NFL Record: Best Bets 7-5, Regular Picks 17-12 (Updated Dec 18)

Most weeks we provide our NFL best bet of the week and an additional two to three picks that we believe offer some betting value. Last season our top play crushed the book with an incredible 15 point spread covers from 21 selections. Good for a 71.4 winning percent. While it will be difficult to improve on that record, we'll do our best to help our readers in their quest of a profitable football handicapping season.

Green Bay won their 5th-straight game with a 21-14 victory at Chicago last Sunday. Pittsburgh lost their 5th-straight game with a disappointing 13-6 defeat to hapless Cleveland on Thursday.

The Packers will look to unleash their Top 10 passing offense against a defense that has continued to be abused through the air during their losing streak. Their much-maligned offensive line has played better lately but will be challenged by the multiple blitz packages that Steelers Def. Co. Dick LeBeau will devise for this contest. QB Aaron Rodgers has a 25-7 TD-INT ratio and really spreads the ball around. Pittsburgh's secondary isn't the same without SS Troy Polamalu and look for Rodgers to make them pay. RB Ryan Grant has had a good season thus far but the going will be tough against the No.1 run defense in the NFL. Still, the Steelers have to be concerned with Green Bay's passing game and that could allow Grant to find some holes in the tough Steelers front seven.

Pittsburgh's offense has really been struggling during their losing streak. They have scored only eight TDS during that time and six of those came against Kansas City and Oakland. QB Ben Roethlisberger has been sacked 38 times this season and the O-line continues to have problems (8 sacks allowed against the Browns). Green Bay's defense has played very well during the second half of the season (14 points or less allowed in 4 of last 5 games) and are getting more comfortable with the 3-4 every week. Rashard Mendenhall has taken over as the starting RB but must face the Top 5 run defense of the Pack. If Mendenhall can't get positive yardage on early downs, Roethlisberger will be put in obvious passing downs and that doesn't bode well for a struggling offense (less than 17 points-per-game last 5 games).

This game features two teams going in very different directions. The Steelers aren't likely to make the playoffs and injuries are definitely a part of it. They will be without several starters for this game and the backups haven't been able to pick them up. Green Bay is playing better every week and they need this game to solidify their playoff position. Look for Rodgers to be the difference in another loss for the Steelers.

Additional Pro Football Picks

• Buffalo +7
• Tennessee -4.5 -3
• Chic/Balt Over 39