NFL Betting Lines, Odds & Picks: Week 15

Vince Wilfork was asked by Bob Costas last week what he has to say to the people who left the Patriots bandwagon early in the season. The big defensive tackle calmly said, “There’s no more room for them.”

That’s how we feel right now. The wins are piling up, but the views and comments are few and far between. It’s shocking really, as our team looks more and more like the Seattle Seahawks currently do, peaking at the right time for the closing furlong of the season.

If it weren’t for Green Bay’s prevent defense in the second half against Atlanta we would have truly cleaned up and swept the primetime games. Nonetheless, we finished the week 10-5-1 and upped our season record to 107-97-3.

Week 15 is here. Let’s stay warm while the weather keeps cold.

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Arizona at St. Louis (-4.5)

Not many teams are playing better than the 6-7 St. Louis Rams are right now, winning their last two contests by a total score of 76-0. That’s not a typo, that’s a zero for the opposition. Now, the two shutouts came against Oakland and Washington, the two teams in the league battling it out for most dysfunctional. Still, a shutout is a shutout in today’s NFL. They are probably out of the playoff race, but are playing for pride and their jobs. Arizona’s offense has taken a nosedive the last few weeks and are feeling the wrath of Seattle in the NFC West division race. The pressure is on Drew Stanton and Arizona in this game, St. Louis will play loose and with nothing to lose, making them a very, very dangerous team.

THE PICK: Rams (-4.5)

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Oakland at Kansas City (-10)

Revenge is a dish best served cold. It’ll probably be cold in Kansas City on Sunday and they need this game. Oakland followed up their first win of the season three weeks ago against Kansas City on a Thursday night with a 52-0 loss to St. Louis and then beat their cross-bay rival San Francisco this past week. Kansas City is a tough place to play and the Chiefs need a “get right” game. They avenge their loss to Oakland with a win this Sunday.

THE PICK: Chiefs (-10)

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Jacksonville at Baltimore (-13.5)

Baltimore looks poised for another January run after smacking Miami in South Beach Sunday, 28-13. Joe Flacco may be playing his best football this year. His play, coupled with the pass rush of Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil, makes for a dangerous Ravens team. They won’t look past the Jags in this one as they need every win from here on out to capture the AFC North crown and hold off the Steelers and Bengals.

THE PICK: Ravens (-13.5)

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Pittsburgh (-2.5) at Atlanta

No one can seem to figure out this Steelers team. They are 8-5, but are just 1-2 against the NFC South with home losses to Tampa Bay and New Orleans. Both teams are desperate to keep pace in their respective divisions and we can’t imagine the Steelers going 1-3 against the NFC South. Julio Jones may not play after injuring his hip Monday night in his record setting performance.

THE PICK: Steelers (-2.5)

Houston at Indianapolis (-6.5)

Houston, we have a problem. The problem isn’t the Texans themselves, they are playing good football behind their MVP candidate J.J. Watt, but the Houston Texans have NEVER won in Indianapolis. As an expansion team in the early 2000’s, Houston has always been a punching bag for Peyton Manning and now Andrew Luck when it comes to playing in Indianapolis. Even if that doesn’t change on Sunday, Watt and the Texans defense will keep this game close as they fight to stay in the AFC South race.

THE PICK: Texans (+6.5)

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Cincinnati at Cleveland (-1)

This line varies across a lot of sports books as the injection of Johnny Manziel in to the Browns starting lineup has changed Vegas’ outlook on the game. Cincinnati won three road games in a row before returning to home and being blown out against the Steelers. Now they go in to the Dawg Pound facing a desperate team in need of a win. A quarterback change can always jolt an offense, especially when that offense has scored one touchdown in its previous 29 possessions. Manziel makes unscripted plays in this one and Joe Haden locks down A.J. Green.

THE PICK: Browns (-1)

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Miami at New England (-7.5)

This game has blowout potential written all over it. Miami beat New England in Week 1, but both teams are so different since then, specifically New England who is red hot. Miami’s offensive line is beat up and playing poorly. Most importantly, there seems to be some tension between the Dolphins players and the coaching staff as Jared Odrick was seen screaming at head coach Joe Philbin during the team’s lackluster blowout loss to Baltimore in Week 14. Oh, add in the fact that Miami’s linebackers have yet to practice this week and Rob Gronkowski is in for a big day.

