Week 16 NFL Picks: New York Giants vs New York Jets Predictions & Odds
It’s the battle of New York, when the Jets play “host” to the Giants on Saturday. The Jets will be the official home team for the game, so it will be their fans in attendance, and their colors throughout the stadium. But both teams will still be enjoying the comforts of home, at least when the game begins. The question is, which team will be enjoying themselves when the game is over? Both teams need a big win, so will it be the Jets or the Giants?
The Jets are 8-6, and are currently tied for the final Wild Card spot in the AFC with the Cincinnati Bengals. The division is a lost cause for them at this point, and with either the Ravens or the Steelers getting that first Wild Card slot, there’s only one potential destination for them. A loss here will definitely put them in a bad spot, and then they’ll need some help in week 17 in order to ensure they make the postseason.
The Giants meanwhile are in some ways in a better position, and in some ways are in a worse position. They are 7-7 right now, and it’s highly unlikely that they would make the postseason through a Wild Card position. They have to win the NFC East to make it in, and in order to do that, they need to win their final two games, here against the Jets and then at home against the Cowboys.
That’s easier said than done considering how the Giants looked last weekend. In full control of their destiny, and playing at home against the then 4-9 division rival Washington Redskins, they completely laid an egg, and got dominated. It was a very poor showing, and it’s the type of thing that could set in and lead to the end of the season, and perhaps Tom Coughlin’s stint as head coach.
The Jets haven’t exactly looked like killers either though. As a result, the odds makers have made them 3 point favorites over the Giants. The over/under for the game is at 45.5 points. So will it be Rex Ryan’s loudmouth Jets in another late season surge, or will Eli Manning continue his MVP-type season and keep his G-Men alive and in the race?
Right now, it’s hard to envision the Giants winning any games. They played miserably last week, and it’s the type of loss that can stick in the psyche of a team. Both teams are in desperation mode, but something says the Jets are simply capable of playing at a higher level at this point. Take the Jets to win here, in what should be a close game through to the end.
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Hawaii Bowl Predictions, Picks & Odds
The biggest college football bowl game of the weekend is the Hawaii Bowl, and it will feature the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles taking on the Nevada Wolf Pack. It’s an interesting choice of opponents, and it’s also an interesting choice of destination for them, as some of the poor ticket sales by the teams have been showing. Either way, it’s a big time bowl game, so how will it play out between Southern Miss and Nevada?
The Golden Eagles are 11-2 on the season, and have risen to the number 22 ranking in the country. Their landmark moment of the season came when they upset the then number 7 Houston team, handing them their only loss of the season. That happened just a few weeks ago, so the team should still be riding high from that victory. Their two losses came by a combined nine points, and their 11 victories are a school record.
This is an offensive team first and foremost, although the defense isn’t too shabby either. They rank 6th in the country in total yards, with more than 6,100, and they rank 14th in points per game at 37.8. As mentioned though the defense does its job, and is ranked 29th in the country, giving up 21.1 points per game.
Nevada meanwhile finished just 7-5 on the season. Two of their losses though came to two of the best teams in the country, Oregon and Boise State. They lost to the Broncos by 20 points, and were blown out of the water by the Ducks, losing 69-20.
Like with Southern Miss, Nevada is an offensive team first and foremost. They actually gain more yards than the Golden Eagles do, with over 6,200 on the season, 6th best in the nation. They can put up points too, as they score 32.9 points per game, 31st best. The defense though gives up 25.3 points per game, 58th in the country, and right in the middle of the curve.
According to the odds makers, Southern Miss is a point favorite in this game. The over/under for the match is at 61 points. Considering that the two clubs combine to average about 1,100 yards per outing, that seems like a low total, so you should take the over on this one.
The odds also seem to be a bit close here. Nevada only won seven games on the year, and when they met a top flight program, they were unable to keep it close. The Golden Eagles aren’t in the class of Boise State or Oregon, but they’re a clear class above the Wolf Pack. Take Southern Miss to win this one and win it big, covering the spread with ease.
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Week 16 NFL: Philadelphia vs Dallas Picks, Predictions & Odds
Two NFC East rivals will meet in a crucial showdown here in week 16, as the Dallas Cowboys play host to the Philadelphia Eagles. Somehow, someway, both of these teams are technically alive in the divisional race. No matter how the game turns out, it will seal the fate of each team in some way or another. Will Dallas pull it out, or will the Eagles late season magic continue?
