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Where the action is: Sunday's biggest NFL Week 17 line moves
Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots - Open: -5, Move: -4.5, Move: -5
Before last week against Oakland, the Buffalo Bills had to win their remaining two games and get some help to have any hope at attaining one of AFC Wild Card spots. After a 26-24 loss in the Black Hole, the Bills head into the matchup just playing out the schedule while the perennially competitive Pats will view this one as a warm up game before the real season starts.
"This is a very hairy game for us," said Kaminsky. "New England doesn't need to win, so the issue we're facing is if Bill Belichick will rest his starters. We opened the Pats at -5 which is where it currently sits, but if news breaks that Brady and Gronkowski will be on the sideline I expect that number to go down to -3 or -3.5."
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers - Open: -3.5, Move: -4, Move: -3.5
Both of these AFC North rivals have already secured playoff spots, but the all-important home field advantage is on the line as the winner of this matchup will be crowned division champions. The hated rivals met just three weeks ago in Cincy where the black and gold hammered Andy Dalton and company 42-21 while easily covering as 3-point dogs.
"It's quite possible the Bengals could find themselves in a letdown spot in the wake of their enormous victory over Denver last Monday," Kaminsky told Covers. "We have Pittsburgh at -3.5, but the public will be on Big Ben's squad in this one, so I think there's a shot we close this game at -4."
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens - Open: -8.5, Move: -13.5
Have the Cleveland Browns asked you to play quarterback yet? Check your cell phone, you may have a missed call from their GM Ray Farmer. When "Johnny Football" was ruled out for the season following a hamstring injury he suffered against Carolina in Week 16, the man who lost his job to Manziel - Brian Hoyer - has also been deemed ineligible to play, meaning undrafted rookie signal caller Connor Shaw will make his first NFL start versus Baltimore Sunday.
"We opened the Browns as +8.5 dogs but when it was announced Hoyer wasn't going to play, we re-opened them at +13," states Kaminsky. "Cleveland is going to have a tough time putting points on the board. Baltimore needs to win to reach the playoffs, but we've seen so many clubs over the years in their spot that don't come through in the last week with so much on the line. On the other side of the coin, that's a huge pointspread. It's tough to lay that many points in the NFL."
Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers - Open: -6, Move: -6.5
In what's been the worst kept secret in the league this year, Sunday will mark the end of the Jim Harbaugh era in San Francisco. Deep postseason runs have become the norm for the Niners over the last few seasons, but they'll be watching from the couch come January this time around following a disappointing campaign which has been dominated by rumors surrounding the head coach's looming departure.
"Our book opened San Fran at -6, but now have them as 6.5-point chalk," Kaminsky said. "This is another tricky game for us. The Cardinals are officially in the playoffs, but they need to win this game and have the Seahawks lose to the Rams in order to clinch the NFC West. Since both the Cards and Seahawks play at the same time, that's working in our favor. However, if Seattle is blowing out St. Louis in the first half, you have to wonder if Bruce Arians will rest his main guys, which could have a huge impact on the second half line. Considering how ravaged Arizona has been by injuries this season that may not be a bad idea, but it's all up in the air as of now."
Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings - Open: -7, Move: -6
After a short-lived benching it's once again Jay Cutler time in the Windy City, but you won't be seeing much excitement from Bears fans. Chicago's uninspiring season took another turn once head coach Marc Trestman benched the Vanderbilt product in the wake of the Bears' Week 15 loss to the Saints. Due to a concussion suffered by Jimmy Clausen last week, Cutler will lead the Monsters of the Midway onto the field Sunday before they enter an offseason with more questions than answers surrounding the team.
"We opened Minnesota at -7 with the assumption that Clausen would start," said Kaminsnky. "When it was announced Cutler would be under center, that line dropped to -6. The Bears are a team in disarray, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Vikes cover this number with ease."
Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots - Open: -5, Move: -4.5, Move: -5
Before last week against Oakland, the Buffalo Bills had to win their remaining two games and get some help to have any hope at attaining one of AFC Wild Card spots. After a 26-24 loss in the Black Hole, the Bills head into the matchup just playing out the schedule while the perennially competitive Pats will view this one as a warm up game before the real season starts.
"This is a very hairy game for us," said Kaminsky. "New England doesn't need to win, so the issue we're facing is if Bill Belichick will rest his starters. We opened the Pats at -5 which is where it currently sits, but if news breaks that Brady and Gronkowski will be on the sideline I expect that number to go down to -3 or -3.5."
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers - Open: -3.5, Move: -4, Move: -3.5
Both of these AFC North rivals have already secured playoff spots, but the all-important home field advantage is on the line as the winner of this matchup will be crowned division champions. The hated rivals met just three weeks ago in Cincy where the black and gold hammered Andy Dalton and company 42-21 while easily covering as 3-point dogs.
"It's quite possible the Bengals could find themselves in a letdown spot in the wake of their enormous victory over Denver last Monday," Kaminsky told Covers. "We have Pittsburgh at -3.5, but the public will be on Big Ben's squad in this one, so I think there's a shot we close this game at -4."
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens - Open: -8.5, Move: -13.5
Have the Cleveland Browns asked you to play quarterback yet? Check your cell phone, you may have a missed call from their GM Ray Farmer. When "Johnny Football" was ruled out for the season following a hamstring injury he suffered against Carolina in Week 16, the man who lost his job to Manziel - Brian Hoyer - has also been deemed ineligible to play, meaning undrafted rookie signal caller Connor Shaw will make his first NFL start versus Baltimore Sunday.
"We opened the Browns as +8.5 dogs but when it was announced Hoyer wasn't going to play, we re-opened them at +13," states Kaminsky. "Cleveland is going to have a tough time putting points on the board. Baltimore needs to win to reach the playoffs, but we've seen so many clubs over the years in their spot that don't come through in the last week with so much on the line. On the other side of the coin, that's a huge pointspread. It's tough to lay that many points in the NFL."
Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers - Open: -6, Move: -6.5
In what's been the worst kept secret in the league this year, Sunday will mark the end of the Jim Harbaugh era in San Francisco. Deep postseason runs have become the norm for the Niners over the last few seasons, but they'll be watching from the couch come January this time around following a disappointing campaign which has been dominated by rumors surrounding the head coach's looming departure.
"Our book opened San Fran at -6, but now have them as 6.5-point chalk," Kaminsky said. "This is another tricky game for us. The Cardinals are officially in the playoffs, but they need to win this game and have the Seahawks lose to the Rams in order to clinch the NFC West. Since both the Cards and Seahawks play at the same time, that's working in our favor. However, if Seattle is blowing out St. Louis in the first half, you have to wonder if Bruce Arians will rest his main guys, which could have a huge impact on the second half line. Considering how ravaged Arizona has been by injuries this season that may not be a bad idea, but it's all up in the air as of now."
Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings - Open: -7, Move: -6
After a short-lived benching it's once again Jay Cutler time in the Windy City, but you won't be seeing much excitement from Bears fans. Chicago's uninspiring season took another turn once head coach Marc Trestman benched the Vanderbilt product in the wake of the Bears' Week 15 loss to the Saints. Due to a concussion suffered by Jimmy Clausen last week, Cutler will lead the Monsters of the Midway onto the field Sunday before they enter an offseason with more questions than answers surrounding the team.
"We opened Minnesota at -7 with the assumption that Clausen would start," said Kaminsnky. "When it was announced Cutler would be under center, that line dropped to -6. The Bears are a team in disarray, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Vikes cover this number with ease."
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