NFC Playoff Race Picks Up In NFL Week 17

• The San Francisco 49ers are among the biggest betting favorites of the week.
• The Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons and Washington Football Team all have underdog odds on the moneyline.
• The Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints are set to benefit in Week 17.

SAN FRANCISCO – Week 17 of the NFL season should help form the NFC Playoff picture even more as just two spots remain.

The Big Favorite: San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are among the biggest favorites of the week which should help them hold onto the No. 6 seed in the NFC. Legal online sportsbooks have the 49ers as monster favorites against the Houston Texans in Week 17.

San Francisco controls their own fate as if they win the final two games of the season they are guaranteed a spot in the playoffs. Plus, if they win in Week 17 there are possibilities for them to clinch with some help from other teams. If San Fran were to lose, they may need a win and some other teams to lose in Week 18 in order to clinch a spot in the postseason.

Expected To Lose: Minnesota Vikings And Atlanta Falcons

Two of the top five teams in contention for the final playoff spots are expected to lose in Week 17 in the Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons.

The Vikings have a tough matchup against the owners of the NFL’s best record, the Green Bay Packers. Minnesota is currently the first team out of the playoffs if the season were to end today, but the team right behind them is expected to lose as well.

Those betting on the NFL will find the Falcons as monster underdogs in Week 17 to the Buffalo Bills. Teams favored by 14 or more points are 7-1 on the moneyline this season, showing Atlanta is more than likely suffering a defeat this week.

The Beneficiaries: Philadelphia Eagles And New Orleans Saints

The Philadelphia Eagles currently hold the last spot of the NFC playoffs while the New Orleans Saints sit 10th in the NFC standings, one game behind Philly in the playoff race. Both teams are favored in Week 17.

If the Eagles win, it also hurts the Football Team who are not mathematically eliminated but would be if the anticipated result holds true. However, one of the Eagles’ top threats is expected to win as well.

Unfortunately for the Saints, a win will still not get them a spot in the playoffs if the sportsbooks are correct and both the Eagles and 49ers earn wins in Week 17. With only two spots left, New Orleans will likely need some help in the upcoming weeks to earn one.

News tags: Atlanta Falcons | Buffalo Bills | Carolina Panthers | Green Bay Packers | Houston Texans | Minnesota Vikings | New Orleans Saints | NFC | NFL | NFL Playoffs | Philadelphia Eagles | San Francisco 49ers | Washington Football Team