Early Thoughts for Week 15
Three weeks remain in the season and there are three playoff spots still up in the air in the AFC and technically five still alive in the NFC. Even though that sounds like a lot in terms of the NFC, teams like the 49ers and Packers should get in in some capacity, it is just up in the air whether or not it’s as division winners or wildcards. Week 15’s action will go a long way in deciding who finishes where. Division Rivalries
For the past two weeks I’ve discussed the “revenge” games for teams playing in their second meeting of the year and after 4 of 5 cashed ATS tickets for bettors in Week 13, Week 14 teams looking for revenge ATS went 3-3 as Oakland, Atlanta and Detroit all failed to cover the number. That is still a mark of 7-4 ATS in the past two weeks which isn’t too shabby by any means.
Week 15 has a light divisional schedule with only four division games on tap, three of which are rematches. The three teams looking for that same season revenge are Chicago (+3) at home vs. Green Bay, Tampa Bay (+3.5) on the road vs. New Orleans and Kansas City (+3) at Oakland.
Non-Division Games
With only four divisional matchups on the card, you know there are going to be some big non-division games on tap and there are three big ones that will attract plenty of attention:
New York Giants vs. Atlanta (-1)
This is a rematch from last year’s playoffs when Atlanta went into New York and got smoked 24-2. That was the game that kick-started the Giants Super Bowl run and the G-Men have won four straight vs. Atlanta. The Falcons still hold the #1 seed in the NFC but everyone outside of their locker room has many doubts about them, especially with the playoffs around the corner. This is their shot at proving many of those people wrong (at least for one week) and get revenge for a game they surely haven’t forgotten about. Atlanta is a great home team and I believe they get the job done here.
Denver (-3) vs. Baltimore
Big game for both teams in regards to playoff seeding and where they stand among the AFC’s best. Manning and Denver have been on a phenomenal roll, but this is Baltimore’s chance to step up after a brutal loss vs. Washington and regain their hold in the AFC North.
San Francisco vs. New England (-6)
A potential Super Bowl preview is this week’s SNF game and after the whooping New England put on Houston on Monday; this line jumped to -6 from its opening number of -3.5. The Patriots at home in December are nearly unbeatable, as fans heard numerous times on last night’s broadcast, and we all know how great Belichick’s Pats do against young/rookie QB’s he sees the first time. But this is a huge move based on one game and the 49ers still have their own division and playoff seeding to worry about. They will be out to prove they can hang with the Patriots and don’t for one second think coach Jim Harbaugh won’t bombard his brother for advice on how to go into Foxboro and beat the Patriots. Baltimore is one of the few teams that has “owned” New England in recent games and I’m sure John Harbaugh will have no problem sharing those secrets with family.
