This is the time in the NFL season when motivation matters most, and the scenarios are no secrets to handicappers and oddsmakers. “The ‘need to win’ teams are typically laying more points than they should.”The Seattle Seahawks emerged from the weekend as the NFC’s No. Teams in must-win spots have a magnetizing effect on the betting public. “The teams in must-win situations are usually inflated favorites.”The Pittsburgh-New YorkJets game is a prime example in Week 16. The Bruins are now 7-4 straight up, 6-5 against the spread, but outside the top 110 teams nationally in Ken Pomeroy’s computer rankings .

Source: Los Angeles Times December 17, 2019 01:07 UTC