NFL Parlays & Picks: Best Bets for Week 18 (2025)

The last week of the 2025 NFL regular season is finally here. Week 18 sets the stage for a few crucial matchups to determine the final playoff seeding in each conference.

It starts on Saturday in an NFC South division title game between the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The winner takes the No. 4 seed and hosts a Wild Card game, while the loser is eliminated from playoff contention.

Afterward, on Saturday night, we’ve got a high-stakes NFC West rivalry featuring the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers in a battle for the potential No. 1 seed in the NFC. Sunday Night Football brings us another playoff elimination game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens to determine the winner of the AFC North.

My NFL Parlays & Picks: Best Bets for Week 17 (2025) finished 0-2 and 1-3 SU. Houston beat the Los Angeles Chargers as a -104 underdog on the road, cashing the lone winner on Saturday. On Sunday, the Panthers failed to cover the +7.5 spread in a 27-10 home loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Buffalo came up short on a walk-off two-point conversion attempt against the Philadelphia Eagles, while the Bears’ dramatic 42-38 loss to the 49ers saw them fail to record another last-minute win.

Let’s try to get back into the win column with two NFL Week 18 parlays. Follow me on X at Matt_MacKay_ for more NFL betting analysis and free picks.

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NFL Early Week Parlays: Week 18

(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)

Parlay 1 (+258)

Leg 1: Panthers +3.0 (-114)

We just got burned by taking Carolina +7.5 at home against Seattle. However, Week 18 is a divisional game that is a play-in game for the NFC South title.

Bryce Young has benefited from the arrival of head coach Dave Canales. The Panthers’ head coach took the job after calling a fantastic offense in Tampa Bay, returning to Raymond James Stadium to face a floundering Buccaneers defense.

Tampa Bay has lost four consecutive games. This includes seven of their last eight games since going into a Week 9 bye at 6-2. Baker Mayfield has regressed, despite the offense getting healthier at wide receiver.

Carolina’s stout pass defense held its own for a long time against the Seahawks in Week 17. Young and the Panthers’ offense have been volatile, but they managed to outplay the Buccaneers in Charlotte during a 23-20 Week 16 win.

The Buccaneers’ defense is the weakest unit on the field in this matchup. Let’s grab the Panthers +3.0 for the first leg of our Saturday NFL Week 18 parlay.

Leg 2: San Francisco 49ers Moneyline (-110)

San Francisco has been on a hot streak at the right time in the season. The 49ers have elevated their offensive production following QB Brock Purdy’s return from injury, scoring 37 or more points in three straight games since a Week 14 bye.

George Kittle’s playing status remains questionable. The 49ers’ star tight end did not suit up against the team’s clutch win over the Chicago Bears in Week 17, showcasing their depth and ability to run the offense through star running back, Christian McCaffrey.

Seattle’s defense is an elite unit. The Seahawks’ offense, however, has tended to stall out and settle for field goals against top-tier opponents.

San Francisco’s defense is a far cry from Seattle’s group. However, the 49ers’ offense is the best unit in this game, even against the Seahawks’ second-ranked scoring defense.

In Week 1, Purdy went into Seattle and grinded out a 17-13 win. With the NFC West division title at stake, plus the No. 1 seed in the NFC, expect San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan to dial up a great game plan to keep the 49ers’ momentum rolling into the playoffs.

Parlay 2 (+278)

Leg 1: Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos – Under 39.5 (-110)

Two AFC West rivals have already clinched a playoff berth, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to see minimal effort between the Chargers and Broncos on Sunday. Denver is currently trying to hold off New England for the No. 1 seed in the AFC at 13-3. There’s plenty of motivation to beat Los Angeles after the Chargers handed the Broncos a 23-20 loss at SoFi Stadium back in Week 3.

Broncos QB Bo Nix has been outstanding in 2025. He’s made huge strides in head coach Sean Payton’s system, but now, he’ll face a Chargers defense holding opponents to 20 or fewer points in five straight outings.

Justin Herbert has been playing through injuries and feeling constant pressure behind a short-handed offensive line unit. Denver’s going to make it difficult to move the football downfield, especially since they don’t give up a lot of rushing yards.

We’ve got two top-ten scoring defenses in a divisional matchup. This points toward the under, which the Chargers have gone 9-6-1 on, making them the fifth-most profitable under team in the NFL this season. Denver is also 9-7 on the under.

Let’s bet under 39.5 between the Chargers and Broncos at Mile High on Sunday afternoon.

Leg 2: Pittsburgh Steelers +3.0 (-102)

Pittsburgh has been a difficult team to predict in 2025. The Steelers’ inability to beat the Cleveland Browns on the road in Week 17 sets up a play-in game against the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday Night Football.

Steelers’ veteran QB Aaron Rodgers is going to be ready for the task at hand. Pittsburgh may not have the flashiest offense under OC Arthur Smith, but it tends to move the football with ease, mixing up short passes and a heavy dose of rushing to keep defenses off balance.

D.K. Metcalf will be sorely missed in this matchup. Baltimore has allowed more than 280 passing yards to multiple opponents since December started, meaning Rodgers could have a big night in this battle for the AFC North divisional crown and a playoff seed.

Baltimore’s offense has been sporadic. Lamar Jackson’s injuries have piled up, and RB Derrick Henry has been a workhorse that either leads to feast or famine in terms of offensive production.

Pittsburgh has a stout run defense, which does not bode well for the Ravens in this AFC North rivalry. Factor in Baltimore’s porous pass defense, and it’s enough to back Rodgers as a +3.0 point home underdog in an elimination game.

Matthew MacKay is a featured writer for BettingPros and FantasyPros. For more from Matthew, check out his archive and follow him @Matt_MacKay_.