Per usual, NFL Week 13 odds are being impacted by injury news, and of course illness in the era of COVID. In fact, the first game of the week might be impacted the most.
The Dallas Cowboys are sick and banged up ahead of the Thursday night game, while the New Orleans Saints likely will be without their star running back once again.
Props.com’s NFL Week 13 Odds and Ends serves as a one-stop shop for details on injuries, weather conditions, and Pros vs. Joes action. Check back regularly for injury updates, significant weather impacts, and notable contrasts between NFL Week 13 sharp bets and public money.
NFL Week 13 Injuries
Arizona Cardinals: Quarterback Kyler Murray (ankle) and wideout DeAndre Hopkins (ankle) are questionable, with Murray looking the more likely of the two to return. Both have missed Arizona’s last three games. The SuperBook opened the Cardinals -7 at Chicago, reached -8 a couple of times and settled at -7.5 Thursday and remained there as of Saturday night. The total has tumbled from 46.5 to 42, with rain and potential high wind gusts in the forecast (see Weather section below).
Chicago Bears: QB Justin Fields (ribs) and wideout Allen Robinson (ribs) are doubtful. In fact, Bears coach Matt Nagy already said Andy Dalton will make his second consecutive start under center vs. Arizona. Wideout Marquise Goodwin (foot/ribs) is out. Chicago opened as a 7-point home underdog versus Arizona at The SuperBook and was sitting at +7.5 on Saturday evening. The total fell from 46.5 to 45.5 Wednesday and continued to tumble from there, settling at 42 as of Saturday night.
Minnesota Vikings: Running back Dalvin Cook (shoulder) is out for Sunday’s tilt at Detroit. The Vikings have been bouncing between -7 and -7.5 at The SuperBook throughout the week, with the spread holding at -7 as of Saturday night. The total is down 2 points, from an opener of 48.5 to 46.5.
Detroit Lions: It’s probably more newsworthy at this point when running back D’Andre Swift isn’t on the injury report. Swift (knee) was knocked out of the Lions’ Thanksgiving Day game in the first half and is out for Sunday’s home game against Minnesota. Detroit moved from +7.5 to +7 Sunday night at The SuperBook, then returned to +7.5 Thursday night before going back to +7 on Saturday. The total dipped from 48.5 to 46.5.
Indianapolis Colts: Tight end Jack Doyle (knee) is questionable at Houston, but the Colts’ offensive line has healed up this week. Indy is up to -10 from a -7.5 opener at The SuperBook, though the total is down 2 points to 44.5.
Houston Texans: Running back David Johnson (illness/thigh), and wideouts Chris Conley (illness) and Brandin Cooks (illness) are questionable for Sunday’s game vs. Indianapolis. Houston’s defensive line is dinged up, too. The Texans opened +7.5 and were at +10 Saturday night at The SuperBook. The total slipped from 46.5 to 44.5.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: This was surely already factored into the side and total, but wideout Antonio Brown (ankle) will miss his sixth straight game. In fact, the NFL hit Brown with a three-game suspension Thursday for a COVID-related violation. The Bucs, visiting Atlanta, opened -10.5 at The SuperBook and initially ticked down to -10, but were at -10.5 Saturday evening. The total is 50.5.
San Francisco 49ers: Wideout Deebo Samuel (groin) is out for Sunday’s contest at Seattle. However, San Francisco has gone from -2.5 to -3 (-120) at The SuperBook. The total dropped from 46.5 to 45.5 Monday and is still 45.5 Friday night.
Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks have issues in the backfield, as running backs Alex Collins (abdomen), Rashaad Penny (hamstring), and Travis Homer (calf) are all questionable against San Francisco. Seattle opened +2.5 at The SuperBook, went to +3.5 (-120) Friday night, and was back to +3 (-120) on Saturday. The total fell from 46.5 to 45.5.
Denver Broncos: Running back Melvin Gordon (shoulder/hip) has been ruled out for the Sunday nighter at Kansas City. Denver is also beat up on the offensive line. The Broncos moved from +9.5 to +10 and back to +9.5 by Wednesday, with the spread holding there as of Saturday. The SuperBook has the total pegged at 47 Saturday night, down from a 48.5 opener.
Kansas City Chiefs: Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness) is still listed as questionable for Sunday night vs. Denver. The SuperBook moved the Chiefs from -9.5 to -10 and back to -9.5, where the line has stuck since Wednesday.
Washington Football Team: Running back J.D. McKissic (concussion) is out for Sunday’s game at Las Vegas, while wideout Curtis Samuel (groin) is questionable. However, Washington dropped from +2.5 to +1.5 Friday night at The SuperBook. The Football Team remained +1.5 Saturday evening, while the total was down from 49.5 to 48.