The Eagles are just 6-8, and by all rights, they should be completely finished for the year. However, by winning their last two games, and three of their last five, they have kept themselves mathematically alive in the NFC East hunt, thanks to the inability of both the Giants and the Cowboys to consistently win games.
In order for the Eagles to win the division and make the playoffs, the Giants, Eagles and Cowboys all have to finish at 8-8. That means that the Eagles have to win this game against Dallas, and then their season finale against the Redskins. Dallas would lose this game, and then have to lose to the Giants in week 17. Meanwhile, the Giants would have to lose this week but then go on to beat Dallas in the season closer.
That’s a lot of cards that need to fall in their favor, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility. For Dallas, it’s pretty easy, win this game and you eliminate the Eagles, and no matter what happens, if you beat the Giants in the last game of the season, you win the division.
The pressure is definitely on in Dallas though, with Jerry Jones and his quick trigger always looming. There have been rumors that Jason Garrett’s job is in jeopardy, as is Andy Reid’s in Philadelphia, however Jones has denied this completely, at least for now.
This is one of the premiere, high profile matches of the NFL Christmas weekend. According to the official odds for the game, the Cowboys will be slight 2 point favorites at home. The over/under for the game is the second highest of the entire week, 50.5 points, a nod to both teams and their potent offensive attacks.
Philly has been enjoying a nice little late season surge, which has reinvigorated the team, its players and the town after such a terrible start. They’ve been looking strong, and they are the hotter team right now. However, the Cowboys can finish them off once and for all, and they’re out for revenge against their rivals. Look for Dallas to win a close, high scoring game at home, knocking out the Eagles for good and moving one step closer to the playoffs for themselves.
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Week 16 NFL Picks, Predictions & Odds
There’s just two weeks left in the 2011 NFL season, and that means you’ll be able to find a whole mess of really intriguing and important games for the week 16. With Christmas, the schedule looks different, and most games this week are on Saturday afternoon. Here’s a look at all of the week 16 NFL games and what to expect.
Houston -6 At Indianapolis
The Colts won their first game of the season last weekend, and now that they’ve achieved that, they can at least rest a little bit easier. The Texans are a much superior team, and they’re trying to put themselves into position to potentially get a first round bye. That means they’ll pull off the win and cover the spread over Indy.
At Kansas City -2 Oakland
Every team in the AFC West still has a chance to win the division, and this game will certainly factor into that and how everything turns out. The Chiefs are playing with home field advantage, and have a lot of momentum after upsetting the Packers. But that also means they might have a letdown here. Take the Raiders for a mild upset.
Denver -3 At Buffalo
The Broncos finally lost, and now they need to get right back in the W column to maintain their positioning in the crowded AFC West. Buffalo has fallen off the map after their quick start, so Tebow and company should have more than enough to get a road win.
At Tennessee -7.5 Jacksonville
Tennessee is in a very hard place if they want to make the playoffs, but they aren’t out of it yet. It might be unlikely, and they have themselves to blame after losing two straight. But they’ll do their part to stay alive pending the other results of the weekend, and they’ll beat a bad Jaguars team. Take the Jags to beat the spread though.
At Cincinnati -4 Arizona
The Cardinals have won four games in a row to improve to 7-7. Who’s to say they can’t continue riding that wave? The Bengals need a win to try to make the playoffs, but the Cardinals are playing better today, and they’ll keep their own tiny playoff chances alive by pulling out the road win.
At New England -9.5 Miami
The Patriots are heavy home favorites over the Dolphins. There’s still plenty at stake for New England in terms of playoff positioning, so they’ll be at their best. Patriots to win and cover at home.
At Baltimore -13 Cleveland
The Ravens continue to be up and down, but they’re usually up when they play at home, and when they come off a down performance. That’s bad news for the Browns here. Take Baltimore to beat Cleveland, and probably cover the nearly two TD spread in the process.
At NY Jets -3 NY Giants
The Jets are technically the home team here in the Met Life Stadium showdown. They’re also the three point favorites over the struggling Giants. After such a miserable showing from the Giants last weekend, it’s hard to fathom them winning a tough game here. Take the Jets.
At Washington -6.5 Minnesota
The Redskins suddenly are playing with some real fire, and now they get to play at home against the 2-12 Vikings. That’s enough to ensure they continue their winning ways. Take the Redskins at home to cover.
At Carolina -7 Tampa Bay
Two months ago, having the Panthers as 7 point favorites over Tampa Bay would have seemed crazy. But Carolina actually has a better record than Tampa now, thanks to the 8 game losing straight the Bucs have going. The losing will continue here, as Cam Newton will lead the Panthers to a home victory.
