NFL Picks, Week 16: Computer Odds Favor The Underdogs On Christmas Eve

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By Andrew Sharp - Featured Contributor

It's Week 16, and after one of the wildest weeks in recent memory, the playoff race in both conferences is heating up. Take a look at the odds to see who might pull of an upset on Christmas Eve. All content comes courtesy of SB Nation's odds partners at Odds Shark.

Dec 23, 2011 - On the heels of a wild week where the 13-0 team lost and the 0-13 team won, anything should be expected in Week 16 NFL wagering. But the Odds Shark scores computer is siding generously with road underdogs in its Week 16 picks roundup.

The Packers, Steelers, Patriots and Ravens were all double-digit home favorites this week but the computer only likes one team (Pittsburgh) to cover the spread. That would make ATS winners of the Bears, Dolphins and Browns for everyone keeping track at home.

The engine also predicts outright road victories for the Texans, Broncos, Raiders and 49ers. In the marquee battles with major playoff implications, the computer picks the Cowboys to edge the Eagles 27-25 and the Lions to eke past San Diego 29-28. Both would be OVER bets if those scores hold up.

The computer has the Jets winning the Battle of New York over the Giants, 27-22. Both teams are in desperate need of victories. Check out the latest Week 16 NFL picks (and last week's results below) and matchup stats, trends and previews on every game at Odds Shark.

Road	Score	Home	Score	Spread	ATS	Total	OU
Houston	28.8	Indianapolis	8	6.5	HOU	40	U
Arizona	18.5	Cincinnati	22.4	-5.5	ARI	40	O
Cleveland	12.9	Baltimore	25.6	-13.5	CLE	39	U
Tampa Bay	13.2	Carolina	22.3	-7	CAR	49	U
Minnesota	14.4	Washington	18.9	-5.5	MIN	43.5	U
Miami	24.2	NE Patriots	33	-10.5	MIA	48.5	O
St. Louis	5.3	Pittsburgh	22.9	-16.5	PIT	39	U
Denver	19.9	Buffalo	19.2	3	BUF	42.5	U
Oakland	17	Kansas City	12.5	-1	OAK	43	U
NY Giants	21.7	NY Jets	26.6	-3	NYJ	47	O
Jacksonville	12.7	Tennessee	18.9	-7.5	JAC	39	U
San Diego	28.2	Detroit	29.5	-3	SD	50.5	O
Philadelphia	25.4	Dallas	26.9	-3	PHI	50.5	O
SF 49ers	29.2	Seattle	19.9	3	SF	38	O
Chicago	26.3	Green Bay	37.8	-14	CHI	44	O
Atlanta	29	New Orleans	35.5	-7.5	ATL	53	O

Week 15 results were average at best on the NFL point spread at 9-7 but much better picking totals (picking 11 of 16 games correctly).

Road	Score	Home	Score	Spread	ATS	Total	OU	Actual
Jaxville	14.9	Atlanta	22	-10.5	JAC	42.5	U	41-14 ATL
Dallas	25.8	Tampa Bay	12.5	6.5	DAL	46.5	U	31-15 DAL
Cincinnati	21	St. Louis	6.6	6.5	CIN	38.5	U	20-13 CIN
Washington	18.2	NY Giants	21	-7.5	WAS	45.5	U	23-10 WAS
Carolina	20	Houston	32.6	-6.5	HOU	46.5	O	28-13 CAR
Seattle	19.4	Chicago	23.9	-4	CHI	35.5	O	38-14 SEA
Green Bay	38	Kansas City	13.3	14	GB	46.5	O	19-14 KC
New Orleans	35.7	Minnesota	18.8	7	NO	51	O	42-20 NO
Tennessee	22	Indianapolis	5.6	7	TEN	40.5	U	27-13 IND
Miami	22.5	Buffalo	17.7	-1	MIA	41	U	30-23 MIA
Detroit	30.1	Oakland	20.4	0	DET	48	O	28-27 DET
NY Jets	27.2	Philadelphia	23.2	-2	NYJ	45	O	45-19 PHI
Cleveland	12.9	Arizona	16	-6.5	CLE	37.5	U	20-17 ARZ
NE Patriots	33.2	Denver	21.3	4.5	NE	46.5	O	41-23 NE
Baltimore	31.1	San Diego	23.9	1	BAL	43	O	34-14 SD
Pittsburgh	25.1	SF 49ers	28.2	-1	SF	39	O	20-3 SF