NFL Week 16 teaser best bets: Spread, total and primetime teaser picks from proven NFL expert

As these words are being typed, fully half of the 16 NFL games on tap for Week 16 carry spreads of 3.5 or fewer.

Teaser players will be tempted to zero in on them. An extra six points would take some lines from a one-score difference to two, making the underdogs enticing. Conversely, the slight favorites would flip to underdog status, with several receiving more than a field goal on the teaser lines.

Read on to see if any such games struck our fancy. First, though, a teaser suggestion exclusively with totals. Our second pitch is ATS-based. Then we wrap things up -- with a bright red bow -- with a thought regarding the Sunday and Monday nighters. 

Totals teaser: Buccaneers-Panthers Under 50, Broncos-Raiders Under 47.5

Let's see how the G.O.A.T. fares with a stripped-down offense. Tampa Bay WR Chris Godwin and RB Leonard Fournette are certain scratches, while WR Mike Evans is iffy, leaving QB Tom Brady with backups to rely on. No surprise that the Bucs apparently have forgiven COVID-19 cheater Antonio Brown and might activate him. Carolina's offense is awful. QB Cam Newton is not really back, as he infamously proclaimed in-game, and could give way to Sam Darnold, a slight upgrade at best.

Denver must soldier on without QB Teddy Bridgewater. Replacement Drew Lock's offense delivered only seven points the last time he filled in for Bridgewater as a starter. The Raiders have scrounged out 15, 9 and 16 points in their most recent games -- the latest against a depleted Cleveland D. Vegas has failed to exceed 16 points eight times this season, all but one since WR Henry Ruggs was booted off the squad.  

Which Week 16 spreads represent the best teaser plays? And how should you tease the primetime matchups? ... Join SportsLine right now to see Week 16 teaser picks from the expert who returned more than $2,500 on his NFL picks from 2016-20 and hit 56 percent of his ATS picks last year!