Casino City's Week 18 NFL Circa Million V 2023 Pro Football Contest Picks

We’ve made it to the final week of the NFL regular season. Division titles and Wild Card spots are still up for grabs and bottom of the barrel teams are looking to get the best pick possible in April’s draft.

While this wasn’t our best season picking games, as the saying goes, “there’s always next year.” Let’s take a look at five games to consider this weekend with hopes of ending on a high note.

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Week 18 Contest Point Spreads

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— Circa Sports (@CircaSports) January 4, 2024

Pittsburgh -4 over Baltimore
The Pittsburgh Steelers are just outside of the playoff picture. If they win, they will need some help, with a Buffalo loss or Jacksonville loss or tie punching a ticket to the postseason. However, a win must come first. Without the win, Pittsburgh’s season is over.

Luckily, the Baltimore Ravens are resting a few of their players after clinching the top seed in the AFC last week with a dominant win over Miami. The Ravens will sit odds-on league MVP Lamar Jackson, receiver Odell Beckham Jr., and most likely rookie receiver Zay Flowers, who didn’t practice this week. There are also a few players on the defensive side that will be inactive, as well.

The Steelers, having to put it all out on the field, against the Ravens “B squad” should be able to take control of this game early and never look back.

Rang in the New Year with a DUB ??

More ??: https://t.co/bW1q7cgD81 pic.twitter.com/Ie4csRHAA2
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 2, 2024

Miami +3 over Buffalo
Miami got blasted by Baltimore, 56-19, last week. Coupled with Buffalo’s win over New England, that means the AFC East division title is up for grabs on Sunday night.

After losses this season, Miami is a perfect 4-0 with a chance to make it 5-0 and lock up the No. 2 seed in the AFC. Buffalo hasn’t clinched a playoff berth yet, but even with a loss, a Jacksonville or Pittsburgh loss would be enough to push them through.

This matchup will be determined by the skill players and by turnovers. Which team can protect the ball the best?

Miami WR Tyreek Hill has been the most explosive and most dangerous receiver in the league. When he gets the ball in his hands, if he already isn’t on his way clear to the endzone, you better tackle him quickly because he can turn something out of nothing in the blink of an eye with his speed.

For the Bills, you have Stefon Diggs, who has had some massive years in his career, but this hasn’t been his best, at least over the last month. In his last four games, Diggs has failed to find the endzone and hasn’t been able to reach 50 receiving yards in a game, very unlike him.

If that trend continues this week, the Bills’ offense may have a tough time keeping up with Miami’s potential firepower.

Chicago +3 over Green Bay
Already eliminated from the playoffs, Chicago, which has rallied to win five of its last seven games, still has reason to celebrate this season. With Carolina locking up the worst record in the NFL, the Bears have control of Carolina’s pick, meaning Chicago will be choosing first in April.

Since that is already set in stone, Chicago won’t hurt its draft position too much with a season-ending win. Plus, there is always something to play for in one of the bigger rivalries in football. The Green Bay Packers have a win-and-get-in scenario for the playoffs, so what an opportunity to play spoiler for the Bears.

Lambeau Field will be rocking but young QB Jordan Love hasn’t had this much pressure on his shoulders in his career before and the Bears have nothing to lose.

If Justin Fields gets going early and Chicago is the team to strike first on the scoreboard, that heavy pressure could start to weigh on Love and the Green Bay offense.

.@justnfields is an escape artist ?? pic.twitter.com/l5ikYt7lgQ
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) January 3, 2024

Seattle -2.5 over Arizona
If the Packers lose, all Seattle has to do is win and it will be in the playoffs. It could’ve been much easier for the Seahawks if they didn’t drop last week’s home game to Pittsburgh, 30-23.

But they can’t change that now and must focus on taking care of business before hoping for a Packers loss.

A mediocre 3-5 road record is not what Seattle fans want to depend on, but what does help is the brutal 2-5 home record for the Arizona Cardinals.

Seattle Head Coach Pete Carroll is quite accustomed to preparing his team for big games and be ready to see more of the same come Sunday.

Tampa Bay -4.5 over Carolina
Win and the division is yours. That is all Tampa Bay has to do against the worst team in the NFL.

What is a must for the Bucs to win? It’s simple, get WR Mike Evans the football. With over 1,200 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns, Evans is a difference maker and has been his entire career. He is a matchup nightmare for defensive backs and really has taken a ton of pressure off QB Baker Mayfield and also opened up the run game for the offense since defenses need to focus in on Evans’ deep threat ability.

While Carolina doesn’t own its first-round pick in the draft, it doesn’t have reason to “tank” and fight this one out to play spoiler. Although, with a 2-14 record, Carolina’s best has still been abysmal.

After being shut out last week against Jacksonville, the offensive struggles continue to be apparent for Carolina and Tampa Bay’s defense will give them issues again this week.

The stage is set.#GoBucs pic.twitter.com/oqhWncLh4n
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 1, 2024

Week 17 Results: 3-2
Season Record: 34-47-4