Week 18 betting preview: Can Bengals keep playoff hopes alive in Pittsburgh?

The final week of the regular season is here.

Week 18 presents a tough task for bettors, as many teams are playing meaningless games or resting starters ahead of the playoffs. That gives us a slate full of question marks and uncertainty.

However, there are a few games with plenty on the line to focus on instead of guessing whether the Chiefs' backups can cover the spread against the Broncos' starters.

Saturday, 8 p.m. ET

The Bengals (8-8) take their slim playoff hopes on the road to Pittsburgh for a clash with the division rival Steelers (10-6). Cincinnati needs to win and then get help from the Chiefs and Jets to make the playoffs. The Bengals are +1100 to make the playoffs at theScore Bet/ESPN Bet.

Case for the Bengals

• It's a must-win game for the Bengals even though they'd need a lot of help afterward.
• The Bengals' offense is locked in. The Steelers may need to score upward of 30 points to cover.

Case for the Steelers

• The Steelers have locked up a playoff spot but could win the division if the Ravens somehow lose as 18-point favorites to the Browns earlier Saturday.
• They won the first meeting 44-38 on the road.

Key trends

• Pittsburgh is 10-6 against the spread (ATS) and 5-2 at home.
• The Bengals are also 10-6 ATS and have covered in four straight contests.
• Cincy is 7-1 ATS on the road.

Pick: Bengals -2.5

The Bengals are desperate and playing well, which is a bad combination for opposing teams. Add in the fact that this game may end up being meaningless for the Steelers, and the Bengals become the only side to bet.

Sunday 4:25 p.m.

The Dolphins (8-8) could end the Bengals' hopes with a win over the Jets (4-12) on Sunday but also need the Carson Wentz-led Chiefs to beat the full-strength Broncos. Additionally, there's a chance this is Aaron Rodgers' last NFL game, adding another layer of intrigue.

Case for the Dolphins

• Making a case for the Dolphins is difficult with Tua Tagovailoa sidelined with a hip injury. Tyler "Snoop" Huntley will start in his place.

Case for the Jets

• If this is Rodgers' going-away party, you know he'll want to put on a show. The Jets are at full strength and will play their starters for the entire game.

Key trends

• The Jets are an abysmal 5-11 ATS, while the Dolphins are 7-9.
• The over has hit in five of the past six Jets games.

Pick: Jets +1

Yes, the Jets have been extremely disappointing this season and only scored 23 points in their last two games, but they should be able to handle a Huntley-led Dolphins team. Expect Rodgers to end a forgettable season on a high note.

Sunday Night Football

Week 18's main event will take place Sunday night with the NFC's top seed on the line. The Vikings (14-2) head to Ford Field for a marquee date with the Lions (14-2). Both teams have had exceptional seasons and could meet again in a few weeks in the NFC Championship Game.

Case for the Vikings

• The Vikings are winners of nine straight and are arguably the NFL's top team. Their offense has scored the ninth-most points in the league (26.4) and has averaged 31.5 points over the past four games. Their defense concedes the fourth fewest (18.8) and limits opposing rushing attacks to only 88.1 yards per contest.

Case for the Lions

• Even with a depleted defense, the Lions still find ways to win. Their offense has stepped up big time, averaging 37.5 points over their last four outings.
• Detroit won the first meeting 31-29 in Minnesota.

Key trends

• The Vikings are a league-best 11-4-1 ATS this season.
• The Lions are a close second ATS at 11-5.
• The last four totals in Lions games have been 47.5 points or greater, and the over has hit each time. This game's total of 56.5 is the largest of the week by a substantial margin.

Pick: Vikings +3

The Lions are a fantastic team and deserve to be favorites at home, but three points are too many in a game that could easily come down to a last-second field goal.

At the moment, there's little difference between these offenses. Both teams seem to be able to score at will, giving this game true shootout potential. However, the Vikings' defense is elite at shutting down the run and has a chance to slow down Jahmyr Gibbs, as tough of a task as that is. The injuries to the Lions' defense may start to catch up to them.