Aug 22, 2020; Inglewood California, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald (99) celebrates during a scrimmage at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The NFL season is cruising (sort of) along. There's been some hiccups, and you never really know when a team could get shut down due to COVID-19, but we're here for week eight, and the picks are still rolling in. At this point in the season, you have a pretty good idea about who is good and who isn't, unless you look at the NFC East, where everyone is bad but it doesn't matter because someone has to win it. Patrick Mahomes looks like the MVP. The Steelers might be the best team in football. The Eagles are broken. And Tom Brady is struggling as the playoff picture begins to come into focus. Every game matters. It's going to be a crazy finish to this season.
Like always, these are our straight-up picks and not ATS. For all our NFL bets of the week, tune into the Complex Sports Load Management podcast, where we break down every game by the spread. Not to toot our own horn, but we're on a pretty crazy ATS picks streak right now. So if you're into that kind of thing, check out the podcast. As for the straight-up picks, Zion has a narrow lead. Who is going to take it this week? Here are our Week 13 NFL straight-up picks.
Overall Records
Chopz - 108-67
Adam - 107-68
Zion - 115-60
Angel - 114-61
Cleveland Browns at Tennessee Titans
Channel: CBS
Point Spread: Titans -5.5
Chopz: Browns, baby.
Adam: JFC, I’m actually taking the Browns against a good team. Hopefully that jinxes them.
Zion: Titans, browns get exposed by good teams.
Angel: This is easy. Titans.
Las Vegas Raiders at New York Jets
Channel: CBS
Point Spread: Raiders -9
Chopz: Raiders win, but it’s close.
Adam: Raiders, but they’ll look like garbage since they’re traveling east for the second straight week.
Zion: Raiders.
Angel: Raiders, but the Jets cover.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Minnesota Vikings
Channel: CBS
Point Spread: Vikings -10
Chopz: Vikings.
Adam: Mike Zimmer doesn’t lose at home to feeble teams like the Jaguars.
Zion: Vikings.
Angel: The Jags stink. Give me the Vikings.
Cincinnati Bengals at Miami Dolphins
Channel: CBS
Point Spread: Dolphins -11.5
Chopz: Dolphins win.
Adam: The Bengals are going to catch a beating in Miami.
Zion: Dolphins.
Angel: The Fins start to look decent again and get the win.
Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans
Channel: CBS
Point Spread: Colts -3.5
Chopz: Upset alert here. Texans.
Adam: The road team has historically done well in this series. Texans cover, but Indy leaves Houston with a win.
Zion: Colts.
Angel: I want to stop sleeping on the Colts, but I think Houston gets this one.
Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears
Channel: FOX
Point Spread: Bears -3
Chopz: Lions win.
Adam: Bears have won five in a row in this matchup. Make it six since I don’t believe in the whole “new coach bump” theory Lions backers will use to justify picking them.
Zion: Lions.
Angel: Bears should be the better team, right? I think I’m taking the Lions for chaos purposes.
New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons
Channel: FOX
Point Spread: Saints -3
Chopz: Saints win but not by much.
Adam: I have zero faith in Taysom Hill under center so what the hell...give me the Falcons.
Zion: Saints.
Angel: In another year, I would pick the Falcons. Give me the Saints.
New York Giants at Seattle Seahawks
Channel: FOX
Point Spread: Seahawks -10.5
Chopz: Seattle wins this.
Adam: Nothing to see here. Seahawks.
Zion: Seahawks. Giants win with a healthy Daniel Jones.
Angel: Hawks.
Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals
Channel: FOX
Point Spread: Rams -3
Chopz: Rams, I think.
Adam: Arizona has to get its shit together, right? Right? I’m tempted to take the Rams, but I’ll believe in the Cardinals one last time before they’re dead to me.
Zion: Cardinals.
Angel: This is a tough one, but I think the Rams are for real. Still, I think I’ll take the Cards at home.
New England Patriots at Los Angeles Chargers
Channel: CBS
Point Spread: Patriots -1
Chopz: Pats on the road.
Adam: There’s a massive coaching mismatch and that’s why the Patriots are the easy pick.
Zion: Patriots.
Angel: New England.
Philadelphia Eagles at Green Bay Packers
Channel: CBS
Point Spread: Packers -8.5
Chopz: Packers, easy.
Adam: Carson Wentz is broken. Aaron Rodgers is not. Packers.
Zion: Packers.
Angel: Packers.
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs
Channel: NBC
Point Spread: Chiefs -14
Chopz: Chiefs by 10.
Adam: Chiefs, but Broncos keep it closer than the experts think.
Zion: Chiefs.
Angel: Chiefs.
Washington Football Team at Pittsburgh Steelers
Channel: FOX
Point Spread: Steelers -7
Chopz: I so badly want to take Washington here. It’s going to be close, but Steelers.
Adam: Steelers, but closer than the experts think.
Zion: Washington.
Angel: The Steelers in a competitive one.
Buffalo Bills at San Francisco 49ers
Channel: ESPN
Point Spread: 49ers -1
Chopz: Bills.
Adam: The Arizona 49ers are about to have it rough for the month of December. Choosing the Bills here with no hesitation.
Zion: Bills
Angel: Bills.
Dallas Cowboys at Baltimore Ravens
Channel: NFLN
Point Spread: Ravens -7.5
Chopz: Do we know who’s playing QB for the Ravens? I guess give me Baltimore.
Adam: Assuming the Ravens welcome back half of the roster that spread COVID like they were at a Trump rally, you can’t pick the Cowboys. Baltimore’s the play.
Zion: Ravens win assuming Lamar will be back.
Angel: Ravens, no matter who’s under center.