Week 16 computer picks expect Lions to win, cover spread vs. Bears

Mired in a 2-6 SU and ATS slump and out of playoff contention, the Chicago Bears have decided to bench Jay Cutler at quarterback in favor of Jimmy Clausen.

Mired in a 2-6 SU and ATS slump and out of playoff contention, the Chicago Bears have decided to bench Jay Cutler at quarterback in favor of Jimmy Clausen. Clausen will make his first start since 2010 on Sunday at home against the Detroit Lions.

Chicago is an 8.5-point home underdog according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. Detroit is 7-2 SU in its last nine games overall and 7-1-1 ATS in its last nine games against the Bears. Churning out a score of Detroit 24.1 to Chicago 11.6, the OddsShark Computer expects Detroit's success against the Bears to continue with a win and cover this Sunday.

New England visits the New York Jets this Sunday as one of two double-digit road favorites on the NFL betting board. The Patriots are a 10.5-point favorite, and the computer is projecting that New England will easily cover that big number in a 41.4 to 12.9 win over the Jets. New England is 9-1 SU and 8-2 ATS over its last 10 games including seven double-digit wins over that stretch. Green Bay is the other double-digit road favorite this week going off at -11.5 and being picked to cover in a 36.6 to 18.5 win over Tampa Bay.

The computer may like the chalk in those games, but not in Sunday's game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Dallas Cowboys in Dallas. Indianapolis is a 3.5-point road underdog on the Week 16 NFL betting lines, but the computer is predicting an outright upset for Indianapolis at 32.1 to 27.9. The OVER is 11-5 in Indianapolis's last 16 games and 4-1 in Dallas' last five. The projected 60 points would go OVER the posted total of 55.

Carolina hosts Cleveland this Sunday looking to stay alive in the NFC South. Carolina is a four-point favorite at home this week, but the computer projects that the Panthers' playoff hopes will come to an end in an 18.9 to 16.4 Cleveland upset. Johnny Manziel will need to bounce back with a much better performance than the one he had in his first career start to make this projection come true for the Browns.