Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins: Predictions, picks and odds for NFL Week 18 game
There is a reason the 2023 NFL regular season concludes with the Miami Dolphins (11-5) hosting the Buffalo Bills (10-6) in primetime on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.
Both teams are hunting to lock in their playoff spot. The Dolphins have already punched their ticket, but the AFC East crown is up for grabs. The Bills stand in their way and are hungry to capture their own postseason berth.
Miami is coming off a 56-19 thrashing at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens, who clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC with the win. They were without offensive stars Jaylen Waddle and Raheem Mostert because both were injured. Pro Bowl defensive end Bradley Chubb tore his ACL in the game and his season is over.
The Bills are riding a four-game winning streak as they've bounced in and out of playoff contention. The stretch has featured wins over the AFC West champion Kansas City Chiefs and potential NFC East champion the Dallas Cowboys. Josh Allen has thrown an interception in all but three games this season. In last week's 27-21 win over the New England Patriots, he failed to throw a passing touchdown for the first time this year but ran in two scores.
In Week 4, the Bills handed the Dolphins their first loss of the season by winning 48-20 at Highmark Stadium.
Will the Dolphins capture the win, and the division, at home? Or will the Bills be hungry enough for the road victory?
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Dolphins vs. Bills odds, moneyline, over/under
The Bills are favorites to defeat the Dolphins, according to BetMGM NFL odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promos in 2023, including the new ESPN BET app and the Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.
Spread: Bills (-2.5)
Moneyline: Bills (-160); Dolphins (+130)
Over/under: 48.5
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NFL Week 18 odds, predictions and picks
Cardinals vs. Seahawks | Ravens vs. Steelers | Panthers vs. Buccaneers | Bengals vs. Browns | Lions vs. Vikings | Packers vs. Bears | Colts vs. Texans | Chargers vs. Chiefs | Raiders vs. Broncos | Dolphins vs. Bills | Patriots vs. Jets | Saints vs. Falcons | Giants vs. Eagles | 49ers vs. Rams | Titans vs. Jaguars | Commanders vs. Cowboys
Lorenzo Reyes: Dolphins 23, Bills 21
Miami has lost 10 of its last 11 against the Bills. The Dolphins are super banged up. The Bills are surging with plenty of momentum. Why do I have a feeling that the Dolphins are due to buck the narrative that they’re incapable of beating good teams? Suddenly, the pressure is gone and no one is expecting them to win, at home, in the battle for the AFC East crown. I understand this pick may seem illogical, but if Miami plays loose — something it hasn’t done recently — and if the Bills continue to turn the ball over, the Dolphins could pull off the upset here.
Tyler Dragon: Bills 26, Dolphins 24
These two teams are going in opposite directions. The Bills have won four in a row and can steal the AFC East title from the Dolphins with a win. The Dolphins got beat up in a 56-19 loss in Baltimore. Miami is dealing with multiple injuries. The Bills need a win to ensure a playoff berth.
Safid Deen: Bills 34, Dolphins 28
Josh Allen has struggled a bit offensively in his last four games, but there’s something about the Miami Dolphins that turns him into Superman. Allen is 9-2 and accounted for 36 touchdowns in his career against Miami. With a shot at the AFC East and the No. 2 seed, Buffalo sends Miami on the road to begin the postseason amid an epic collapse.
Victoria Hernandez: Dolphins 24, Bills 20
The Dolphins have been inconsistent this season, but have had moments of greatness. Yes, they're banged up, but the Bills have also been inconsistent. No better time to shine than when it matters most.
Jordan Mendoza: Dolphins 34, Bills 31
This is such a tough position for the Bills, as it could either be the No. 2 seed in the AFC or miss out on the playoffs altogether. With the stakes high, Josh Allen makes too many mistakes that Miami takes advantage of and wins the AFC East for the first time since 2008, while Buffalo can only hope results before the game work in its favor.
You can view the full list of USA TODAY's NFL expert predictions here.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins: Game predictions, picks, odds
