capable of getting to the quarterback and creating turnover opportunities.
Prediction: This promises to be a tight, high-stakes game between two teams trending in opposite directions late in the season. Buffalo’s home environment and urgency to secure the division give them a slight edge, but the Eagles’ efficiency in big moments makes this a shootout. I like the Bills to edge out the Eagles at home in a high scoring game.
Over 44.5
$1.90 (2 Units)
Chicago Bears at San Franciso 49ers
Monday 12.20pm (AEDT)
San Francisco host Chicago in a matchup with major NFC seeding implications. The 49ers are 11-4 and still very much alive for the top seed, they must win their final two games to stay in contention for the No. 1 spot. Injuries to key pieces like George Kittle and other contributors could influence the flow, but they remain a loaded roster capable of explosive offensive production and tough defensive stands.
Chicago are also firmly in the playoff picture at 11-4, and a win here would put them in a strong position for NFC North tiebreakers and possibly the second seed. The Bears have leaned on a physical run game and opportunistic defence when needed, and they have already clinched a postseason berth. They will not be intimidated on the road and are battle hardened at this point in the schedule.
Prediction: This should be one of the fiercest contests of the week, with seeding ramifications for both clubs. San Francisco still have the home advantage and a slight edge in offensive firepower, but Chicago’s discipline and ability to control time of possession could frustrate Santa Clara. I’m leaning 49ers in a game that comes down to the final drive.
Other Tips
Cardinals at Bengals - Cardinals +7 ($1.88 at Dabble)
Buccaneers at Dolphins - Buccs -5.5 ($1.88 at Dabble)
Jaguars at Colts - Colts +5.5 ($1.91 at Dabble)
Patriots at Jets - Patriots -13.5 ($1.91 at Dabble)
Saints at Titans - Titans +2.5 ($1.90 at Dabble)
Steelers at Browns - Steelers -3 ($1.91 at Dabble)
Giants at Raiders - Raiders +1.5 ($1.89 at Dabble)
