Free NFL Picks and Predictions for Week 13, 2021

After a strong stretch for my NFL predictions and picks, I ran into a wall in week 12. My best bets went just 1-2, while my predictions went an ugly 4-8 on the week.

To be fair, it was an ugly week for football. Still, I aim for a 60% rate, and that just didn’t cut it.

The goal is to get it going in a positive direction for week 13, and it starts with Thursday night’s clash between the Cowboys and Saints. Let’s dive into my week 13 NFL predictions and picks and see how you may want to bet at the best sites for betting on the NFL.

The first game of the week sees the Dallas Cowboys visit the New Orleans Saints. It’s a weird one already, as Big D will be tasked with getting a tough road win without their head coach.

Mike McCarthy won’t be roaming the sidelines, as he’s away from the team due to COVID-19.

Cowboys’ HC Mike McCarthy is out for Thursday night’s game vs. Saints due to COVID, per sources.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 29, 2021

It remains to be seen how impactful McCarthy’s absence ultimately is. On the flip side, the Saints could be getting Alvin Kamara back, and the team is preparing to make a change under center.

Taysom Hill is taking over the offense, which is unpredictable in nature, but could obviously give the Saints a much-needed jolt on offense.

While that could be true, the Cowboys are the better team in this matchup. They also could get reinforcements of their own, as star receiver Amari Cooper is due back.

With the Saints teetering on the brink of playoff elimination, I think Dallas sends them packing in this one.

Tampa Bay is another team I’d confide in if betting on the NFL in week 13. They feel like one of the safest NFL predictions for the week, as they have two straight wins, and they’re winning games in a variety of fashions.

It’s worth noting that Tom Brady isn’t playing his best ball at the moment, and the Bucs are also a middling 3-3 on the road this season.

Still, the Bucs have a shot at the #1 seed in the NFC, and they’re starting to gain some steam. The fact that they won the past two weeks despite Brady not being his elite self is actually a good thing for them right now.

Atlanta is also just an utter mess. So much so, in fact, that some are wondering if they made a mistake by not drafting Matt Ryan’s replacement.

Probably so.

The Falcons did beat the Jaguars last week, but they will struggle mightily to run against Tampa Bay’s nasty run defense, and I don’t trust Matt Ryan to out-duel Brady.

The moneyline is gross here, but this feels like one of the safest week 13 NFL picks to make.

One of my other favorite week 13 NFL picks is Arizona getting a win over the Bears. Huge leap, I know, right?

The Cardinals are nursing a 9-2 record and #1 seed in the NFC, so there’s a lot of incentive for them to go full bore the rest of the way. It also can’t hurt that they may be getting a healthy Kyler Murray back for this one.

Kliff Kingsbury “hopeful” Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins return this week. https://t.co/WtKs7YIT15

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) November 29, 2021

Chicago has a capable defense and will be playing for their playoff lives, but bettors don’t trust them for a reason. The Bears backed their way into a 16-14 win over the Lions, and have questions under center.

Arizona is a hefty favorite, but they’re still very likely to get the win this week and move to 10-2.

The rest of my free NFL picks for week 13 aren’t so easily explained.

Some are, as the Lions probably shouldn’t get their first win of the season against Minnesota, the Colts should safely top the Texans, and the Rams losing to Jacksonville would be insanely shocking.

The Eagles should also take care of the Jets, while the Chiefs should grind out a tough divisional win over Denver.

Elsewhere, I like the Bolts to win a shootout with the Bengals. The Chargers have played well when their backs are against the wall, and this feels like an “on” week for them.

New England’s defense has been disgusting, but stifling the Bills offense won’t be easy. Buffalo also has a tough defense of their own, too. With the division title on the line in the AFC East, I think they figure out a way to even things up.

If you’re wondering how to bet on week 13 NFL games, you can use these NFL predictions. They really only pertain to moneyline bets, though, so be sure to keep an eye out for my top NFL against the spread picks.

You can roll with my week 13 NFL straight up picks, but I also love the bets above.

L.A. has to snap out of this funk they’re in. I get that Matthew Stafford isn’t completely healthy, but nobody is at this stage of the season. Their defense needs to perform better, too.

Jacksonville is over-matched here. The Rams should roll. Their moneyline is too thick to chase after, but despite this huge spread, I think they get it done.

I wouldn’t be so quick to hammer KC at -10, however. The Chiefs certainly are capable of beating the Broncos by 11 points, but Denver has shown serious signs of life lately.

Dallas should get the win on a short week, too. They’re without their head coach and on the road, but the Saints are a mess. I’d trust the slightly more cohesive unit and hammer the Cowboys at a ML you just won’t get that often with them.

Want to bet on the NFL in week 13, but need more advice? Check out some locks and underdogs below.