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.

White Boy Of The Week: Peyton Hillis

Peyton Hillis did something that I've been waiting 24 years for, he wiped Craig James off the record books. In 1986, James, "The Great White Hope," ran for 1,227 yards and was the last white running back to surpass 1,000 yards in a season. This weekend, in a loss, Hillis crossed that plateau and currently has 1,070 on the season. He has been a beast this season and exciting to watch. I'm glad to name Peyton Hillis as my "White Boy of The Week."

I have watched nearly every Cleveland Browns game this year, mostly because they show most of them here in Columbus, Ohio. I was doing some research on Hillis for this post and ran across an amazing nickname for him. "The Albino Rhino" has been thrown out there and I hope it sticks. His running style is violent and he tries to leap or run over his opponent. He is prone to fumbling, which he did last week, but he will get that fixed this off-season.


Hillis has 11 touchdowns this season and to go along with his rushing yards, he has 57 receptions, 446 receiving yards, and two additional receiving touchdowns. He is a dual threat and someone that a cornerback or safety wouldn't want to try to tackle in the open-field.

He was acquired by the Browns from the Denver Broncos for Brady Quinn. He was lost in the depth chart in Denver, but did shine when he was given an opportunity. He played his college ball at Arkansas, where he played fullback in front of first-round picks, Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. There has been a few weeks this season that Hillis had more total yards in a week than both McFadden and Jones combined.

Congratulations goes out to Peyton Hillis, he is having a fantastic season and should get a hefty contract this summer for his achievements on the field. He is currently making near the minimum, the Browns have him at a discount. The Browns are an improved team with Hillis and next season with a healthy Colt McCoy and possibly an addition of a wide-receiving playmaker, the Browns will keep getting better.

2010 NFL - Week 14 Betting Picks

The 2010 season has been unpredictable. The underdogs have covered more than they have lost this season. The Colts and Titans start off the week on Thursday and the rest of the schedule is pretty loaded. It should be an interesting week. There are a lot of road favorites this week, which could mean a tricky week. Here are my betting picks against the spread for Week 14 of the 2010 NFL season.


Indianapolis Colts (-3.5) at Tennessee Titans (+3.5) - My pick is Indianapolis

The Colts haven't looked very good the last two weeks, mostly because of Peyton Manning. They are banged up and he's trying to do too much. The Titans are coming into this game with a divided locker room and getting nothing from their passing game. Manning loves playing back in Tennessee, expect a bounce back and they will cover.

Oakland Raiders (+4) at Jacksonville Jaguars (-4) - My pick is Oakland

The Raiders are one of the most difficult team to forecast their performance. They are up and down, but they played one of their best games last week against San Diego. I know that a team from the West Coast traveling East doesn't do well, but the Raiders have hit their stride with Jason Campbell at QB. The Jaguars have looked good the last few weeks, but this game will be close, I'll take the points.

Cincinnati Bengals (+8.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (-8.5) - My pick is Pittsburgh

The Bengals are bad and you know the Steelers will handle their business against a division opponent. Big Ben is banged up, but Carson Palmer is bad. I expect them to cover and for the Steelers defense to score some points.

Cleveland Browns (+1) at Buffalo Bills (-1) - My pick is Cleveland

Both of these teams have been playing over their heads the last six games. Cleveland have been winning big games as an underdog and Buffalo has been taking legit playoff teams to overtime. Peyton Hillis will have a big game and expect Cleveland to cover and win outright.

New York Giants (-2.5) at Minnesota Vikings (+2.5) - My pick is Minnesota

The Giants ran all over Washington last week, but Tom Coughlin has a way of losing games in December. Leslie Frazier has the Vikings playing like a team that should be playing for the division, but it's too late for that. I expect the Vikings to win this game outright and take care of business at home.

Green Bay Packers (-7) at Detroit Lions (+7) - My pick is Green Bay

The Packers, even with all the injuries, seem to have learned to play with replacements and have looked very good. The Lions look to be playing Drew Stanton again at quarterback and the Green Bay defense could make him look like a novice. The Packers will cover on the road.

Atlanta Falcons (-7.5) at Carolina Panthers (+7.5) - My pick is Atlanta

Matt Ryan is awesome at home, but he has struggled on the road. Roddy White is a little banged up, but the Carolina defense is bad. The Panthers have a quarterback carousel going on and the Falcons have a stout defense. Atlanta will end up getting a lead early and force the Panthers to pass, which could turn ugly.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-2) at Washington Redskins (+2) - My pick is Tampa Bay

The Bucs were dealt a big blow by putting starting DB Aquib Talib and starting OL Jeff Faine on injured-reserve. They shouldn't need them when they face the Redskins, who have their own problems. Tampa still aren't getting much respect with the line and they should cover with a two-point spread. Josh Freeman has turned into a pretty quarterback and has a knack for winning close games.

St. Louis Rams (+9.5) at New Orleans Saints (-9.5) - My pick is New Orleans

The Rams are currently leading the NFC West, I repeat the Rams are currently leading the NFC West. That should give them respect, but the division is bad and the Saints are defending Super Bowl champs. The Saints are finding their way back to their winning formula and Drew Brees has been finding receivers downfield. This will be close, but the Saints will cover.

Seattle Seahawks (+5) at San Francisco 49ers (-6) - My pick is San Francisco

This is going to be an ugly game to watch. Seattle and San Francisco have laid stinkers this season. This is a hard game to call, but with Seattle playing poor on the road, you have to give San Francisco the nod in this contest, no matter who is at quarterback.

New England Patriots (-3) at Chicago Bears (+3) - My pick is New England

I can't explain who the Bears are winning games this season. I can explain how the Patriots have been winning their games. New England is a balanced offense and their secondary are playing much better than earlier this season. If the Patriots can get pressure on Jay Cutler, this game could turn ugly. The Patriots will cover this game on the road.

Miami Dolphins (+5.5) at New York Jets (-5.5) - My pick is NY Jets

45-3 is all I have to say. The Jets won't let that happen again and not at home. The Dolphins looked bad last game and Chad Henne could be playing his way off the team. The Jets will bounce back and the Dolphins will be the perfect opponent to right the ship.

Denver Broncos (-5.5) at Arizona Cardinals (+5.5) - My pick is Denver

Josh McDaniels is out and the consensus is that he wasn't liked by many of his players. Now that he is gone, expect the Broncos to respond and beat a very bad Cardinals team and cover.

Phildelphia Eagles (-3.5) at Dallas Cowboys (+3.5) - My pick is Dallas

I watched every minute of the Cowboys game last week and they made the Colts look, well, like the Cardinals. Jason Garrett has the Cowboys playing well and their defense has kept up. Michael Vick has been amazing this year, but the Eagles defense appear to have holes in it. Garrett will watch tape all week and should make this game closer, I'll take the points.

Baltimore Ravens (-3) at Houston Texans (+3) - My pick is Baltimore

Joe Flacco gave away the game against the Steelers last week. He faces one of the league's worst ranked pass defenses this week, so it will be his time to redeem himself. Andre Johnson and Arian Foster will have trouble against the Ravens defense, so they will not be able to keep up. The Ravens will cover against the Texans.

These picks are for entertainment purposes.