NFL Week 18 Betting Preview

The 2025 NFL regular season is nearly over and there is just one round of fixtures left before the attention turns to the playoffs in January. As always, UK viewers can catch the action on Sky Sports NFL, with RedZone available via NFL Game Pass. Two playoff spots are up for grabs, while title winners need to be decided in the NFC South, NFC West, AFC South and AFC North. The No. 1 seed spots are also on the line this weekend; there is bound to be plenty of drama across the NFL.

Game 1 – Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Saturday, 21:25)

Carolina head to the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa with the chance to win the NFC South this weekend. If the Panthers win, they win the division and earn the No.4 seed in the NFC. Tampa can still win the title, but they need to win and hope Atlanta Falcons lose to New Orleans Saints. A Bucs win and a Falcons victory ensure the Panthers win the title in a three-way tie at the top, as they have beaten Atlanta twice this season.

Carolina know they just need to do their part and they will be successful and they should be able to disrupt Tampa on the road. Since their Bye in Week 9, the Buccaneers have lost seven of their last eight games. While four of those defeats came away from home, they have just not done enough to impress and suggest they can cover the spread. The Panthers have already beaten the Bucs, winning 23-20 in Week 16, and they should be able to keep this score tight at the very worst. Dave Canales’ team have not won back-to-back games since Week 7, so the safe play is to cover them on the spread this week against an inconsistent Bucs team.

Tip 1: Carolina Panthers +2.5 @ 20/21 with bet365

Game 2 – Indianapolis Colts vs Houston Texans (Sunday, 18:00)

The Texans can still win the AFC South and they will be doing all they can to earn top spot, although they do need Jacksonville Jaguars to lose to Tennessee Titans. Thankfully, Houston should have no issues beating the Colts on home soil. Indianapolis have lost six successive games to fall out of the playoffs and they are due to start third-string quarterback Riley Leonard. Leonard is therefore about to face the best defence in the NFL in terms of points conceded, with Houston only conceding 16.6 per game. This game should only go one way at the NRG Stadium.

Tip 2: Houston Texans -10.0 @ 20/23 with bet365

Game 3 – New York Jets vs Buffalo Bills (Sunday, 21:25)

Buffalo Bills fell short against Philadelphia Eagles last weekend, falling to a 13-12 defeat at home. Sean McDermott’s team will be desperate to set the record straight in their final game at Highmark Stadium and they face the hapless Jets this weekend. Aaron Glenn’s team have been hopeless for most of the season and their 3-13 record currently puts them in the top three for next year’s draft.

The Jets have conceded 29 points or more in four consecutive weeks, and they already looked to have thrown in the towel ahead of 2026. The Bills hammered the Jets in Week 2, winning 30-10 and this matchup could be just as convincing.

Tip 3: Buffalo Bills -7.0 @ 10/11 with bet365