Give up the points in NFL Week 15, because the best teams will keep on winning. Weak competition is their feast and yours. Best picks against the spread.
With the college football season over, we reach the first Saturday NFL weekend of the year. With games spread now between four days, the sport is at full capacity and reaching over-saturation. Fortunately, the Saturday game this week is so bad, we won’t have to pay too much attention. In fact, the Thursday and Saturday contests feature two of the worst half dozen teams in the NFL, one playing without a head coach!
Related Story: Picks and Predictions for NFL Week 15
Overall, I don’t love the matchups we have in store for Week 15, especially against the spread. But some of the best teams are playing rather weak competition. Give up the points and feast on the dregs of the league in NFL Week 15.
Two brothers from New York, Dan Salem and Todd Salem, discuss the best picks against the spread in today’s NFL Sports Debate.
2016 Record Against the Spread:
Dan Salem: 10-18
Todd Salem: 14-13-1
Last week was halfway decent, but this week is about to rock.
Todd Salem’s Week 15 Best Picks ATS
- Green Bay Packers -6.5 at Chicago Bears
I hate to piggyback on a streaking team, but Green Bay seems so hot that even giving a touchdown on the road isn’t enough to scare me away. The Packers are a new team in the midst of a three-game winning streak, where they have also covered three times in a row. The offense looks great; more importantly, the defense is shutting people down. The Bears will see the return of Alshon Jeffery this week, but he won’t be enough to see them hang within a touchdown of the Pack, especially as Green Bay brings their top-10 rushing defense to Chicago.
- Baltimore Ravens -6 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The Baltimore Ravens may come up short in chasing the Pittsburgh Steelers for the AFC North crown, but they have a good roster that cannot be ignored at this point. At home, things look even better for Baltimore. It hasn’t lost a home game in 10 weeks. Baltimore hasn’t lost a game in any stadium where it was favored in the same time frame.
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Philadelphia is the perfect opponent to continue that stretch. The Eagles are really bad on the road, to the tune of a 1-6 record. Their only road win of the year came back in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears. This is a different team on the road, not to mention the team is reeling regardless, dropping four-straight overall and against the spread. Six points may seem high for Baltimore to cover, but they is 5-2 ATS this year in games where they are giving at least a field goal.
Dan Salem’s Week 15 Best Picks ATS
- Pittsburgh Steelers -3 at Cincinnati Bengals
While tempting, the big lines scare me in NFL Week 15. I’m rolling with two likely playoff teams giving only a field goal a piece, starting with the Steelers. Divisional matchups are tricky, but don’t be fooled by the Bengals performance last week. They are a weak team and at least two steps behind these Steelers.
Pittsburgh made a ton of mistakes last Sunday and still won on the back of their running game and Le’Veon Bell. He’s due for another big week against an average defense, so role with the Steelers and drop that field goal.
- Oakland Raiders -3 at San Diego Chargers
I’m also dropping a field goal with the Raiders versus a below average Chargers team. They can’t get out of their own way and Oakland needs to bounce back to clinch a trip to the postseason. Momentum and the stakes all favor the Raiders.
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This game is another lopsided divisional matchup. Oakland isn’t even leaving the state to travel for this football game and considering the teams history and success this season, coupled with an apathetic San Diego fan base, this will feel like a home game for the Raiders. Toss aside that field goal and pick the likely AFC West division winner, instead of its bottom feeder.