At Pittsburgh -15 St. Louis
The Steelers are the biggest favorites of the weekend with a -15 margin over the incoming Rams. With the playoffs and the division at stake, and playing at home, outdoors in the cold, in Pittsburgh, there’s no chance that the banged up Rams beat them. The only question is whether they’ll cover the spread, and it wouldn’t be unlikely to see that happen.
At Detroit -2.5 San Diego
Both teams are fighting for their playoff lives here, although the Lions are in much better position than the Chargers. San Diego is trying to pull off another late season miracle, but their hope will die out this weekend when the Lions defend their home turf and get the win.
San Francisco -2.5 At Seattle
Seattle has been hot as of late, and they always have a great home field advantage. The 49ers though are battling for a first round bye, and they won’t slip up with that kind of opportunity at stake. Take San Fran to get the road win and cover the spread.
At Dallas -2 Philadelphia
The Eagles have been hot lately, and are trying to pull off a miraculous late season march to the divisional crown. Meanwhile, the Cowboys are also trying to win the NFC East. While the Eagles are hot right now, the Cowboys won’t let their rivals come into their stadium and get a huge late season win. Take the Cowboys at home.
At Green Bay -13 Chicago
The Packers are very big favorites at home over the Bears. Coming off their first loss of the season, they should be extra motivated. They still need to clinch the number 1 seed in the NFC as well. If the Bears weren’t so banged up, they would have a good chance here. But they are, and so they don’t. Green Bay to win and cover the big spread.
At New Orleans -6.5 Atlanta
The Saints have been playing lights out as of late, as they have gone a 6 game winning streak to establish themselves as one of the best teams in the league. They’re also fantastic at home, and they will want to assert themselves over a divisional rival and potential playoff opponent. Saints will get the job done, and win at home. Don’t be surprised if the Falcons keep it close though.
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Monday Night Football: Pittsburgh vs San Francisco Predictions, Picks & Odds
Two of the very best teams in the league will square off against one another in the big week 15 Monday night football match-up pitting the Pittsburgh Steelers against the San Francisco 49ers. Both of these teams will be headed to the postseason, and the 49ers have already clinched their division. But playoff positioning is still on the line, and it’s an important chance to show the rest of the league what these squads are all about. So will the 49ers defend their home turf, or will the Steelers get a statement win on Monday night?
Both of these teams are at 10-3 on the year. The 49ers have already won the NFC West, but they would certainly also like a first round bye in the playoffs. The Steelers are in 2nd place in the AFC North since the Ravens have the tiebreaker over them. That means they are heading to the Wild Card slots, unless they can finish a full game in the standings above Baltimore. So every remaining game is important for both squads, and there’s a lot at stake, especially in the primetime, national television lights.
One major factor for this game is the health of Ben Roethlisberger. As of right now, it’s unclear whether or not he’ll play thanks a bad ankle injury. He’s as tough as they come and always seems to play when hurt, but even if he does do that, what level will he be playing at? Whether he doesn’t play or he’s playing but he’s limited, that gives the 49ers a major boost.
They have one of the best running defenses in the league, so if they can shut down the ground game of Pittsburgh and don’t have to worry about Big Ben in the pocket and those deep threats of his at wide receiver, then they should be in a strong place to win this game. Being at home doesn’t hurt either, and they will thrive in the spotlight this game creates.
San Francisco is a 3 point favorite at home to beat the Steelers. The over/under for the game is at 39.5 points, one of the lowest totals of the weekend, thanks to the very strong defenses that both teams bring to the table. Which team will advance to 11 wins on the year and further secure their playoff spot?
This would be a very hard game for the Steelers to win if Ben Roethlisberger was at full strength. If he’s badly banged up, or he’s on the sidelines, that tough win becomes much, much more difficult. In light of that, you have to take San Francisco to win at home. Take them to cover the spread too, although this will be a close game throughout, as they’ll do their part to get a statement win and try to lockup a first round NFC playoff bye.
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Week 15 NFL Picks: Baltimore vs San Diego
The primetime Sunday night game of the week will see the Baltimore Ravens head on the road to San Diego to play the Chargers. The Ravens are looking to lock up the AFC North division and potentially a first round bye in the playoffs, while the Chargers are looking to find a way to pull off another late season comeback to make the postseason. How will the Ravens vs. the Chargers play out in Week 15 of the 201 NFL season?
