Each week in this space, we will examine where the NFL odds have settled, make our picks for the DraftKings Main Event NFL Season-Long Pick ‘Em Pool and take an early look at the following week’s lines.
During the 2021-22 seasons, we went 116-64 (64.4%) in the Bet the Board $6K Freeroll NFL Contest, securing top-10 finishes out of 2,000-plus entries in each year.
This year, we’ll see if we can grind out a similar result in DraftKings’ event, while keeping an eye on graduating to Circa Million for 2024.
Once again this season, we’ll leverage a mix of analytics, situational angles, weather conditions, travel considerations, position group matchups and analysis, coaching edges and even a dash of contrarian thinking to make our picks.
We will also use our HIGBEE model, which makes its 2023 debut next week, as a guide to identifying value. HIGBEE attempts to pinpoint teams that may be due for turnover regression, teams that may be playing with extra motivation, and teams that may be the subject of a market overreaction.
In 2021, teams that HIGBEE rated as value plays went 51-29 ATS (63.8%). Last season was a bit of a struggle, but HIGBEE value plays still finished 50-44 (53.2%).
Week 17 DraftKings Main Event Lines and HIGBEE Model
- YTD HIGBEE +3 or better: 29-38-0 ATS (43.3%)
- YTD HIGBEE +4 or better: 12-13-0 ATS (48.0%)
- YTD HIGBEE +5: 2-3-0 ATS (40.0%)
| Team & Opponent | Line | HIGBEE | Team JAMEIS | Opp. JAMEIS | Team SNACKS | Opp. SNACKS | Team WATTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saints (at TB) | +2.5 | +5 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 |
| Colts (vs. LV) | -2.5 | +3 | +1 | +1 | -1 | +1 | +1 |
| Giants (vs. LAR) | +6.5 | +3 | -1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 |
| Broncos (vs. LAC) | -5.5 | +3 | +1 | +1 | +1 | -1 | +1 |
| Jets (at CLE) | +7.5 | +2 | -1 | 0 | +1 | +1 | +1 |
| Commanders (vs. SF) | +13.5 | +2 | +1 | -1 | +1 | +1 | 0 |
| Bears (vs. ATL) | -2.5 | +2 | +1 | +1 | 0 | -1 | +1 |
| Bengals (at KC) | +7.5 | +2 | +1 | -1 | +1 | 0 | +1 |
| Cowboys (vs. DET) | -6.5 | +1 | +1 | +1 | -1 | +1 | -1 |
| Bills (vs. NE) | -12.5 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | -1 | -1 |
| Texans (vs. TEN) | -3.5 | +1 | 0 | 0 | +1 | -1 | +1 |
| Cardinals (at PHI) | +10.5 | +1 | -1 | -1 | +1 | +1 | +1 |
| Dolphins (at BAL) | +3.5 | +1 | -1 | +1 | -1 | +1 | +1 |
| Seahawks (vs. PIT) | -3.5 | +1 | 0 | +1 | -1 | +1 | 0 |
| Panthers (at JAX) | +6.5 | 0 | 0 | -1 | +1 | +1 | -1 |
| Jaguars (vs. CAR) | -6.5 | 0 | +1 | 0 | -1 | -1 | +1 |
| Packers (at MIN) | +1.5 | 0 | 0 | -1 | +1 | +1 | -1 |
| Vikings (vs. GB) | -1.5 | 0 | +1 | 0 | -1 | -1 | +1 |
| Lions (at DAL) | +6.5 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | +1 | +1 |
| Patriots (at BUF) | +12.5 | -1 | -1 | -1 | +1 | -1 | +1 |
| Titans (at HOU) | +3.5 | -1 | 0 | 0 | +1 | -1 | -1 |
| Eagles (vs. ARI) | -10.5 | -1 | +1 | +1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Ravens (vs. MIA) | -3.5 | -1 | -1 | +1 | -1 | +1 | -1 |
| Steelers (at SEA) | +3.5 | -1 | -1 | 0 | -1 | +1 | 0 |
| Browns (vs. NYJ) | -7.5 | -2 | 0 | +1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| 49ers (at WAS) | -13.5 | -2 | +1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | 0 |
| Falcons (at CHI) | +2.5 | -2 | -1 | -1 | +1 | 0 | -1 |
| Chiefs (vs. CIN) | -7.5 | -2 | +1 | -1 | 0 | -1 | -1 |
| Raiders (at IND) | +2.5 | -3 | -1 | -1 | -1 | +1 | -1 |
| Rams (at NYG) | -6.5 | -3 | -1 | +1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Chargers (at DEN) | +5.5 | -3 | -1 | -1 | +1 | -1 | -1 |
| Buccaneers (vs. NO) | -2.5 | -5 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
Week 17 DraftKings Main Event Picks
- Last week: 2-3
- YTD: 45-30 (60.0%)
- Rank: T-205 out of 1,580
This week’s picks:
- Jets +7.5: 8:15 p.m. ET on Thursday
- Dolphins +3.5: 1 p.m. ET on Sunday
- Colts -2.5: 1 p.m. ET on Sunday
- Panthers +6.5: 1 p.m. ET on Sunday
- Bills -12.5: 1 p.m. ET on Sunday
…Let’s close the season by grabbing as much closing-line value (CLV) as possible, with projections courtesy of the highly useful CLV tool provided by Unabated Sports: Jets (+7.5 in the contest to +6.5 closing market price for 11.7% CLV), Dolphins (+3.5 to +3 for 7.9% CLV), Colts (-2.5 to -3.5 for 16.6% CLV), Panthers (+6.5 to +4 for 13.0% CLV) and Bills (-12.5 to -14.5 for 15.2% CLV).
This is the final week for the DraftKings contest, so there will be no picks for Week 18.
Week 18 Look Ahead Lines
| Day | Time (ET) | TV | Matchup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | TBD | TBD | Minnesota at Detroit |
| Sun | TBD | TBD | Seattle at Arizona |
| Sun | TBD | TBD | Pittsburgh at Baltimore |
| Sun | TBD | TBD | Tampa Bay at Carolina |
| Sun | TBD | TBD | Cleveland at Cincinnati |
| Sun | TBD | TBD | Chicago at Green Bay |
| Sun | TBD | TBD | Houston at Indianapolis |
| Sun | TBD | TBD | Denver at Las Vegas |
| Sun | TBD | TBD | Kansas City at L.A. Chargers |
| Sun | TBD | TBD | Buffalo at Miami |
| Sun | TBD | TBD | N.Y. Jets at New England |
| Sun | TBD | TBD | Atlanta at New Orleans |
| Sun | TBD | TBD | Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants |
| Sun | TBD | TBD | L.A. Rams at San Francisco |
| Sun | TBD | TBD | Jacksonville at Tennessee |
| Sun | TBD | TBD | Dallas at Washington |
