Seattle Seahawks @ Chicago Bears (Sky Sports HD, Sunday, 5.30pm)
This will probably be the last chance for UK fans to see Seattle on TV this season. It’s a nice story that rookie quarterback Russell Wilson has beaten teams led by top passers Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Tony Romo, Cameron Newton and… Sam Bradford and Christian Ponder.

And if they are going to win a road game this season, history dictates that the Seahawks can do it here. For they have won five of their last eight games in Chicago and hold a 9-6 record over the Bears all time.

Yet these are home birds. Seattle are 5-0 at home, but only 1-5 on the road, their sole victory coming at Carolina (by four points).

So why are they just 3.5-point underdogs on the BETDAQ handicap? The Seahawks (6-5) have et to be blown out by anyone. Their road losses were to Arizona (20-16), St Louis (19-13), San Francisco (13-6), Detroit (28-24) and Miami (24-21). Seahawks will find life tough against a solid Bears defence, but as we’ve said before, Chicago’s record is like Joe Flacco’s moustache – it’s more Village People than Pan’s People. The Bears are being outgained through the air, averaging 177.2 yards per game to their opponents’ 210.1ypg – and on the ground, averaging 4.1 yards per attempt to 4.3 ypa.

For all the talk about a fierce defence, opponents have sacked Bears quarterbacks 35 times to Chicago’s 30.

The Bears’ offensive line is dreadful. And hurt. Last week, after benching right tackle Gabe Camiri for Jonathan Scott, they lost guard Lance Louis with a knee injury and Chris Spencer, who was replacing ineffective Chilo Rachal, sustained a knee injury that will sideline him this week.

And while they are 5-1 at home, Chicago they have won just two of their five games against teams who currently boast a winning record.

I’m not convinced that Jay Cutler will be accorded the time to find his receivers behind one of the worst lines I’ve ever seen outside of Robbie Fowler goal celebration against Liverpool’s Merseyside rivals, Everton, in 1999.

Seattle, 3-1 against teams with a winning record, have given up an average of 351.7 yards per game over their last six outings, but will not have a better chance of beating the Bears, who will be without receiver Devin Hester and could be without running back Matt Forte, cornerback Charles Tillman and linebacker Lance Briggs.

History would suggest that the BETDAQ points total line is set too low at 37.5. In the eight games these two have played in Chicago, on six occasions the total has eclipsed that mark, including the last four meetings in the Windy City.

Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers (Sky Sports HD, Sunday, 9.25pm)
Ben Roethlisberger’s shoulder injury is the big talking point. It could sideline him again and if Charlie Batch is in at quarterback, the season is going to be effectively over. After an abject performance in Cleveland, they are at 6-5 and already three games behind Baltimore in the AFC North. A Wild Card is perhaps the best they can hope for now.

And what better way for the Ravens to clinch a playoff spot than by beating their bitter rivals. There is no handicap line for this game as yet, although I suspect it will be in the region of 5 or 6 points in favour of the hosts, even if Big Ben plays. Pittsburgh have not travelled well this season and it appears as though it will be time for the old broomstick, as the Steelers seem set to be swept by Baltimore for the second season in succession.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys (C4, Monday, 1.20am)
At least Channel 4’s Mike Carlson will be worth staying up to watch. There are not too many positives about this game between two teams going nowhere. But should Dallas win, they will even their record at 6-6 and as long as Tony ‘Ruh Roh’ Romo doesn’t start flinging interceptions like Scooby Snacks, they could theoretically still grab a Wild Card spot.

For that slim lifeline, they should be backed to cover the 10.5-point BETDAQ handicap – which would be the first time they have done so at home this season. After all, the Eagles are 1-9-1 against the handicap (ATS) this season and have shown as much life in recent weeks as Joe Flacco’s dating website for moustachioed men.

Arizona Cardinals @ New York Jets
Do we side with the one who can’t throw and gets sacked by his offensive lineman’s butt-cheek, the other one that can’t throw but knows a Hail Mary and will be useful when administering the last rights to their season, or the one that might be able to throw but no-one’s too sure just yet?

Or do we side with the other team’s QB, a third-string afterthought who also might be able to throw? (Hoping that he can, that’ll be Larry Fitzgerald gatecrashing Tim Tebow’s prayer group on the sidelines. But even he’s not sure).

Should we side with the coach who almost guaranteed that there’ll be no more guarantees, but can’t quite guarantee it, or the coach who benches his second-string QB after seven passes without an interception, the same man who has led his team – the only one in the NFL – to six consecutive defeats in the last three seasons?

It could be a game-time decision: see whose passes look less wobbly and who is getting them somewhere within 20 yards of a receiver (believe, Mr Tebow. Belieeeeeve. There is such a thing as a receiver).

The only thing we can be certain of is that one of these teams will find an artfully loopy way to lose.

It is arguable that either could beat a college team at the moment (Auburn aside). Or even a fictional college team. Heck, even the Dillon Panthers could beat these two. Clear eyes. Full Hearts. Can’t lose.

But you want an early pick for this game which takes place in media Devil Town.

