With the NFL playoff picture cloudy with just two weeks left, winning in week 16 action is essential for the playoff contenders. NFL action expands to 4 games this week: Panthers - Steelers on Thursday, Cowboys - Cardinals Saturday, 13 games on Sunday and a great NFC matchup on Monday with the Saints against the Falcons.

Here are the spreads and predictions against-the spread (ATS) for Week 16 of the NFL season.

NFL THURSDAY, December 23, 2010
Panthers (+15) over STEELERS (Over/Under: 37)
A 15-point spread in an NFL game is just too much, especially when the favorite has already sewn up a playoff spot.
Take the Panthers and the points

NFL SATURDAY, December 25, 2010
Cowboys (-7) Over CARDINALS (Over/Under: 45)
With both teams out of the playoff picture, this game is big for Dallas’ interim coach Jason Garrett, who is trying to prove he has what it takes to be the Cowboys new head coach. Arizona is 1-4 ATS in their last five games.
The underachieving Cowboys should win by 10

NFL SUNDAY, December 26, 2010
Lions (+3.5) Over DOLPHINS (Over/Under: 41.5)
The Dolphin offense and QB Chad Henne have just been atrocious lately.  The Lions are coming off a 2 game win streak. The Lions are 1-4 ATS and 8-4 ATS as the away underdog. The Dolphins are 2-5 ATS at home and 1-5 ATS as a home favorite.
The Lions have gained confidence and will fry the Fish.

JAGUARS (-7) Over Redskins (Over/Under: 46)
In Week 15, the Redskins replaced QB Donovan McNabb with Rex Grossman but it still wasn’t enough to beat the NFC East, last place, Cowboys. The Jaguars are 4-0 as the ATS favorite and 4-0 ATS as a home favorite.
Go with the trend and the Jaguars

RAMS (-2.5) 0ver 49ers (Over/Under: 39.5)
Can you believe that a divisional leader has a 6-8 record? Well, that’s the story in the NFC West where the Rams and Seahawks share that record and the lead. The trends show the 49ers have the advantage, going 8-2 within the division while the Rams are 1-9 in December.
With the NFC Division title within grasp, you gotta go against the trends and take the Rams.

Patriots (-9) Over BILLS (Over/Under: 44)
In week 15 action, the Patriots needed a 4th quarter TD to get past the Packers. The Pats are assured at least a playoff spot but a win this week secures them the AFC East championship. After an 0-8 start, the Bills are 4-2. Straight up, the Bills are 1-18 in their last 19 meetings with the Patriots. The Patriots have lost their last two ATS.
Look for the Patriots to win big and on the winning side ATS.

Jets (+1) Over BEARS (Over/Under: 36.5)
The Bears are the NFC Division champs after Monday night’s blowout of the Packers (40-14). You can throw out all the trends and statistics in this one; the Bears can afford to rest their starters and the Jets need a win.
Take the Jets, period.

Ravens (-4) Over Browns (Over/Under: 39.5)
With the Pittsburgh Steelers assured a playoff spot, the Ravens need a win to stay in the AFC playoff picture. The Browns are 5-9 in 2010 and out of the playoffs. Expect the Ravens to stay on the ground and live off Rice (RB Ray Rice) this Sunday.
Take the Ravens – forget the points.

CHIEFS (-5) Over Titans (Over/Under: 42)
The Chiefs are 6-0 at home (SU) in 2010 and KC is a tough place to play. The Chiefs are better in the turnover department (+.03 vs .- 07) and the Titans are penalty prone. In addition, the Chiefs control their own destiny in the AFC West playoff race. A Chiefs (10-4) win combined with a San Diego loss (9-5) spells a divisional title for KC.  KC QB Matt Cassel is back in form after an appendectomy.
Expect the Titans to have an “add-a-loss-to-me” this week ATS.

Texans (-3) Over BRONCOS (Over/Under: 48.5)
Neither of these two are in the AFC playoff picture and both teams have had a disappointing and underachieving year. The Texans are 4-9 ATS and the Broncos 4-10 ATS in 2010 - tough one to pick with nothing on the line.
Take the Texans giving 3.

