NFL Week 16 Odds & Key Injuries: Bettors Beware

Don't expect to see too much of Indy's' QB Peyton Manning this week. Coach Jim Caldwell wants Manning to rest up for a long run deep into the playoffs. (AP Images)

Indianapolis Colts: The only thing the Colts have to play for at this point is an unbeaten record. Coach Jim Caldwell again said he plans to play all players this week against the Jets who are healthy, but he didn’t say they would play a full game, either. "Right now, I could not tell you exactly what's it going to be, whether a guy is going to play one series or the entire game," Caldwell said. The Colts used most of their starters throughout last Thursday’s 35-31 win over Jacksonville, but star defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis both saw limited work due to minor injuries. Colts QB Peyton Manning has said he wants the starters to keep playing, but he almost assuredly will be overruled. Basically, look for anyone on the injury report this week to sit and for the majority of the starters to play a half, maybe three quarters. Indianapolis is a 6-point home favorite against the Jets on Bodog’s NFL odds.

New Orleans Saints: They no longer have an unbeaten record to chase, but the Saints also haven’t officially wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the NFC yet. Thus coach Sean Payton said he has no plans to rest any of his healthy starters for this week’s game against Tampa Bay. RB Reggie Bush hurt his hamstring in that loss to Dallas on Saturday, but it is being called minor and he should play against the Bucs. New Orleans is a 14-point betting favorite on Bodog’s NFL odds.

Brady Quinn, QB, Cleveland Browns: Quinn hurt his foot in last week’s win over the Chiefs and will not play for the final two games of the season. It’s the second year in a row that Quinn will finish the season on injured reserve. That means it’s back to Derek Anderson for Sunday’s game against Oakland. He started five games this year after replacing Quinn earlier this season, with Anderson going 1-4 with a 36.2 season passer rating. But the Browns are 3-point favorites over the visiting Raiders on Bodog’s NFL odds.

Charlie Frye, QB, Oakland Raiders: Frye left last week’s upset over Denver with a concussion-like injury early in the fourth quarter and didn’t return. Former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell eventually led Oakland on a game-winning drive against the Broncos, but Raiders coach Tom Cable named Frye the conditional starter (if healthy) for Sunday's game at Cleveland, where Frye started his NFL career. Oakland is a 3-point dog against the Browns on Bodog’s NFL odds.

Trent Edwards/Ryan Fitzpatrick, QBs, Buffalo Bills: For sure Edwards is done for the season for Buffalo after injuring his ankle in last week’s loss to New England. Edwards replaced a struggling Ryan Fitzpatrick against the Pats, but when Edwards got hurt Fitzpatrick came back in and then suffered an ankle injury. Thus it appears third-stringer Brian Brohm, who has never taken a snap in a regular-season game since being drafted in 2008, will start Sunday against the Falcons. Buffalo is a 9-point dog on Bodog’s NFL odds.

Michael Turner, RB, Atlanta Falcons: Turner has been dealing with a bad ankle for weeks and left last week’s game against the Jets after just one carry after a hit to that ankle. Despite Atlanta being out of the playoffs, Turner doesn’t want to shut it down for the season. Still, he is very questionable this week in a meaningless game against Buffalo. The Falcons are 9-point favorites on Bodog’s NFL odds.

DeAngelo Williams, RB, Carolina Panthers: Williams left last week’s win over the Vikings after gaining just 13 yards due to an ankle sprain. Carolina has been eliminated from the playoffs and has an excellent backup in Jonathan Stewart, so the Panthers may play it safe with Williams and rest him (or use him sparingly) this week and in Week 17. For Sunday’s game, Carolina is +7 at the New York Giants on Bodog’s NFL odds.

Brian Westbrook, RB, Philadelphia Eagles: Westbrook may play Sunday for the first time since Week 10 because of a concussion, but he will be very limited if he does go against Denver. Philly is a 7-point home favorite on Bodog’s NFL odds.

Keith Bulluck, LB, Tennessee Titans: Bulluck, Tennessee’s best defensive player, is done for the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee during last week’s win over Miami. Bulluck leads the team in tackles and has started 132 games in a row. The Titans must win out to have even a minimal shot at the playoffs, and they are 3-point favorites for Friday night’s home game with San Diego.

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