Week 15 NFL Picks

Week 15 NFL Picks Against the Spread (HOME team in caps)

Bengals (-8) over 49ERS:
Two underachieving teams led by two young quarterbacks who’ve taken a step back this year and by coaches on the hot seat. Normally I’d think this is would be a great game between two teams desperate to survive…except that the Bengals are one of the most dysfunctional teams in pro sports, and the 49ers quit playing weeks ago. I’ll take dysfunctional talent over disinterested nobodys.

SAINTS (-3.5) over Cardinals:
The loser of this game is done. The Saints are down to their 3rd string running back. Arizona is beat up at almost every position. All that said; these have been the two most erratic teams in the NFL this year. This one is a coin flip, and if you’re betting on this game, get help.

Falcons (+12) over BUCCANEERS:
No-Brainer of the Week. The Falcons anger at Bobby Petrino’s cowardly departure spurs them to their best performance of the year. Besides do you really trust Jeff Garcia to cover a 12 point spread?

DOLPHINS (+3) over Ravens:
The Dolphins aren’t just going to cover, they are going to WIN! Because if they don’t…

Bills (+5.5) over BROWNS:
This is the play in game for the AFC playoffs. I can’t wait for this game. It should be the most exciting of the week. It should be a bit of a shoot-out with the 30th and 32nd ranked Defenses squaring off. The team with the ball last should win. That’ll be the Browns but only by a field goal.

Packers (-7.5) over Rams:
Brett Favre versus Brock Berlin. ‘Nuff said.

STEELERS (-3.5) over Jaguars:
This one is tough because it really doesn’t mean much. The Steelers loss last week all but relegates them to the 3rd or 4th seed, and the Jags have pretty much locked up the 5 position. These teams could see each other again in round one, so I expect very vanilla game plans from both teams.

PATRIOTS (+22.5) over Jets:
The forecast is getting better by the hour as it appears the Nor’easter isn’t going to be quite as bad as we were initially led to believe. Besides, this isn’t Pittsburgh. The Pats installed artificial turf a couple years back so footing won’t be nearly the issue it was a couple Mondays back. It you don’t think the Jets are praying for the heavens to open up and dump a couple of feet of snow in front of the Patriots receivers you’re kidding yourself. A couple side bets to consider: I’m setting the over/under for numbers for slush balls thrown at Jets players and coaches at 500, and number of punches thrown by Belichick and Mangini in lieu of a hand shake is set at 4.5.

Seahawks (-7) over PANTHERS:
The Panthers really had a chance to trap the Jags last week. Instead they got blown apart. The Panthers are done. I wouldn’t expect anything out of them the rest of the way.

CHIEFS (+4) over Titans:
It took an act of God for me to maintain my streak of picking the wrong way in all Tennessee games this year. I’ll take the chiefs in December at Arrowhead, so RUN to put your money on the Titans.

Colts (-10.5) over RAIDERS:
You don’t need me to tell you what’s going to happen in this game.

CHARGERS (-9.5) over Lions:
This collapse by the Detroit has been amazing. Last week has to be the last straw. I’d be surprised if the Lions even make the flight to San Diego.

COWBOYS (-9.5) over Eagles:
Kevin Kolb starts next week. You heard it here first.

GIANTS (-4) over Redskins:
I hate Eli Manning. I really do. How many fantasy seasons has he ruined? Why are these Giants spreads always so tempting? This game makes me want to hurt myself.

Last Week: 7-9 ATS After a rare winning week, right back to my losing ways.