One of the many mistakes NFL bettors make is ignoring totals. By doing so, it stands to reason that half the board is being omitted. Let’s use this week’s card as a prime example. There are 16 games to choose from. However, if you include totals the choices expand to 32 possible picks. Any successful professional sports handicapper will tell you, when there’s more to choose from it provides him or her a higher probability of identifying betting value, thus increasing the chances of winning. I’m going to discuss 5 Sunday games on the NFL Week 16 menu and will share my totals picks for those contests.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Dallas Cowboys 1:00 PM ET
Game# 101-102
At the time of this writing (12/13), Bookmaker has a posted total of 48.0 on this contest.

Tampa Bay has seen 6 of their 7 road games go over the total this season. Those contests have produced a combined average of 65.0 points scored per game. A major reason for those high scoring affairs has been awful performances turned in by the Buccaneers defense. Tampa Bay is allowing an enormous 37.0 points per game on the road in 2018. Nevertheless, the offense has also accounted for 28.0 points per contest during those away tilts.

Dallas has seen 5 of their last 6 home games go over the total. As a matter of fact, the Cowboys have gone over in each of their previous 4 as a home favorite with a cumulative 49.5 points scored per game.
Pick: Over 48.0

Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots 1:00 PM ET
Game# 103-104
There’s a total of 44.5 on this upcoming AFC East Division battle which is consistent across the major offshore sportsbook landscape.

One of the best kept secrets to this point has been Buffalo ranking #2 in total defense while surrendering a mere 292.2 yards per game. The Bills are allowing an extremely impressive 187.4 yards passing per game and that tops the NFL charts in that specific category. Furthermore, Buffalo has limited their opponents to 170 or less passing yards in 8 of their previous 10 games, and 83 yards or fewer rushing during 6 of its last 9 contests.

Buffalo has seen each of their last 6 games go under the total this season when there’s been a total of 40.0 or greater. Those contests averaged a miniscule 33.2 combined points being scored. The Bills have also gone under in 5 of its last 6 on the road while allowing 22 points or fewer on 5 occasions.

New England is coming off last Sunday’s 17-10 loss at Pittsburgh. Since 2016, they’ve witnessed 8 of their 9 games staying under following a loss, and if there was a total of 53.0 or less, New England went to 5-0 under the number.

Most recently, New England has gone under the total in 5 of their past 6 games, and they permitted 17 points or less scored against them 5 times.
Pick: Under 44.5

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Miami Dolphins 1:00 PM ET
Game# 109-110
The NFL betting odds at 5Dimes currently has a posted total of 38.0 on this contest.

Despite Jacksonville’s recent offensive struggles, they’ve gone over the total in each of their previous 4 away games, and there was a combined 46.5 points scored per contest.

Jacksonville is coming off last Sunday’s 16-13 home loss to Washington. The Jaguars gone 7-0 over in their last 7 road games when there’s a total 40.0 or less and after scoring 19 points or fewer in their previous outing. Those 7 contests produced 49.3 points scored per game.

Since 2016, Miami is 11-1 over the total in non-division home games, and if there was a total of 47.0 or less they improved to 9-0 over.
Pick: Over 38.0

Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions1:00 PM ET
Game# 115-116
Bookmaker is presently displaying a total of 42.0 on this NFC North showdown. My totals pick on this game centers around an applicable NFL betting angle which has been very successful throughout the past 36 seasons.

Minnesota is coming off a home 41-17 blowout win over Miami in their previous game. That victory improved their season record to 7-6-1. They’ll face a Lions team on Sunday with a poor 5-9 season mark.

Any road team (Minnesota) with a total of 42.5 to 49.5 that’s playing after game 3 of their season, and they’re coming off a home win by 21 or more in which they allowed 17 points or fewer, versus an opponent (Detroit) with a losing record, resulted in those games going 54-18 (75%) over the total since 1983.
Pick: Over 42.0

Pittsburgh Steelers @ New Orleans Saints 4:25 PM ET
Game# 127-128
Pittsburgh has gone 18-1 under the total in their last 19 regular season road contests when playing after game 3 of their season. If there was a total of 46.0 or more in those outings the Steelers went 14-0 under. As a matter of fact, Pittsburgh has gone under the total in their previous 5 away games.

The New Orleans Saints have been synonymous with Drew Brees and their potent offensive attack. Nonetheless, the Saints have allowed 17 points or less in each of their previous 6 games. Speaking of the Saints offensive, they’ve struggled mightily during the past 3 weeks while averaging 16.7 points scored and 273.3 yard gained per game.

When it comes to NFL betting, even the best of professionals is guilty of overthinking instead of just keeping it simple. I’m not going make that mistake in this situation.
Pick: Under 53.0

Ross Benjamin is a top sports analyst and one of the sports industry's most respected handicappers. Follow him on Twitter: @RossBenjamin1 or visit his website at RBWins.com