Can Brock Osweiler and the Houston Texans keep their division title and playoff hopes alive with a huge win in their Week 15 divisional showdown? Will LeSean McCoy and the Buffalo Bills cover the spread as a double-digit home favorite to give their super-narrow postseason hopes a boost with time running out in the regular season?
Last but not least, will Ezekiel Elliott and the Dallas Cowboys bounce back to get a much-needed win against Jameis Winston and the streaking, playoff-hopeful Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Let’s find out the answer to all three questions right now.
Odds: Houston -6
Analysis:
The Houston Texans got a huge 22-17 win against division rival Indianapolis this past weekend while Jacksonville got smacked around in their 25-16 loss to Minnesota.
While Houston often struggles to score and averages a uninspiring 17.6 points per game to rank 29th in scoring, I’m expecting this AFC South matchup to run out nearly identical to Jacksonville’s loss to Minnesota this past weekend.
The Jags have failed to score more than 21 points in each of their last five games and are just 2-5 ATS in their last seven games. Houston is completely desperate and has a lockdown defense, not to mention the Texans are 4-1 ATS in their last five meetings against Jacksonville. Houston wins by a touchdown at the least.
Pick: Houston 27 Jacksonville 17
Odds: Buffalo -10
Analysis:
The Cleveland Browns have been limited to 10 points or less in four of their last five games while scoring a paltry 13 points the only time they did manage to score more than 10 points.
Having said that, the desperate Buffalo Bills are the super easy pick to win this game by two touchdowns to cover the NFL betting line. Buffalo has dropped two straight and has no margin for error if they want to have the slimmest of shots to reach the playoffs.
Buffalo has gone 6-3 ATS in their last nine home games while Cleveland has gone 0-5 ATS in their last five games and 3-8 ATS in their last 11 road games.
Pick: Buffalo 28 Cleveland 14
Odds: Tampa Bay +7
Analysis:
The Dallas Cowboys might be desperate and playing at home in their intriguing Week 14 matchup against Tampa Bay, but for me, the Buccaneers are the pick to cover the spread as 7-point road dogs at the very least. Tampa Bay has won five straight while recording quality wins over Kansas City, Seattle, San Diego and New Orleans over their last four games.
The Bucs have not allowed more than 21 points during their winning streak while holding Seattle to a mind-boggling five points and high-scoring New Orleans to just 11 points. Dallas has been limited to 17 points or less in each of their last two games and even though the Boys are playing at home, I believe the NFL betting line for this matchup should be much closer to a field goal than the touchdown spread it currently is.
Tampa Bay is 5-1 SU and ATS in their last four games, making the Bucs the pick for me in this huge matchup.
Pick: Tampa Bay 24 Dallas 23
Last but not least, will Ezekiel Elliott and the Dallas Cowboys bounce back to get a much-needed win against Jameis Winston and the streaking, playoff-hopeful Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Let’s find out the answer to all three questions right now.
Here’s A Closer Look At The Week 15 NFL Lock Picks And Trio Of Playoff Hopefuls
Jacksonville at Houston
Sunday, December 18 at 1:00 PM ETOdds: Houston -6
Analysis:
The Houston Texans got a huge 22-17 win against division rival Indianapolis this past weekend while Jacksonville got smacked around in their 25-16 loss to Minnesota.
While Houston often struggles to score and averages a uninspiring 17.6 points per game to rank 29th in scoring, I’m expecting this AFC South matchup to run out nearly identical to Jacksonville’s loss to Minnesota this past weekend.
The Jags have failed to score more than 21 points in each of their last five games and are just 2-5 ATS in their last seven games. Houston is completely desperate and has a lockdown defense, not to mention the Texans are 4-1 ATS in their last five meetings against Jacksonville. Houston wins by a touchdown at the least.
Pick: Houston 27 Jacksonville 17
Cleveland at Buffalo -10
Sunday, December 18 at 1:00 PM ETOdds: Buffalo -10
Analysis:
The Cleveland Browns have been limited to 10 points or less in four of their last five games while scoring a paltry 13 points the only time they did manage to score more than 10 points.
Having said that, the desperate Buffalo Bills are the super easy pick to win this game by two touchdowns to cover the NFL betting line. Buffalo has dropped two straight and has no margin for error if they want to have the slimmest of shots to reach the playoffs.
Buffalo has gone 6-3 ATS in their last nine home games while Cleveland has gone 0-5 ATS in their last five games and 3-8 ATS in their last 11 road games.
Pick: Buffalo 28 Cleveland 14
Tampa Bay at Dallas
Sunday, December 18 at 8:30 PM ETOdds: Tampa Bay +7
Analysis:
The Dallas Cowboys might be desperate and playing at home in their intriguing Week 14 matchup against Tampa Bay, but for me, the Buccaneers are the pick to cover the spread as 7-point road dogs at the very least. Tampa Bay has won five straight while recording quality wins over Kansas City, Seattle, San Diego and New Orleans over their last four games.
The Bucs have not allowed more than 21 points during their winning streak while holding Seattle to a mind-boggling five points and high-scoring New Orleans to just 11 points. Dallas has been limited to 17 points or less in each of their last two games and even though the Boys are playing at home, I believe the NFL betting line for this matchup should be much closer to a field goal than the touchdown spread it currently is.
Tampa Bay is 5-1 SU and ATS in their last four games, making the Bucs the pick for me in this huge matchup.
Pick: Tampa Bay 24 Dallas 23
