NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal NFL Week 18 Picks with Cynthia Frelund | Capitalizing on Teams Resting Starters
Jan 2, 2026
Cynthia Frelund, an NFL analytics expert known for her data-driven insights, joins Gregg Rosenthal to dissect the intriguing dynamics of Week 18. They discuss how playoff-bound teams resting starters create unique betting opportunities. Cynthia predicts a decisive victory for the motivated Broncos over the Chargers. The duo also explores the Vikings' appeal against the Packers and highlights the Rams' need for a strong performance against the injury-riddled Cardinals. They finalize their top picks, including the Broncos and Bills, as they navigate this complex week.
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Week 18 Creates Betting Edges
- Week 18 creates unique edges because playoff-motivated teams and resting opponents make lines volatile.
- Cynthia Frelund and Gregg Rosenthal argue exploiting motivations yields betting value this week.
Bet Motivated Teams Over Resting Ones
- Target games where one team has clear playoff motivation and the other is resting starters.
- Use those motives to back favorites likely to play harder and pad stats.
Last Season's Blowout As A Template
- Gregg recalled Denver beating a resting Chiefs team 38-0 last season in Week 18.
- He uses that example to justify expecting one-sided Week 18 games when motivation differs.