NFL Week 18 Tips: Can Tom Collins end the regular season with a double?

The 2022/23 NFL regular season comes to a close on Sunday and numerous teams have something to play for. American football tipster Tom Collins offers his week 18 predictions.

Dallas Cowboys (-6.5) @ Washington Commanders (+6.5)

Kick-off: 9.25pm GMT Sunday

The Dallas Cowboys still have a chance of winning the NFC East and you can trust them to play every single one of their starters for the majority of this game. To top their division, they will need the Eagles to lose at home to the Giants - it looks unlikely, but anything can happen in the NFL.

The possibility of securing a better playoff berth will have this Cowboys team fired up. And, given they have won six of their last seven games (their only defeat came in overtime against the Jaguars two weeks ago), it is fair to expect some offensive fireworks as well as tightening up on defence.

If this Cowboys defensive unit plays to the lofty level they hit in the first five weeks of the season, it could spell serious trouble for the Washington Commanders, who are starting rookie Sam Howell at quarterback following the benching of Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke. 

Howell impressed me during his collegiate career at the North Carolina Tar Heels - he’s a pocket-passer with a great arm - but he has a desire to make big plays and that will delight Dallas’ ball-hawking corners that include interception master Trevon Diggs. 

I expect Dallas to win this game pretty easily and, even though this line keeps fluctuating between 6.5 and 7 points, I’d be keen to take either.

Prediction: Cowboys -6.5 @ 1.91

Arizona Cardinals (+14) @ San Francisco 49ers (-14)

Kick-off: 9.25pm GMT Sunday

The San Francisco 49ers remain the best team in the NFC by some considerable margin, even if third-string quarterback Brock Purdy doesn’t provide the experience of Jimmy Garoppolo or Trey Lance’s speed and agility. 

They have won nine straight games and continually dominate on both sides of the ball. In seven of those nine victories the 49ers’ defence held their opponent to 17 or fewer points, while in six games they scored 30 or more on offence. 

Much like Dallas, San Francisco need Philly to lose to take the number one seed in the NFC. Although that is unlikely, all they can do is win their game and I fully expect them to give a beating to the Cardinals.

Arizona have lost eight of their last nine games and they already suffered a 38-10 defeat against the 49ers this season. Another 28-point margin would be welcomed here!

Lets face it, the Cardinals aren’t going to score many points on the 49ers, especially with injuries to Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins and Rondale Moore among others. Meanwhile, their defence is allowing the fourth-most points per game. Taking a side with a double-figure handicap is not easy, but the 49ers are way superior to the Cardinals in every department.

Prediction: 49ers -14 @ 1.91

NFL Week 18 Tips

Dallas Cowboys -6.5 @ 1.91
San Francisco 49ers -14 @ 1.91

Double odds: 3.65 decimal, 2.65-1 fractional