Colts (-3) Over RAIDERS (Over/Under: 47)
The Colts, once again, find themselves in need of a win to stay in the NFL playoff race.  The Raiders, for the first time in many years, have a chance (although very slim) in December of making the playoffs. Even with favorite WR Austin Collie on IR (concussion), never go again Peyton Manning with his back against the wall.
Take the Colts ATS to stay in the AFC playoff race

Chargers (-7.5) Over BENGALS (Over/Under: 44)
It seems that the Bengals have been out of the playoff picture for months.  The surging Chargers still have chance at the playoffs with a few wins and a big slip up by the Chiefs
7 ½ points seems like a lot but not for Rivers and the hot Chargers.

Giants (NL) Over PACKERS (Over/Under: NL)
The Giants gotta be burning inside after theirs colossal collapse (forget the Joe Pisarcik – Eagles game) in the Meadowlands last week against the Eagles (L 38-31). Regardless of that outcome, the Giants control their own destiny in the NFC playoff race.
Doesn’t matter what the spread is in this game – the Giants win big and redeem themselves after their worst loss in team history.

EAGLES (NL) Over Vikings (Over/Under: NL)
Michael Vick’s performance against the Giants in week 15 is enough to make this game the lock of the week, regardless of the spread, especially after the Vikings getting routed by the Bears on Monday night (40-14).
Is Michael Vick the NFL MVP? Doesn’t matter in this contest – take the Eagles.

MONDAY, December 27, 2010
FALCONS (-3) Over Saints (Over/Under (48.5)
What a great Monday night game, and absolutely the best NFL matchup of week 16. Even though the Falcons are guaranteed a playoff spot, don’t expect a letup in their play.Simply, take the Falcons and QB Matt Ryan.

HOMETEAM IN CAPS

NL = No Line on the spread as of press time (espn, bodog.com, sportsinteraction.com, 5dimes.com, sdgglobal)  SU = Straight Up  ATS = Against the spread

Spreads as/of Wed. 12/22/10 12:00 pm EST

The results of Week 16 NFL action set the scene for the final NFL playoff picture.

Sources: bodog.com ,espn.com

The much anticipated SuperBowl is arguably the biggest holiday in America.  People will travel and huddle around their high-def TVs and basically tailgame in the home.  The 2009 Superbowl will be played on Sunday, February 1, 2009. Game time is set for 6:20 pm Eastern Time.  NBC will televise the forty-third Superbowl live from Raymond James Stadium, in Tampa, Florida.

Superbowl XLIII will feature the NFC Conference Champions, the Arizona Cardinals and the AFC Champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers. It will be a contest between the number one defense of the Pittsburgh Steelers versus the high flying offense of the Arizona Cardinals led by quarterback Kurt Warner.  Expect it be an exciting, hard hitting game.

NBC looks to score big with a day full of Super Bowl coverage, and the hope that the ratings will turn out to be huge not only for the big game, but the commercial breaks that tend to also draw large audiences. Joining the game will be pop-singer Jennifer Hudson, who will perform The Star-Spangled Banner before the first kick-off, in what will be here first public performance since the tragic death of her family members. For the halftime show sponsored by Bridgestone, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform live at a Super Bowl for the very first time.

Due to the economic times, NBC has been forced to drop pregame ad rates for advertisers.  Sales of ads for next Sunday’s Super Bowl are holding up fairly well though, even at $3 million (U.S.) for 30 seconds. But commercial spots that will run in the pregame hours? That’s a different ball game.

Depending on the number of ads bought or the hour of the day, pregame ads can cost about half the price of an in-game commercial, ad buyers said. That would mean some of this year’s pregame ads could cost more than $1 million for 30 seconds.

The NBC television listing for Superbowl Sunday is:

12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
“THE ROAD TO THE SUPER BOWL”

1 p.m. – 6 p.m.
SUPER BOWL XLIII PRE-GAME SHOW
Commentators:  Bob Costas, Cris Collinsworth, Keith Olbermann, Dan Patrick, Jerome Bettis, Tiki Barber, Peter King, Matt Millen

6 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
SUPERBOWL XLIII
Commentators:  Al Michaels, John Madden, Andrea Kremer, Alex Flanagan