Baltimore is 10-3 on the season, and thanks to their season sweep of their hated rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, they sit in first place in the AFC North. With four teams in the conference at 10-3 though, the division and a first round bye are far from locked up. Baltimore needs to keep on winning games and needs to close out the season strong to ensure they get the playoff positioning that they have been craving after years of nothing but road playoff games.
That’s important too when you look at the record for the year. They are 7-0 at home, but just 3-3 on the road. They’ll have a chance to improve that road record with this trip to San Diego, as they meet a Chargers team that has now managed to win two games in a row after dropping six straight.
Usually San Diego starts slowly, then has a huge rebound. This year, they started quickly, fell off the face of the world and bottomed out with a 4-7 record, and now are trying to claw their way back into contention once again. It’s not an easy road for them as they sit at 6-7 looking up at two teams in the AFC West, including the 8-5 Denver Broncos. If they can win out, they’ll have a chance, but getting this win over Baltimore won’t be too easy.
Baltimore is a slight favorite in this match, as the odds makers have put them at -2.5 points for the game. The over/under for the game is at 44 combined points, which is right in the middle of the curve for where most NFL games fall. With Baltimore’s defense though, don’t be surprised to see this one stay on the under portion of that total. Although the Chargers will definitely be happy if Ray Lewis doesn’t suit up and misses another game.
Locking up the division and a first round bye is a very important goal for the Ravens. On the national stage, on the road, against a team fighting to keep their own playoff hopes alive, they can’t slip up here. Take Baltimore to pull out the road win with or without Lewis, assert their status as the team to beat in the AFC, and put themselves into the front of the field in terms of playoff positioning.
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Week 15 NFL: New England vs Denver Predictions, Picks & Odds
One of the games that is sure to be generating headlines and buzz in week 15 will be the ever so interesting meeting of the minds between Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos and a certain Tim Tebow at quarterback. Who will get the better of this match, the Golden Boy or the unstoppable Tebow?
Tebow is the national media sensation that can’t seem to be stopped in the fourth quarter. He’s 7-1 as a starter this season and has given the Broncos 1st place in the AFC West thanks to his week in, week out, fourth quarter comeback specials. Say what you will about Tebow, but the guy gets the job done and does what is most important, win games.
Further, he has made a believer out of all of his teammates, and that’s crucial as well. They all trust in Tebow to get the job done, and they all play their hearts out to give him that chance. So, somehow here we are in Week 15 and the Broncos seem bound for the playoffs and are one of the hottest teams in the league. Who would have guessed that in week 4?
New England meanwhile is sitting at 10-3 and is hoping to get a 1st round bye in the playoffs. The defense seems to have some holes this year, however Brady and company have been rolling, and he has so many targets to work with thanks to Wes Welker and the amazing emergence of Rob Gronkowski.
They have managed to be a bit under the radar this season compared to their usual standards. They are one of four 10-3 teams in the conference, and they must like the fact that they aren’t getting all of the hype, allowing them to just focus on winning games and playing football. It’s a change of pace compared to when they are the clear top dog around, and then get all of the attention and the distractions and hype that comes with it.
This game was almost moved into the Sunday primetime slot, but then wasn’t at the last minute, so everyone won’t get a chance to see it although everyone will be thinking and talking about it. The Patriots are favored by 6 points to head on the road and beat the Broncos. THe over/under for the contest is 45.5 combined points.
The Patriots seem to be the more complete football team, but don’t discount Denver’s defensive resurgence, and their strong running attack as well. That said, Denver won’t be able to stop Brady from putting up points like he always does, and Belichick will undoubtedly cook up some interesting things for Tebow to have to deal with. Take New England to win this game on the road and cover the spread in week 15, halting the Tebow train for at least one week.
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Week 15 NFL Picks: Dallas vs Tampa Bay
NFL fans get treated to an extra primetime game in Week 15, as on Saturday night the Dallas Cowboys will travel to Tampa Bay to play the Buccaneers. There’s a lot on the line for both teams, although in different ways. Will the Cowboys get the win they need to stay in the playoff hunt, and will the Bucs be able to stop the bleeding and maybe keep their coach’s job safe for at least a little while longer?
Last year, Tampa Bay shocked the world and became a 10-win team that narrowly missed the postseason. With young QB Josh Freeman and hot young coach Raheem Morris, a remade young offense and defense and more, Tampa Bay looked to be on solid footing for years to come. Well, things have come crashing down this season, Freeman has regressed along with the rest of his team, things are in disarray, and Morris might be given the boot.
That’s what happens when you lose 7 games in a row to drop to 4-9 after beginning the year strongly enough with a 4-2 record. Tampa Bay can try to salvage some respect, Morris’s job and the status of a lot of those players with a few wins to close out the year. But when you lose 7 in a row, winning any game seems to be an impossible task.
