The online betting world is gearing up for what should be a fun week 17 to watch in the NFL season. In the last week of the regular season, playoff spots will be decided and divisional championships will be settled. Some teams will try to build momentum towards next season, while others will have to face the reality of still being dead in the water. This will also be the week where some coaches will be fighting for their jobs, while others could be coaching their last game without even realizing it. It is a time for the potential champions to rise up and the pretenders to fall away. It is hard to imagine any team resting starters this week because nearly every game on the schedule has something on the line. This will be a fun week to watch and a hard week to bet.

ALL GAMES ARE PLAYED ON SUNDAY JANUARY 1, 2012 FOR WEEK 17

Detroit Lions (-4) @ Green Bay Packers

The consensus is that Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy is not going to put Aaron Rodgers out there in week 17 against this Detroit defense. The Packers don't need this game, so it may be a game the Pack just gives to the Lions. These two teams could very well meet in the playoffs, but things will be different by then.

Pick: Detroit Lions

Tennessee Titans (-1) @ Houston Texans

It is amazing what the Tennessee Titans have done this season with their roster of young players. But with the wheels coming off in Tennessee, and the Texans needing this win to try and clinch the second seed in the AFC, don't look for the Texans to let up in this game at all.

Pick: Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars (-3 1/2)

There are more questions about these two teams off the field than on it. This game means nothing, but Dan Orlovsky should do just well enough to pull the Cots from the Andrew Luck Sweepstakes.

Pick: Indianapolis Colts

New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins (-3)

Rex Ryan can boast all he wants, but even he knows that his defense is not playing well and his quarterback is sub-par at best. Still, the Jets have a habit of winning these kinds of games late in the season. The Jets are not making the playoffs, but they will be going out on a winning note.

Pick: New York Jets

Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings (-1)

This one won't even be close. The Bears' defense is so mad at not making the playoffs this year that I feel bad for Joe Webb or Christian Ponder, whichever is playing quarterback for the Vikings. With no Adrian Peterson, this one won't even be close.

Pick: Chicago Bears

Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots (-10)

The line on this one has been dropping all week because most people feel that the Bills will keep this one close. I think the Bills have a shot at winning this game only because the New England defense is awful and the Bills' defense is back to picking off passes again.

Pick: Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints (-7 1/2)

It would not surprise me to see the Saints win the Super Bowl this year. The Panthers are a young and developing team, but the Saints have way too much momentum behind them.

Pick: New Orleans Saints

Washington Redskins @ Philadelphia Eagles (-8)

People want to be disappointed in the Redskins this year, but the only person who had faith in the Washington quarterback situation was head coach Mike Shanahan. But if we are going by points here, then take the Redskins. Because the Eagles will win this game, but not by more than eight points.

Pick: (with points) Washington Redskins / (without points) Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers (-10 1/2) @ St. Louis Rams

Next.

Pick: San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona Cardinals (-1 1/2)

Both of these offenses are one dimensional. Seattle has running back Marshawn Lynch and Arizona has wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. So it comes down to defense and that is where the Cardinals have a slight edge.

Pick: Arizona Cardinals

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Atlanta Falcons (-10 1/2)

Everyone in the NFL wishes they could figure out what happened to the Buccaneers this season. There was so much promise that was flushed down the drain by week eight.

Pick: Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens(-1 1/2) @ Cincinnati Bengals

If you are just a football fan in general and want to know what game to watch this week, this is one of them. The Ravens have just a little bit more offense than the Bengals at this point, so that will decide the game. This game next season won't be nearly as easy for the Ravens as it will be this season.

Pick: Baltimore Ravens

Pittsburgh Steelers (-7) @ Cleveland Browns

The line in this game keeps dropping because everyone knows how awful the Pittsburgh offense is without Big Ben. The Pittsburgh defense ain't what it used to be either.

Pick: Cleveland Browns

Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos (-3)

Tim Tebow will get outplayed by Kyle Orton in this game by a mile. The question in this game is whether the Denver defense will show up or not. After two off weeks, expect the Broncos to come out swinging in this game.

Pick: Denver Broncos

San Diego Chargers @ Oakland Raiders (-2 1/2)

This could very well be Norv Turner's last game as the Charger's head coach win or lose. By the same token, if the Raiders lose then this could be Hue Jackson's last game as the head coach of the Raiders. Oakland should give Jackson another season or two to prove himself. Turner has had his chance and has blown it completely.

Pick: Oakland Raiders

Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants (-3)

The very last game to be played in the 2011-2012 regular season will be this matchup to decide the winner of the NFC East. The Giants have shown a strong desire to break the losing pattern it established the last two seasons and Eli Manning has been playing out of his mind. Dallas quarterback Tony Romo has not had as much success in big games this season as he has had in previous years. The better team here is New York.

Pick: New York Giants