THE PICK: Patriots (-7.5)

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Tampa Bay at Carolina (-3)

This line went down a bit since the news of Panthers quarterback Cam Newton getting injured in a two car accident on Tuesday, rendering him inactive for the Sunday contest. Tampa Bay is sticking with Josh McCown as they continue to lose football games. Carolina on the other hand needs the game as their blowout win last week in New Orleans has them just a half game out of first place in the putrid NFC South. Derek Anderson will start at quarterback for Carolina and ironically he started and beat the Bucs in Week 1 to start the season. He’ll do it again.

THE PICK: Panthers (-3)

Washington at N.Y. Giants (-6.5)

Washington is a grease fire. Total dumpster fire. New York on the other hand is at least trying and have talent across the board on offense. Giants win this game and push Jay Gruden and whoever starts at quarterback Sunday on the brink of extinction.

THE PICK: Giants (-6.5)

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Green Bay (-5) at Buffalo

The Bills backdoored the cover for us last week in Denver. They found some late offense to cover the spread. They’ll need more offense in this contest as they take on the Packers’ elite offensive attack. But the Packers aren’t the same team away from Lambeau (3-3) and have had their fair share of malign efforts outside of Wisconsin. It’s a must win for Buffalo if they look to stay in the AFC playoff picture. We would expect a desperate effort from the Bills in what could be a snowy western New York showdown.

THE PICK: Bills (+5)

Minnesota at Detroit (-7.5)

Detroit has played really well since their eight quarter touchdown-less streak almost a month ago with two straight blowouts. Their defense should heckle Teddy Bridgewater, who himself has played better lately, but with the speed of Detroit’s offense and the lack of play makers from Minnesota, this game could get lopsided at some point.

THE PICK: Lions (-7.5)

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N.Y. Jets (-1.5) at Tennessee

Tennessee is one of the three worse teams in professional football. They showed no life in a loss last week at home to the other New York team and we don’t see how they get up for another New York looking to finish the year strong. Tennessee is at the bottom of the NFL in rushing defense and the Jets can throw two good running backs at you. Jake Locker will make the start for the Titans and who knows where his confidence is at.

THE PICK: Jets (-1.5)

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Denver (-4) at San Diego

The Broncos have won their last three games with a much different approach by running the football. This keeps the opposition in the game as good as it is for the Broncos going forward in December and January. San Diego needs this game after a home loss to New England Sunday night. They know with Kansas City playing Oakland that this game is do or die if they want to play football in January. They usually play Denver tough anyways, so if they lose it should be close.

THE PICK: Chargers (+4)

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San Francisco at Seattle (-10)

You can’t give us one reason to back San Francisco in this game. You just can’t. Harbaugh looks like he’s done and his time in the bay area coaching the 49ers is done and his prodigy Colin Kaepernick is playing the quarterback position as bad as anybody in the league. Seattle is peaking and ready for another Super Bowl run. This game may get ugly folks.

THE PICK: Seahawks (-10)

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Dallas at Philadelphia (-3.5)

If you can get Dallas with the three and a half, you have to take it. They are off 10 days rest and have learned from their dreadful Thanksgiving performance. They need this game if they want to win the division and not rely on the rest of the conference in order to make the wild card. You rarely get division games between two talented teams to be blowouts, we doubt you see another blowout in this spot.

THE PICK: Cowboys (+3.5)

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New Orleans (-3) at Chicago

How do you handicap this game? Why is this game still on Monday night? Both teams are 5-8 and are as unpredictable as any teams in the league. New Orleans puts up a ton of yards and points in Pittsburgh and then comes home and lays a huge egg at home against Carolina this past week. Chicago plays no defense and loses a weapon in Brandon Marshall for the season. We’re back New Orleans in this spot as they are the only team with anything to play for in this game, but you can’t have much confidence in backing either side.

THE PICK: Saints (-3)

Best of luck in Week 15!