Pete's Best Bets: About to embark on a late-season run

It's crunch time for my Best Bets, time to pick up the pace, time to go 4-1 or 5-0 every week the rest of the way.

You believe?

It was a 3-2 mark last week, which upped my season record to 34-30-1 as part of Team Oddshark in the SuperContest at Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook. That's a solid season so far, but I need to pick up the pace -- and I will.

The 3-2 record meant I didn't have to revert to letting the birds crap on the schedule to make my picks, which I threatened to do last week if it was another week of airport-toilet-stinking picks.

Let's hope that never happens. Then again, they say a bird pooping on your head is good luck.

So maybe I will give that a try if things go bad.

Not this week. These picks are based on my analysis and information that has me smelling a 5-0 record.

Sure beats smelling bird crap on your head.

Bengals (-2.5) vs. Steelers  (SportsLine's pick) -- The Bengals can lock up the division with a victory here. That matters. This team wants and craves a home playoff game. The Steelers are 9-2 ATS in the last 11 on the road against the Bengals. But this Cincinnati team is different. It will put up points on a bad Steelers defense and will slow down Ben Roethlisberger. Bengals take it. 

Eagles (+1) vs. Bills  (SportsLine's pick) -- Who are the Bills to be laying points on the road to the Eagles? Yes, the Eagles have had issues at times, but so have the Bills. This is a pick against Rex Ryan as much as anything. His teams are up and down. This is a down spot. 

Jaguars (PK) vs. Colts  (SportsLine's pick) -- I am bucking a trend here since the Colts are 13-2-1 against the spread in their last 16 in the division. But they aren't the same team. They are also playing consecutive road games, which is always tough. Blake Bortles and his passing game are on fire. That continues here. 

Cowboys  (+7) at Packers  (SportsLine's pick) -- The Cowboys are playing consecutive road games on a short week, which is brutal. But were it not for the Green Bay Hail Mary against the Lions, would this even be a 7-point spread? The Dallas defense is coming together and the Packers receivers don't win battles. That's a bad combination. Cowboys keep it close.

Giants (-1) at Dolphins  (SportsLine's pick)  -- I thought last week would be the week the Giants started their late-season push. It would have been if not for a bad coaching decision late. So it starts this week. The Giants are 5-1 in their last six games against the Dolphins. Miami isn't great on offense. That will show up here. Giants take it. 

Pete Prisco is a Senior NFL Writer for CBSSports.com. You can follow Pete at @PriscoCBS