NFL Betting Predictions: Week 15 Opening Line Report and Picks

by Chris Vasile - 12/14/2021

NFL predictions Mac Jones New England Patriots Week 15 opening line report picks

It was another woeful week in the NFL as there were two, maybe three games that kicked off and actually kept us captivated for the full 60 minutes. The Baltimore/Cleveland game was not as close as the final score suggests, and the San Francisco/Cincinnati game, despite going to OT, was a very dull affair. That leaves us with just the Buffalo/Tampa game that was truly a good game that was marred by poor and inconsistent officiating from start to finish. Favorites went 11-2 ATS, and it was the worst week of the year for books all around the world (which is a good thing for us bettors). Here is hoping Week 15 has more to offer us from a product and entertainment perspective.

As far as last week’s results go, we went 2-1, with the Chiefs and Rams winning outright and the Lions letting us down on the spread. I knew Denver would win the game, I just didn’t think they had it in them to blow out a team and cover an almost double-digit spread. Let’s keep the winning going this week.

Doc’s Sports offers NFL expert picks for every game on our NFL predictions page.

New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts -2, 45

Not every day do you see a team that’s 9-4 on the season and on a seven-game winning streak listed as underdogs to a 7-6 team. That’s the case here. And just like in college football, if the line is too good to be true (i.e. a good team getting points, it likely is). Both teams are coming off their bye week, so neither team has the advantage of having more rest than the other. The Patriots last played on Monday night in Buffalo in that memorable game where they won 14-10 despite throwing just three passes. We last saw the Colts in Week 13 and they dominated the Texans to the tune of 31-0. If you look at this game from a statistical standpoint, the Colts have the major edge in offensive categories, while the Patriots have the edge on defense. The one key matchup to watch for is the Colts’ second-ranked rushing attack vs the Patriots’ weak link, which is the run defense (ranked 19th). If the Colts can establish the run early and often, they’ll be able to win the game in the trenches and in turn keep the ball away from Mac Jones (can’t believe I wrote that). The Colts should find themselves on the winning side in this one.

Pick: Indianapolis Colts -2

Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars -3, 40.5

Let me start off by saying that nobody in their right mind would watch this game unless they made a wager on it. With that said, I like the Jaguars in this contest because there is something to be said about a team that is not in sync with their head coach and are 2-11 on the season and are still -3-point favorites in a football game. The Jaguars have been piss poor in every facet of the game this season, including at quarterback, where college phenom Trevor Lawrence has struggled. Both of these teams are in the bottom one or two in terms of offensive categories, but it’s the Jaguars’ defense that I believe wins this game for them. The Jaguars own the 21st overall defense and are 17th against the pass. If they can stack the box and make David Mills try and beat them through the air, which I believe will be the game plan, the Jags will be able to hold the Texans at bay. On the flip side, the Texans’ defense is 29th in total yards, 32nd in rushing yards and 30th in points allowed per game. The Jags do have pieces in place to take advantage of weak defenses, and this is going to be one of those games. Take the home side in this one.

Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars -3

Green Bay Packers at Baltimore Ravens +7, 43

This game had the potential to be a really good game. However, with the latest injury to Lamar Jackson (questionable to play), it makes Aaron Rodgers vs Tyler Huntley way less intriguing. Nonetheless, the Packers are in the middle of a battle for the No. 1 seed in the NFC, and this is a game they absolutely have to have in order to keep pace with the Cardinals and Buccaneers. The Packers have a top-10 defense. And with a backup quarterback likely to get the start for the Ravens, the Packers’ defense should be ready to feast. I don’t really like that this game is being played on the road for the Packers, but the Ravens have shown a severe case of inconsistency throughout the season, and I don’t see them doing enough to get the win on their home soil. Rodgers, Davante Adams and Aaron Jones all figure to do their part in torching the 18th ranked defense (31st against the pass). This is definitely going to be on my shortlist for best teaser play of the week, but I don’t mind laying the seven with the better team.

Pick: Green Bay Packers -7

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NFL Betting Predictions: Week 15 Opening Line Report and Picks

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