2010 NFL - Week 15 Betting Picks

I had a pretty average week with my picks last week. I was .500 and hopefully I'll hit my stride. Some games aren't on any sportsbook due to injuries, so I've picked the games that lines were available for. A few great games, but some real stinkers on the schedule this week. No one should watch Arizona vs. Carolina unless they have money on the game. Here are my betting picks against the spread for Week 15 of the 2010 NFL season.

San Francisco (+10) at San Diego Chargers (-10) - My pick is San Diego

The 49ers smoked Seattle last week, but they face a San Diego team that is fighting for the playoffs. Phillip Rivers will be back firing all over the field and should make for a long night for the 49ers secondary. Thursday night games often favor the home teams, I pick the Chargers to cover.


Houston Texans (+1.5) at Tennessee Titans (-1.5) - My pick is Houston

The Texans have one of the worst secondaries in the NFL, but the Titans haven't been able to pass the last few weeks, no matter who the quarterback is. Houston had a bad break in their overtime loss against Baltimore and they will bounce back against a Titans team that is struggling to keep their locker room together. I will take the points and moneyline, take Houston to win.

Jacksonville Jaguars (+4.5) at Indianapolis Colts (-4.5) - My pick is Indianapolis

In the last two weeks, you have the Jaguars, who grind out victories in the last minute of each game, and the Colts, who have given away games in the last minute. The Colts need to win out to win the AFC South. Austin Collie will be back and Peyton Manning will look like a Pro Bowler again. I'll pick the Colts to cover.

Arizona Cardinals (+2.5) at Carolina Panthers (-2.5) - My pick is Arizona

Unless you have money on this game, there is no reason to watch. Panthers are in line for the #1 overall pick and I don't see them winning this game to jeopardize that. I pick the Cardinals to win and taking the moneyline.

Cleveland Browns (+1.5) at Cincinnati Bengals (-1.5) - My pick is Cleveland

Joe Haden is turning into a shutdown corner and will give Carson Palmer fits this weekend. The last time these two teams played, Peyton Hillis ran all over the Bengals and expect a repeat performance. Browns will win this game outright.

Buffalo Bills (+5.5) at Miami Dolphins (-5.5) - My pick is Miami

The Bills have been having trouble getting the ball to Steve Johnson and will have trouble in this game. The Dolphins secondary is underrated and will rely on their running game to score in this game. I'll pick Miami to cover.

Philadelphia Eagles (+3) at New York Giants (-3) - My pick is Philadelphia

This will be an exciting game to watch. The Giants resurrected pass rush this season will try to cut off Michael Vick from scrambling. Vick will try to go deep to Desean Jackson against the Giants secondary. The Giants receiving corps is banged up, so the matchup against Eagles secondary will be one to watch. I will pick the Eagles to win outright and take the moneyline.

Washington Redskins (+6) at Dallas Cowboys (-6) - My pick is Dallas

Jon Kitna versus Rex Grossman! We have seen some bad quarterback matchups late this season, but this one might be the worst. Washington will try to push the ball threw the Cowboys line with Ryan Torain. Kitna can't throw the ball deep, but Grossman will try to throw the ball 40 yards and it will land in the hands of a Cowboys cornerback. I can't pick the Redskins, so I'm picking the Cowboys to cover...by default.

Detroit Lions (+5.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-5.5) - My pick is Tampa Bay

Players on the Bucs have been hitting the infirmary the last few weeks. The Lions are horrible on the road and Tampa Bay still have Josh Freeman. He will be the deciding factor on the Bucs covering against Detroit.

New Orleans (+1) at Baltimore Ravens (-1) - My pick is New Orleans

You can't count the Saints out in any game. Drew Brees has the ability to throw 400 yards in any game and the Ravens secondary can be throw on (see 4th quarter of Texans/Ravens game). The Saints are still in the hunt for the NFC South, they will come out motivated and will win this game outright.

Atlanta Falcons (-7) at Seattle Seahawks (+7) - My pick is Atlanta

Seattle is bad, I don't care if they are at home or not, they are bad. Atlanta should get out to a pretty big lead early and Michael Turner will take over. The Falcons cover this game easily.

New York Jets (+6) at Pittsburgh Steelers (-6) - My pick is Pittsburgh

The Jets haven't been able to score points the last few weeks and Troy Polamalu will cause all sorts of trouble for Mark Sanchez. This game could get ugly. I predict the Steelers to cover and could ruin the Jets seasons.

Denver Broncos (+6.5) at Oakland Raiders (-6.5) - My pick is Oakland

Kyle Orton looked lost without Josh McDaniels and Oakland has been running all over teams the last half of the season. Darren McFadden could once again have a career day, since Denver looks like they have quit. Oakland should cover and have 200+ yards rushing from their running backs.

These picks are for entertainment purposes.

Not Again! Bob Sanders Out For Year

Bob Sanders was the Defensive Player Of The Year just a few seasons ago, but he hasn't been able to stay healthy since. He is under-sized and is a very physical player, which may lead to some of his past injuries. There is no doubt that the Colts are a better team with Sanders in the lineup, but they have done well without this year, but will this injury lead to the Colts' defense being exposed?

It's been a long time since the Colts have had a great player in their secondary. Jeff Burris was a good player and Ray Buchanan had a few good seasons, but went on to the Falcons and had his career years. Bob Sanders was the first elite defensive back that I can remember the Colts having since they moved to Indianapolis. He hasn't stayed healthy since he signed his contract extension and it's possible if he can't stay on the field next year, he could see his way out of Indianapolis. The Colts no longer play the Tampa 2 and they have learned to play without him for most of the last few years. He is clearly a slow healer, unlike Dwight Freeney, who if he gets injured, seems to be back on the field the next week.

The Colts are currently undefeated, it's not uncommon really, over the last few years this has happened a few times. They go through the first-half of the year undefeated, then they start to play divisional opponents a second time and then usually a tough game against the Patriots or Steelers and lose a few games. Injuries usually start to add up and a team that goes 8-0 in the first half, ends up as a 12-4 team.

The injuries that I am most worried about are the injuries to Marlin Jackson and Kelvin Hayden. Jackson injured his knee in practice for the second-straight season. He will miss the remainder of the season, an injury is that is similar to what occurred in 2008. Hayden will miss a few weeks with an injury, so he will miss the Patriots game. With these two guys out, they will have to start two rookie corners for the next few weeks. Tom Brady could be drooling by that time, since he has been known to go after rookie corners, but if he has two of them to carve up, it could be a long game for Indianapolis. Jacob Lacey and Jerraud Powers will be tested over the next few weeks.

I was worried about the Colts at the beginning of the year. Anthony Gonzalez suffered a knee injury in the first game and has yet to return. He had his knee scoped this week, so the timetable for his return may have been pushed back a few weeks. They have a nice young receiving corps and guys like Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie has stepped up in place of Gonzalez. He can afford to stay away and fully heal up, a luxury that members on the defense do not have.

The next few weeks will be a test for the Colts. They have two games against the red-hot Matt Schaub and the Texans, the Patriots, and the Ravens over the next four weeks. If they get past these four games, they only have the Broncos and Jets as possible teams to knock them out of the ranks of the unbeaten.

I don't think this team should worry about staying unbeaten, if they know anything, a loss in the regular season doesn't mean much, it looks like they will win the AFC South. A loss in the post-season will end their season, if they are going to have a bad game, they better have it in the regular season or another productive season will go up in flames.