PREVIEW - WEEK FIFTEEN

New Orleans Saints @ Chicago Bears
Line: Bears -3
O/U: 45
In Chicago, in the cold and wind, that ball is awfully hard to catch. Which means the run game could determine this one, and the advantage there goes to the Bears, with the #6 run D in the league. Of course New Orleans could win it through the air, as Chicago's pass D is surprisingly bad, but I cannot overlook home field advantage and weather.
Bears -3. Chicago grinds one out 23-17.

Green Bay Packers @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Line: Packers -1.5
O/U: 45
Linebuster!
These teams are both done, as far as playoffs are concerned. But as Green Bay is not yet mathematically eliminated, they may come out playing hard. Let's call it the "bubble effect"...teams that are all-but dead seem to show one last sign of life before the fork is finally stuck in them. That and the Jags are terrible.
Packers -1.5. Green Bay wins 28-13.

Detroit Lions @ Indianapolis Colts
Line: Colts -17
O/U: 45
I'm sure the Lions can't stop the Colts at all. Culpepper has missed practice this week, and is quesitonable for the game. They blew out the Bengals by 32 points, which makes 17 look like child's play. But it is so tough to call a game in which a team is getting so little respect, as they could come out and play the Colts close just to show some pride.
Lions +17. Can't go with that big of a spread. Colts win 27-17.

Washington Redskins @ Cincinnati Bengals
Line: Skins -7
O/U: 36.5
The Redskin D is solid, and Cincy won't score much...but with recent issues between Zorn and Portis, and very little offense to speak of anyway, I can't see the Skins blowing anybody out. Cincy is playing for pride, and even with Fitzpatrick under center, should stay within 7.
Bengals +7. Washington wins 17-13.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Atlanta Falcons
Line: Falcons -3
O/U: 44.5
Tampa won the first meeting by 15, and just had its defense exploited by the Panthers last week. They'll come out strong on defense, and will hold down Ryan and the Falcons, who may be a great story, but who will not make the playoffs.
Bucs +3. Tampa Wins 23-20.

San Francisco 49ers @ Miami Dolphins
Line: Dolphins -6.5
O/U: 41.5
No way. I will not go with the Dolphins. I hate the stupid Dolphins. Singletary is getting the most out of his squad right now, and they just knocked off two AFC East teams. Miami is excited to potentially make the playoffs after going 1-15 last year, but their excitement is not desperation, and though they should win, it shouldn't be by that many points.
49ers +6.5. Miami wins 20-16.

Seattle Seahawks @ St. Louis Rams
Line: Seahawks -3
O/U: 43
Now this is a game I'm sure everyone is dying to see! Come on Seattle...if you can't beat the Rams, just pack it in.
Seahawks -3. Seattle gets the W...23-13.

Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets
Line: Jets -8
O/U: 41
I am very tempted to go with my team, but they haven't bothered to score for the past two weeks. Sooner or later they will break out of the offensive slump...let's hope it's sooner. Especially since I have a vested interest in the Jets missing the postseason...you know, to prove my point that they're not that good...
Bills +8. Gotta take my boys to keep it close, but the Jets to win 24-20.

Tennessee Titans @ Houston Texans
Line: Titans -3
O/U: 45
Linebuster!
Houston has been playing great, and has beaten some teams no one expected them to beat. But the Titans still have something to play for. If they lose out (and no, that's not out of the question, with the Colts and Steelers looming), the Colts could catch them at 12-4. I'm not going through detailed tiebreakers right now, but it looks like the Titans would still win the division. But after such a great start, they'd like to put it away...
Titans -3. Tennessee wins 31-20.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens
Line: Ravens -2
O/U: 34.5
The Ravens have now beaten the Eagles and Skins, but still don't have a win over a team that will likely be in the postseason. So if they beat the Steelers, it will be their biggest win of the year. Coming off of a few big wins, I think the Ravens may have gotten big heads, and the Steelers are the team that can knock them down a few rungs. Plus, in a game between the league's #1 and #2 defenses, you've got to take the team with a better O, as they're more likely to break through.
Steelers +2. Pittsburgh wins 16-13.

Denver Broncos @ Carolina Panthers
Line: Panthers -7.5
O/U: 48
This is the first week that employing the "Denver Technique" will go against my better judgement. My gut is strongly telling me that Denver, desperate to not be caught by the Chargers, will be playing very hard. I like the Panthers, but they are hot-and-cold, and you don't always know what you'll get. But I've got to go against my gut. It's the Broncos.
Panthers -7.5. Carolina wins 27-17.

San Diego Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
Line: Chargers -5.5
O/U: 45.5
Linebuster!
The Chargers still think they can catch the Broncos, and they know they won't make the playoffs if they don't. They think they're a good team (they're wrong, but to each his own...) and thus they will be desperate against the Chiefs. Don't go against desperation.
Chargers -5.5. San Diego rolls 27-13.

Minnesota Vikings @ Arizona Cardinals
Line: Cards -3
O/U: 47.5
Linebuster!
The Vikings start Tarvaris Jackson. They barely beat the Lions, and now they're starting Jackson in the desert. Yikes. The Bears may catch them even without suspensions!
Cards -3. Arizona is awfully good at home. Cards 29-24.

New England Patriots @ Oakland Raiders
Line: Pats -7.5
O/U: 39.5
If Cassel (death in the family) plays, they may win by 7. But not 7.5. And if he doesn't, they could lose.
Raiders +7.5. Oakland will be playing hard, but New England will still win 17-13.

New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys
Line: Cowboys -3
O/U: 45
It seems as though this series is always back-and-forth. New York didn't play very well last week, and now that they've wrapped up the division, they may not be playing as hard. Then again, it's the Cowboys, so maybe they'll be out for blood. Who knows? But since the Giants won big at home, I think the Cowboys will do the same.
Cowboys -3. Dallas wins 30-18.

Cleveland Browns @ Philadelphia Eagles
Line: Eagles -14
O/U: 39
Linebuster!
Cleveland won't score much. Philly will. They're desperate, and still have wild card hopes. They won't make it to the playoffs, but a team can dream, can't they?
Eagles -14. Only because Cleveland has NO O now. Philly 27-3.