So rather than back the team who appear to have replaced the irreplaceable Kurt Warner with Miles Cholmondeley-Warner, back the team who look dynamic at getting a yard and a half on the ground. Every other carry.

Go with the QB who can’t throw but who is excellent at putting ketchup on his hotdogs and hope against hope that butt-cheeks on cheerleaders are all we’re talking about afterwards.

Or just make like Fireman Ed: run away and hide. Or boo. Or both. Your call.

Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers
Is Alex Smith a top-10 quarterback? Some, in TV land, ponder this question as if it’s a real question. Others (the majority of us) ponder which team’s cheerleaders boast the nicest butt-cheeks.

The answers to those questions are ‘no’ and ‘Washington Redskins’.

Smith is a “top-10 quarterback” in the same way that Joe Flacco’s moustache in no way looks like that of a dodgy Seventies German porn star.

I’m happy to argue over cheerleaders. Or Connie Britton (that’s the wife of Dillon Panthers’ coach Taylor, since you asked).

Christian is just Pondering why he’s Adrian Peterson’s hand-off machine and why he’s getting little respect, despite leading them to a 6-5 record and amid the thick of the NFC North playoff race.

The Vikings were beaten badly by Chicago last week and are 9.5-point underdogs in Green Bay, where they have won just once on their last six visits and where they were crushed 45-7 last November.

But this is a much different Green Bay team that they are facing, one coming off a stunning 38-10 loss to the New York Giants with a battered offensive line who have given up the more sacks than any team in the NFL.

Minnesota’s front four do generate plenty of heat on opposing quarterbacks and Aaron Rodgers is facing some protection issues and a Cover 2 scheme that he has struggled against from time to time.

But the Vikings have beaten just one of the five teams they have faced with a winning record (San Francisco) and that was much earlier in the season. As they showed against a pop-gun Chicago attack, they are still some way from being a legitimate playoff contender.

San Francisco 49ers @ St Louis Rams
Is Alex Smith a top-10 quarterback? Some in TV land are still mulling this over. The rest of us are wondering if we could also do a similar job to back-up Colin Kaepernick behind the 49ers’ excellent offensive line. When we’re not thinking about cheerleaders’ butt-cheeks (Miami’s aren’t bad either).

Kaepernick threw for 117 yards against the Rams in their 24-24 tie in Week 10 before starting against Chicago and throwing for 243 yards, and then had a reasonably strong outing against the Saints. But as with all rookie passers, he’s going to have his ups and downs. Smith is still the better QB and this could backfire on head coach Jim Harbaugh.

The Niners are 7-point favourites and have plenty to play for. They should win, but the Rams won’t make this comfortable as they try to protect their unbeaten record against NFC West opponents (3-0-1). Expect the Niners to draw clear in the fourth quarter, though. They should just about cover the spread… in the same way that all reasonable thinking women want to cover up Joe Flacco’s facial hair extravaganza with a brown paper bag.

New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins
This line opened at a rather soft 6.5 points in favour of the Patriots but is currently sitting at 9 points on the BETDAQ handicap. The Patriots can wrap up the AFC East with a victory, although the Dolphins will play them hard – like Pittsburgh, they tend to raise their game depending on the strength of the opposition. As my BETDAQ colleague John Arnette (right) pointed out, Miami are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 against winning teams. And if they don’t cover, they can always turn the sprinkers on again. Don’t be surprised if this will either be a New England blow-out or a complete shock and the Phins win. It really has that sort of feel to it.

Carolina Panthers at Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs are capable of springing a surprise against a resurgent Carolina, who whipped Philadelphia on Monday night. A road trip off a short week to a hostile stadium might work in the host’s favour. The Chiefs are 3 point underdogs and it should be a few points more, as they are possibly the worst team, we’ve seen in the past three years. But this also has the feel of an upset. Either that or it is indigestion.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Denver Broncos
The last five games between these two have been settled by a touchdown or less and Tampa’s offense should cause the Broncos’ defence plenty of problems, particularly on the ground. The eight points is probably not going to be enough to keep within the handicap and with Peyton Manning riled by questions about his arm strength, he could be in the mood to pick apart this suspect Tampa rearguard and answer his critics.

Suggestions:
Seattle +3.5
Baltimore Moneyline
Dallas -10.5
NY Jets -4.5
Green Bay -9.5
San Francisco -7
Miami +9
Kansas City +3
Denver -8
Minnesota/Green Bay Under 46.5 points
Miami/New England Over 51 points
Chicago/Seattle Over 37.5 points

Don’t forget to check out John Arnette’s views on the game at betdaqnfl.com

Milham’s 2012 record:
Week 12: 8-7-2
Week 11: 8-4
Week 10: 6-8
Week 9: 9-4
Week 8: 7-9
Week 7: 8-6
Week 6: 6-8
Week 5: 4-9
Week 4: 10-3
Week 3: 5-8
Week 2: 7-6-1
Week 1: 7-5

Twitter: @simonmilham




Did you know that as well as checking the realtime prices on BETDAQ below – you can also log into your account and place your bets directly into BETDAQ from BETDAQ TIPS.

Bet via BETDAQ mobile below