Week 15 Record: 1-5; -3 units; Year-to-date Record: 53-36-1; +15.0 units

 

Six Bets I Like:

 

Los Angeles Rams -3 at Minnesota Vikings

Both teams are sitting in the NFC Wild Card picture. The Vikings are holding on by a thread.

Several teams are nipping at Minnesota’s heels, so a win here would be significant for Mike Zimmer’s crew. But the Rams are trying to take the NFC West title and will be focused in this one.

Bet amount: 2 units.

Oct 7, 2021; Seattle, Washington, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald (99) exits the locker room before a game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

 

Los Angeles Chargers -9.5 at Houston Texans

Davis Mills got his first career win as a starter over the Jaguars, but the Chargers are a different animal. Justin Herbert is playing at a high level, and the team is vying for a wild card spot and should handle business in Houston.

Bet amount: 2 units.

 

Indianapolis Colts +1.5 at Arizona Cardinals

Two teams trending in different directions right now.

A week ago, the Colts handled the Patriots with relative ease, while the Cardinals gave the Lions just the second win of their season. Jonathan Taylor is putting his name among the MVP candidates this year and can lead the Colts to a big road win in this one.

Bet amount: 1 unit.

 

Buffalo Bills +2.5 at New England Patriots

A rematch of the game from two weeks ago, I would imagine Mac Jones is asked to throw the ball more than three times in this one. Buffalo left some chances on the table in the last matchup and will look to change their fortune in this one and take back the AFC East.

Bet amount: ½ unit.

 

Washington Football Team at Dallas Cowboys -10.5

I keep predicting the Cowboys’ offense will turn the corner and find the success they showed early in the year, but they remain rusty despite covering each of the past three weeks.

Washington travels to Dallas after a short week with multiple players having missed the game due to COVID. Dallas’ defense has three straight games with four turnovers, including two weeks ago against the same Washington team.

Bet amount: 1 unit.

 

San Francisco 49ers -3.5 at Tennessee Titans

Kyle Shanahan has his big weapons back on offense and the team is firing on all cylinders. George Kittle and Deebo Samuel are two of the league’s best weapons, and Jimmy G has been finding them with ease.

The Titans have been up and down this season without Derrick Henry and many others. This becomes a big home game with the Colts gaining ground on the Titans in the AFC South.

Bet amount: ½ unit.

Six Bets Bets to Avoid:

Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals -2.5

Cincy put a beat down on the Ravens earlier this season, giving them the edge in the AFC North for now. The Ravens have been riding Tyler Huntley in Lamar Jackson’s absence and will need him to be at his best this week to control their fate.

 

Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Jets -1

The Jets are the latest team to have a COVID outbreak as Robert Saleh tested positive this week. The only intrigue in this matchup is the impact this game has on a top-five draft pick. The football part of it won’t be pretty between 2021’s top two draft picks.

New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles -10

The Giants’ season is virtually over, and Philly is still playing for a potential wild card appearance. Mike Glennon has been a downgrade from the already poor quarterback performances New York was getting out of Daniel Jones, and the Giants may go with Jake Fromm this week.

The Eagles are playing better, but still have their issues.

 

Miami Dolphins at New Orleans Saints -3

Both defenses are playing great, especially New Orleans, who just shut out Tom Brady for the first time in 15 years. Taysom Hill doesn’t inspire much confidence in the Saints’ offense, so this game could be a low-scoring affair.

Chicago Bears at Seattle Seahawks -6.5

This game has sadness written all over it. Matt Nagy has his bags packed sitting by the door, and Russell Wilson may as well. Both teams have traded their first-round picks, which project in the top ten next year, so it’s hard to even look forward to draft prospects in the Spring.

Both once-dominant defenses have struggled at times this season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers -11 at Carolina Panthers

The Bucs had a worst-case scenario situation against the Saints on Sunday. They were shut out in a loss, knocking them out of the one-seed, and lost multiple weapons on offense to injury, including Chris Godwin, Leonard Fournette, and Mike Evans.

Luckily two of their final games are against the Panthers, who are in a tailspin with Cam Newton at the controls.