The final week of the 2025 regular season features three top games I analyze that will determine two division champions and fill the final two NFL playoff spots - Carolina at Tampa Bay Saturday and Baltimore at Pittsburgh Sunday night. The NFL Week 18 schedule will also determine the No. 1 seeds in the AFC and NFC with the big Seattle at San Francisco contest to determine the NFC West champion and No. 1 seed. 

Plenty of teams resting players for the playoffs, like the Packers, who are locked in as the No. 7 seed in the National Football Conference. Betting lines are adjusted along with NFL Week 18 tips and totals. 

Here are some other playoff situations and scenarios to monitor. Check out the link for No. 1 seed scenarios and more, along with a few games and situations to follow below. 

Houston (11-5) needs a win and a Jacksonville (12-4) loss to win the AFC South and get the 3 seed in the AFC. The Texans defense is the leagues best and also allows a league-low -0.11 EPA/play. Even if the Jaguars win as a huge home favorite, the Texans have an incentive to keep their position as the 5 seed. The Texans would then travel to tackle the AFC North winner (BAL/PIT) vs traveling to Denver, New England or Jacksonville. 

Should the Buccaneers beat the Panthers, they would both be 8-9. That would mean if the Falcons beat the Saints Sunday, Atlanta would also be 8-9 and the Carolina Panthers would win the 3-way tiebreaker to win the NFC South and advance to the playoffs. In the Panthers 23-20 win over the Buccaneers in Week 16, neither team reached 300 yards total offense or 200 passing yards with our opinion (3-0 week) and teaser winners on the Panthers.   

NFL Week 18 Odds

Betting lines and NFL odds from BetOnline and top online sportsbooks refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live/in-game betting. Point spread on favorites and all Week 18 games are division contests. 

- Carolina at Tampa Bay (-2.5 / 3), 44 - Sat. Jan. 3
- Seattle (-1.5) at San Francisco, 47 - Sat.
- Green Bay at Minnesota (-7), 35.5 - Sunday
- Indianapolis at Houston (-10), 39
- Cleveland at Cincinnati (-7.5), 45
- Dallas (-3.5) at New York Giants, 51
- New Orleans at Atlanta (-3), 44
- Tennessee at Jacksonville (-12.5), 47.5
- Miami at New England (-10.5), 45.5
- Kansas City (-5) at Las Vegas, 37
- Detroit at Chicago (-3), 50.5
- New York Jets at Buffalo (-7), 37.5
- Washington at Philadelphia (-3.5), 39
- Arizona at Los Angeles Rams (-7), 46
- Los Angeles Chargers at Denver (-12.5), 37.5
- Baltimore (-3.5) at Pittsburgh, 41 

Week 18 Game Totals

Panthers-Buccaneers - Under
Saints-Falcons - Over 

Opinions

Chiefs-Raiders - Under 

Here in Las Vegas, the Raiders (2-14) are completing a disastrous season and in pole position for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Hard to believe with the completely clueless Titans (3-13) and Jets (3-13) with their bumbling coaches, quarterbacks and among the worst teams in recent memory. That is if you don't consider the 0-16 Browns in 2017 with their completely clueless coach Hugh Freeze and bumbling rotating quarterbacks (1-31 over two seasons). The Raiders have lost 10-straight games and it started with a 31-0 loss at Kansas City on Oct. 19. A low-scoring angle is in play, and there is even position ATS profiles on the Raiders as home 'Dog this week. But I'll pass with their best players sidelined with injuries in DE Max Crosby and TE Brock Bowers and bumbling QB Geno Smith is also out meaining Kenny Pickett starts with a better option Aiden O'Connell seeing action. 

Check back ahead of Saturday games for any totals and tips updates along with our weekly picks, props and parlays. NFL picks are 8-2 since Week 11 following the 49ers thrilling 42-38 win over the Bears on Week 17 Monday Night Football. We'll update and provide more opinions for Week 18 as well.    

Teasers 

- 49ers, Bills, Rams 

Tread lightly and monitor the NFL injuries and playing status of starters including key quarterbacks like Bills QB Josh Allen, Rams QB Matthew Stafford and Ravens QB Lamar Jackson. Also, monitor the NFL weather noting rain definitely in the forecast in Tampa for the Bucs-Panthers winner-take-all NFC South clash and also rain in Santa Clara for the Niners-Seahawks showdown for the NFC West title and No. 1 seed. Of course, it's freezing cold (20's) in Chicago and slight chance of snow and freezing rain for Bears-Lions where former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson gets the last laugh this season as Bears new head coach. Chicago goes worst-to-first to win the division while the defending NFC North champions Lions miss the playoffs. Bears not likely to forget the 52-21 loss to the Lions in Week 2. A game total north of 50 in Chicago in January? Still pondering for under consideration after more research and review.

You can bet on it.

FairwayJay is a proven sports handicapper with top of the leaderboard success in NFL pointspread prognosis. Fairway is recognized as one of the sports industry's insightful analysts, and he chips in additional sports betting coverage and reporting on industry news and events. Follow FairwayJay here at OSGA.com and on X @FairwayJay for more sports betting insights.