Las Vegas Raiders: Tight end Darren Waller (back/knee) on Saturday was ruled out against Washington, while running back Josh Jacobs (ankle) remains questionable. The Raiders have slipped from -2.5 to -1.5 at The SuperBook.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Running back James Robinson (heel/knee) is questionable Sunday at the Rams. But Jacksonville actually shortened from +13.5 to +12.5 by Monday at The SuperBook, and that number hasn’t changed since.
Los Angeles Rams: Running back Darrell Henderson Jr. (thigh) and wideout Odell Beckham Jr. (hip) are questionable for Sunday’s home tilt vs. Jacksonville. Los Angeles opened -13.5 at The SuperBook and was -12.5 Saturday night.
Pittsburgh Steelers: QB Ben Roethlisberger (pectoral/shoulder) and wideout Chase Claypool (toe) were both questionable early in the week. But neither had an injury designation on Friday. Pittsburgh is a 4.5.-point ‘dog as of Saturday night after opening +3 at The SuperBook. The Over/Under is 44.
New York Giants: QB Daniel Jones (neck) is out for Sunday’s contest at Miami, meaning veteran Mike Glennon will get the start under center. Two of the Giants’ top wideouts — Sterling Shepard (quad) and Kadarius Toney (oblique/quad) — are doubtful, while tight end Kyle Rudolph (ankle) is questionable. New York opened +2.5 at The SuperBook and reached +5 Tuesday, then shortened to +4 Wednesday. However, after the news about Jones became official, the Giants zoomed to +6.5. The total fell from 43 to 39.5.
Miami Dolphins: Oft-injured wideout DeVante Parker, who has been out since Week 9 with shoulder and hamstring issues, was activated off injured reserve Saturday and is expected to play Sunday when Miami hosts the New York Giants. The Dolphins have gone from -2.5 to -6.5, mostly because Giants QB Daniel Jones has been ruled out (see above).
Philadelphia Eagles: QB Jalen Hurts (ankle) was a limited participant in practice all week and as of Friday night was listed as questionable Sunday’s game at the Jets. However, Hurts was officially ruled out Saturday night, paving the way for Gardner Minshew to start. The SuperBook opened the Eagles -7, dipped to -6.5 Monday and went to -7 (even) Wednesday. On news of Hurts not playing, though, Philadelphia plunged to -4.5 Saturday night. The total remained unchanged at 43.5.
New York Jets: Wideout Corey Davis (groin) is questionable for Sunday’s home game against the Eagles. New York moved from +7 to +6.5 to +7 (even), then returned to +6.5 Friday at The SuperBook. However, the spread was adjusted to Jets +4.5 on Saturday night after Eagles QB Jalen Hurts was ruled out (see above).
Dallas Cowboys: For certain, Dallas coach Mike McCarthy (COVID) won’t be on the sideline Thursday night. However, some might consider that a net positive, and perhaps it is. A few other assistants are in COVID protocols, as well. As for players, it appears likely that CeeDee Lamb will clear concussion protocols and fellow wideout Amari Cooper will clear COVID protocols. Cooper missed the past two games after testing positive.
The Cowboys opened -5.5 and initially rose to -6 at The SuperBook, then receded to -4.5 by Monday afternoon. But the Cowboys shot to -6 Thursday morning, likely due to the Saints’ issues (see below).
New Orleans Saints: Running back Alvin Kamara (knee) is questionable, and Thursday morning reports indicate he’s unlikely to play against Dallas. New Orleans opened +5.5 at The SuperBook and stretched to +6, then shortened to +4.5. However, on Thursday morning’s news, this line jumped to Saints +5.5 and then onto +6. The total is down to 46 from a 47.5 opener.
NFL Week 13 Weather
New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills: It’s the marquee matchup of Week 13, it’s on Monday Night Football, and a cold front is rolling into upstate New York. The forecast calls for an 80 percent chance of morning rain, with temperatures dropping from the low-50s into the mid-30s by kickoff. There will also be strong winds of 20-25 mph and higher gusts possible. The total has been on a steady decline at The SuperBook all week, going from an opener of 46 to 44 by Monday to 42 on Friday and down to 40.5 on Saturday night.
Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears: On Saturday night, the Sunday forecast for Chicago called for a 70 percent chance of rain at kickoff, with that prognostication increasing to 88 percent around halftime. Winds could approach 20 mph at game time and remain in the 10-15 mph range throughout the contest. The total at The SuperBook plummeted from an opener of 46 to 42 by Friday night and remained there as of Saturday night.
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs: It will be dry with temperatures in the low to mid 50s Sunday night in Kansas City, but wind could be an issue with sustained breezes of 15 mph throughout the game. The SuperBook opened the total for this AFC West clash at 48.5 and has been at 47 since Tuesday.
NFL Week 13 Pros vs Joes
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs: Zachary Lucas, trading analyst for TwinSpires Sportsbook, said the total for the Sunday night contest is pitting sharp money against the public cash. The total is down to 47 from a 49.5 opener, with 60% of tickets on the Over/78% of cash on the Under. “The pros are on the Under,” Lucas said.