Top Week 18 NFL Locks for 2022 – Bet on the Cowboys to Cover and Other Safe Bets

Last Updated January 3, 2023 10:29 am PST
Week 18 safe bets and NFL logo centered, lock to left, numbers to right

This is one of the most competitive seasons in NFL history. It can be challenging to predict the outcomes of certain games since they can be decided by one play. To be a successful NFL bettor, you must make smart betting decisions.

One of the best ways to do that is to bet on my safest NFL bets this week. These Week 18 NFL locks have a high chance of hitting with reasonable prices. If you want to make a profit, consider betting on my safest NFL bets for Week 18.

You’ll be able to find these bets across the top US betting sites, so let’s dive right in.

Lions vs. Packers Over 49 (-110)

My Week 18 NFL locks will start out with the over in the Lions and Packers game. This is going to be a very entertaining game to watch and bet on. Both teams need to at least win this game if they want to make the playoffs.

I expect this game to come down to the wire, and it’s even been flexed to Sunday Night Football. Green Bay is favored by around four and a half points at home. They have been playing like a completely different team in the second half of the season.

That said, Detroit is going to give them a run for their money. The Lions have been on quite a tear themselves, winning seven of their last nine games.

With how well these two teams have been playing as of late, I find the over to be one of my favorite Week 18 football locks. The line is set pretty high at 49 at BetUS, but this game has an offensive shootout written all over it.

Both of these teams are coming off 41-point performances. Green Bay has scored at least 24 points in five straight outings. It took them a while to get going, but they’ve been one of the top offenses in the last few weeks.

As for the Lions, they are in the top five in points per game this season. Detroit averages 26.1 points per contest. Even though their last game ended 15-9, I expect the over to be one of the safe NFL bets for Week 18.

In the end, this game was flexed to Sunday Night Football for a reason. Both teams will leave it all out there in hopes of making the playoffs. If you’re tailing my Week 18 football locks, be sure to place your bet on this one at BetUS.

Dallas Cowboys -3.5 (-110)

My Week 18 NFL betting locks continue with the Dallas Cowboys covering the spread. They are favored by four points on some sites, but you can get them at -3.5 at Bovada. The Cowboys will be taking on their NFC East rival the Washington Commanders.

Washington has had a mediocre season in terms of their record overall and against the spread. They are 7-8-1 in both of those areas, which isn’t great.

On the other hand, the Cowboys are 12-4 overall and 10-6 ATS. If these trends continue, the Cowboys should have no trouble winning this game. Dallas was able to beat Washington in Week 4 (25-10) without Dak Prescott.

The Cowboys could perform even better on offense this time around with Prescott in the lineup. Washington could also be without one of their top defensive players, Jonathan Allen.

Allen exited last week’s game against the Browns and did not return. If he doesn’t play in Week 18, the Cowboys should be one of the top NFL lock bets this week.

On the other side of the ball, Dallas should have another major advantage.
Their defense has had another great season under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. They’ve allowed just 19.8 points per game, which ranks sixth best in the NFL.

Carson Wentz is coming off a horrendous game. He threw for three interceptions and zero touchdowns against Cleveland. It’s unclear whether he will start Week 18, but the Cowboys should have the advantage, nonetheless.

Dallas still has a chance to land a first-round bye. If the Eagles and 49ers lose and the Cowboys win, they would earn the top spot in the NFC. This would be a massive advantage for the Cowboys, so they’ll be on top of their game.

In the end, the Cowboys are the better team in all aspects. They should have no trouble covering the spread against the Commanders in Week 18. To tag along with my NFL lock of the week, head over to Bovada for better odds.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers +3 (-110)

I will also take the Buccaneers to cover my Week 18 NFL betting locks. BetOnline has Atlanta favored to win by three points. It’s surprising to see Atlanta favored to win this game in general. The Falcons are sitting at 6-10, while Tampa Bay is at 8-8.

Atlanta decided to give Desmond Ridder the starting job a few weeks ago. He led Atlanta to a win over Arizona last week but lost his first two starts of the season. Ridder has yet to throw a touchdown pass, so you can hardly say he was the reason they won last week.

I’m not expecting the Falcons’ offense to put up a crazy amount of points against Tampa Bay. In fact, I would be surprised if they scored more than 17.

Tom Brady and other starters are not expected to rest in Week 18 either. The Buccaneers want to end the regular season on a high note, so they can get a jump on the playoffs. This is the biggest reason this is one of my safe NFL bets for Week 18.

It’s been an odd year for Brady and the Bucs, but they might have had a breakthrough last week. Brady threw for 432 yards and three touchdowns in a division-clinching win over Carolina. Mike Evans also had a monster day, catching all three touchdowns for 207 yards.

If the Bucs have found their rhythm, this should be one of the top pro football locks for Week 18.

In the end, I was surprised to see Atlanta favored to win. Tampa Bay is coming off a strong performance, and their starters will be playing despite the game not having any meaning.

I’ll be taking the Bucs to cover for my Week 18 NFL locks, but you could also take their underdog moneyline. Either way, be sure to tail or fade my top NFL lock bets for Week 18 at BetOnline.

Top NFL Lock of the Week

These are going to be my top three Week 18 NFL locks. The best football betting apps are a great place to tag along if you’re interested.

With just one week of the regular season left, expect to see a lot of close games. It would be wise to stick to safer picks like the ones I have above.

My favorite NFL betting lock of the week will be the Dallas Cowboys to cover.

They still have a chance at the number one seed in the NFC. Washington could be without one of their best defensive players, giving Dallas a great chance to cover. Head to the best online NFL betting site to get the most bang for your buck.

Check out my other Week 18 NFL picks below if you’re looking for more.

Anthony Haage
Anthony Haage Author

Anthony is a sports writer for GamblingSites.com covering the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and more. He also covers other various topics such as entertainment, general sports betting tips, and more.

His favorite teams are the Chicago Bears, Bulls, Cubs, and Blackhawks. He also will be a temporary fan of any team if it means winning him bets.

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