The NFC South has been through some rough times in recent years but heading into Week 13 of the NFL betting season, this division has three teams poised to make the playoffs. Two of them will collide this Sunday (4:25 PM ET, FOX) when the New Orleans Saints host the Carolina Panthers. These rivals are tied for the division lead at 8-3 SU and 7-4 ATS, but the Saints have the advantage after beating Carolina (–5 at home) in Week 3. At press time the Saints are 4.5-point favorites to complete the season sweep against the Panthers.

This isn’t the only important matchup on the Week 13 NFL odds board. Here are four more games that could end up shaping the postseason, all times Eastern:
 

Sunday: Minnesota Vikings at Atlanta Falcons (1 PM, FOX)

The Falcons (7-4 SU, 5-6 ATS) are the third team in the NFC South that would make the playoffs if they began today. But they’ve got a tough game at home against the Vikings (9-2 SU, 8-3 ATS), who are threatening to run away with the NFC North. Atlanta is holding steady as a 3-point chalk on the NFL lines.

 

Sunday: New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills (1 PM, CBS)

After getting the win with Tyrod Taylor back under center, the Bills (6-5 SU, 6-4-1 ATS) are once again in the Wild Card hunt. Catching up with the Patriots (9-2 SU, 7-4 ATS) in the AFC East is another matter. The defending Super Bowl champs are 9-point road favorites; New England is 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS in their last five trips to Buffalo.

 

Sunday: Philadelphia Eagles at Seattle Seahawks (8:30 PM, NBC)

The Seahawks (7-4 SU, 4-6-1 ATS) are usually difficult to beat at home, but now that both Kam Chancellor and Richard Sherman are on injured reserve, Seattle is a 6-point underdog against the league-leading Eagles (10-1 SU, 9-2 ATS) after opening at +4.

 

Monday: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals (8:30 PM, ESPN)

This is pretty much it for the Bengals (5-6 SU, 6-5 ATS). They desperately need a victory over Pittsburgh (9-2 SU, 6-5 ATS) in this AFC North battle, but the Steelers are 6-point favorites, and they didn’t have too much trouble beating Cincinnati (+4 away) 29-14 in Week 7.
 

*Odds as of November 30, 2017