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Week 13 Betting Preview: Predictions for every matchup

Matthew Emmons / USA TODAY Sports

Each week during the NFL season, theScore's Dane Belbeck will handicap every matchup and offer up a three-pack of picks.

Dallas Cowboys (-3.5) at Minnesota Vikings

Usually taking a road team on a Thursday night is a risky play, but since both the Cowboys and the Vikings played on Thanksgiving, this game is played on regular rest. It's tough to see the depleted Minnesota roster hanging with the league's best team. Cowboys 27, Vikings 20

Houston Texans at Green Bay Packers (-6)

The Packers finally broke a four-game losing streak with a 27-13 win over the Eagles on Monday night, and are looking to build off that with Houston coming to town. The Texans look lost with Brock Osweiler at quarterback, and Green Bay's defense is getting healthier coming down the home stretch. Packers 28, Texans 17

Detroit Lions (+6) at New Orleans Saints

The Lions kept two streaks going with their last-second victory over the Vikings on Thanksgiving. Every single Detroit game this season has been within a touchdown spread, and the Lions have trailed in the fourth quarter of each contest. That's likely to continue in New Orleans. Saints 34, Lions 30

Remaining matchups

Los Angeles Rams at New England Patriots (-13.5)

Did Jared Goff show signs of life on Sunday, or was it just the Saints porous defense struggling to stop the rookie quarterback? While New England didn't look sharp against the Jets, Bill Belichick planning for a rookie quarterback making his third career start sounds scary. Patriots 31, Rams 10

Denver Broncos (-5) at Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville has the league's 25th-ranked rushing attack and have shown they have to pass the ball well to stand any chance in games. Denver has the league's top-ranked passing defense and will feast on Blake Bortles. Broncos 24, Jaguars 13

Kansas City Chiefs at Atlanta Falcons (-4)

The Chiefs continue to win games in incredible fashion, as evidenced by their dramatic overtime victory in Denver last week. That luck is bound to run out against the high-powered Falcons. Falcons 28, Chiefs 17

Philadelphia Eagles at Cincinnati Bengals (+1)

On the surface it appeared Carson Wentz was off to a hot start in his rookie season with the Eagles, but the 23-year-old has now thrown seven interceptions and just four touchdowns in his last six games. Andy Dalton isn't great without A.J. Green, but the Bengals will do enough to get the win. Bengals 21, Eagles 17

Miami Dolphins at Baltimore Ravens (-3.5)

The Dolphins are among the hottest teams in the NFL right now, but a banged up offensive line has struggled to block for Jay Ajayi in recent weeks. That will continue against the league's top rushing defense. Ravens 24, Dolphins 17

San Francisco 49ers (+2) at Chicago Bears

Colin Kaepernick showed flashes of his previous brilliance last weekend against Miami, and should be able to repeat that on Sunday against the Bears. 49ers 28, Bears 27

Buffalo Bills (+3) at Oakland Raiders

It's unclear what kind of shape Derek Carr's finger will be in come kickoff, but it's a safe bet that the Bills will be going after the Raiders' quarterback all afternoon long. Bills 31, Raiders 30

New York Giants (+6.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers

This could be the most entertaining game of the weekend, in what should be a high-scoring affair. First rule in a shootout is to take the points. Steelers 34, Giants 31

Washington Redskins at Arizona Cardinals (-2.5)

Kirk Cousins has posted some gaudy numbers as of late, but a stout Cardinals pass defense will rebound from a poor showing against the Falcons last week. Cardinals 28, Redskins 21

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+4.5) at San Diego Chargers

The Bucs have beat Kansas City and Seattle in recent weeks, which is as impressive a two-game stretch as there is in the league this year. Jameis Winston makes it four in a row with a win over San Diego. Buccaneers 31, Chargers 28

Carolina Panthers (+6.5) at Seattle Seahawks

Seattle looked out of sorts against Tampa Bay all game last week, and while they should play better at home, Cam Newton showed last year he can handle the tough Seahawks defense enough to keep it close. Seahawks 27, Panthers 24

Indianapolis Colts (-1.5) at New York Jets

Not much to say here other than it's not fun to bet on Ryan Fitzpatrick anymore. Colts 28, Jets 23

Picks Summary
Cowboys -3.5 (Gold)
Packers -6 (Silver)
Lions +6 (Bronze)
Patriots -13.5
Broncos -5
Falcons -4
Bengals +1
Ravens -3.5
49ers +2
Bills +3
Giants +6.5
Cardinals -2.5
Buccaneers +4.5
Panthers +6.5
Colts -1.5

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