NFL Predictions Week 15: Best Picks Against the Spread (ATS)

Don’t fall victim to large points spreads this week. Give up some field goals and stick with winners. Your Best Picks Against the Spread (ATS) for NFL Predictions Week 15.

Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL Sports Debate. Check out more of the brothers in Seesaw Sports Debate on BuzzChomp. Two brothers from New York yell, scream, and debate sports.

TODD:

The NFC East really screwed me this past week with its surprising competence. Both Philadelphia and Washington beat their respective opponents outright in semi-upsets. The Redskins’ win was the team’s first road win of the year.

You made up for my 0-2 week by going 2-0 though, aided by an Andy Dalton injury that submarined the Bengals’ chances against Pittsburgh before they even got started. I was thinking of taking Cincinnati this week with a stunted line but didn’t want to trust AJ McCarron in his first career start.

New York Jets -3 at Dallas Cowboys
New Orleans Saints -3 vs. Detroit Lions

Two teams that do suddenly seem trustworthy are the Jets and the Saints, the latter especially at home. New York is in the midst of a grueling playoff battle with fellow 8-5s Kansas City and Pittsburgh. It has taken care of business each of the past three weeks though, beating inferior opponents. This should make it four for four heading into the Patriots game the following week.

Dallas’ season is essentially over after its most recent loss. The offense is a mess without Tony Romo at quarterback, and it will be hard pressed to manage anything of consequence against the Jets defense. Even on the road, NY should cover the field goal spread.

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The same goes for New Orleans at home. This is finally the old Saints team we were expecting coming into the year. The defense isn’t good, but it was never supposed to be. Instead, the offense is finally flourishing. NO hasn’t scored fewer than 28 points at home since Week 4 when it managed 26 in an overtime victory.

The team has lost four of five and is in last place in the NFC South, but there is still a different feel surrounding the ball club thanks to the wild recent games against the Giants (win) and the Panthers (loss). I don’t expect the Lions to be able to hang with the Saints in this one.

Dec 13, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets running back

(33) runs the ball against the Tennessee Titans during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. The Jets defeated the Titans 30-8. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

DAN:

I like both the Saints and Jets a lot down the stretch, but have a hard time trusting New Orleans. Did you see what the Lions’ defense did to the Packers? I agree with you, but still worry about the cover. With so many inflated lines this week, I’m rolling with the lower point spreads as well. While getting two touchdowns is tempting, I’d much rather put my money on winning teams giving field goals.

Green Bay Packers -3 at Oakland Raiders
Arizona Cardinals -3.5 at Philadelphia Eagles

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I don’t care what the Raiders did to the Broncos last weekend, they are not a team worth believing in. Green Bay isn’t the dominant team we expected entering the year, but they are a playoff team with momentum. Following two straight victories into the black hole in Oakland is an easy bandwagon to jump on.

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers are a great team late in the year. They are 4-2 on the road this season, while their competition is the opposite at 2-4 in their home stadium. The Raiders are a schizophrenic team out of the playoffs, without officially being eliminated just yet. Green Bay needs this victory heading towards the post season, so trust in the winning team. Give the field goal and watch as they decimate the Raiders.

A similar story will play out in Philadelphia, as the Cardinals come to town. Arizona is on fire, putting up points in bunches, and riding a seven game win streak. The Eagles looked above average in victories over the depleted Patriots and Buffalo Bills. Yet simply apply the eye test to both teams, and you know who’s winning this football game.

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Nothing Philadelphia does is better than what Arizona has going on. The Eagles are not stopping the Cardinals’ offensive onslaught, nor will they be able to keep up against Arizona’s stingy defense. Giving up less than a touchdown is an easy bet to take. With so many lopsided lines this week, jump all over a game like this. Arizona is easily putting away the likes of Philadelphia.

Dan Salem is a Staff Writer for NFL Spinzone. He’s also Lead Editor, Staff Writer, and Featured Vlogger at BuzzChomp, and a New York Jets Analyst for Pro Football Spot. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or Instagram.

Todd Salem is a Staff Writer for NFL Spinzone. He’s also a Contributing Editor at BuzzChomp, a Featured Columnist at College Sports Madness, and an Analyst for Tipster Labs, among others. Follow him on Twitter.