Week 17 used to keep NFL bettors up at night.
The former final week of the schedule was a mixed bag of motivation. Teams continued to push for the playoffs while others packed it in. Postseason-bound clubs rested starters as non-qualifiers planned for next season, kicking the tires on talent. You didn’t know what you were going to get.
But with the 2021 campaign stretched to 18 weeks of NFL betting action and the recent expansion of the tournament, Week 17 is the ugly duckling of the wagering world: emerging as a beautiful betting swan with unique angles and edges to measure when combing the NFL odds.
COVID has complicated things, but with the league constantly moving the goalposts on its pandemic position, teams have a much greater shot at getting key bodies back on the field this Sunday.
We welcome the new-look Week 17 with open arms – or at least with a “bro nod” from a safe 6-foot distance – and dive into our favorite picks getting the points in the latest edition of NFL Underdogs.