The Cowboys once again managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory last week, blowing a big lead late to lose to the Giants and fall out of first place in the NFC East. They maintain tied in terms of record with the Giants, but are behind in the tiebreaker for now. A loss here would really hurt their playoff chances, and would create tons of swirling controversy in Big D about Tony Romo and coach Jason Garrett. But they have to do it without their breakout star of the season, running back DeMarco Murray, who is now out for the year with an injury.
Dallas though is clearly the better team here, and they are projected as 7 point favorites to get the road win. The over/under line for the game is at 47 points, one of the higher totals of the weekend thanks to Dallas’s high scoring offense, and also defensive flaws with both teams.
The Cowboys need to keep themselves in the mix until the last weekend of the season, when they’ll get another chance at those Giants. They won’t let their season come to a close here in week 15. Instead, they’ll rally and put the pressure back on New York to keep winning as well. Take Romo to lead the Cowboys to a big primetime road win, and to beat the spread too thanks to an offensive explosion. They won’t let this one come down to any last second field goal havoc this week, and they’ll win by double digits.
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Week 15 NFL Picks, Predictions & Odds
It’s all on the line here in Week 15 of the NFL season. A huge percentage of the teams in the league are still fighting for their playoff lives, and every game holds huge implications for divisional crowns, Wild Card chances and more. Here’s a rundown of every week 15 NFL game and the quick hitting predictions and odds for all of them in another great and exciting weekend of football.
At Atlanta -11 Jacksonville
The Falcons are big favorites at home over the struggling Jaguars. Atlanta would be in the playoffs if they started today, but a slip up in a game like this could ruin their chances. Atlanta should be a lock to win, but covering the 11 point spread might be difficult.
Dallas -7 At Tampa Bay
The Cowboys will head on the road and try to get a win they desperately need over a desperately struggling team in the Buccaneers, who have lost 7 straight. Dallas is in a must-win situation, and they’ll get the job done on the road and cover the spread in the process over the freefalling Tampa Bay team.
At NY Giants -7 Washington
The Giants just saved their season by coming back to defeat the Cowboys, and now they get divisional rival Washington coming into a town. A win moves them one step closer to locking up the NFC East, and they’ll defend their home turf against the Redskins. Don’t be surprised to see Washington keep it within a touchdown though.
Green Bay -14 At Kansas City
The Packers are 14 point favorites to win their 14th game of the season and remain undefeated. The Chiefs have been pretty miserable for much of this year, and there’s no reason to expect otherwise now. Take Green Bay to beat the Chiefs on the road and get the job done by more than two TDs.
New Orleans -7 At Minnesota
The Saints are one of the hottest teams in football right now, and they’ll be visiting one of the teams struggling the most. Minnesota won’t be able to keep Drew Brees and company from rolling, and New Orleans will win and win big on the road here.
At Chicago -3.5 Seattle
A few weeks ago this game wouldn’t have been on anyone’s radar. But with a win, Seattle would actually have an equal 7-7 record with the Bears, and would still have an outside chance at a playoff berth. Chicago is struggling and banged up, but they should still have enough to stop the losing streak at home here and pull out a win.
At Buffalo -1 Miami
The Bills are very slight favorites to take care of their home turf and defeat the Dolphins. Miami just fired their head coach, and that won’t do them any favors as they head on the road to cold weather Buffalo. Bills to win at home.
At Houston -6.5 Carolina
Houston has already locked up their first playoff berth in history and they are on a 7 game winning streak. Will they let off the gas at all now? Take Cam Newton to at least beat the spread in this match-up, taking an injured Houston team by storm.
Tennessee -6.5 At Indianapolis
The Titans are still in contention to get a playoff berth in the AFC, and they need to go on the road to beat a divisional opponent in order to get that job done. Will Indy go winless on the season? This is one of just a few chances to prevent that, so take the Colts to keep this interesting, beat the spread and maybe pull off a big upset at home.
Cincinnati -6.5 At St. Louis
Cincinnati is still alive for a chance at the playoffs, and the Rams have been miserable just about all season long. Still, they’re at home, so take St. Louis to beat that spread and keep this one close, although the Bengals should still win the match-up.
Detroit -1 At Oakland
The Lions are very slight favorites to beat the Raiders on the road. Oakland has lost two in a row, and they need a home win to keep themselves alive. Detroit might be able to come back from another loss to make the playoffs, and they’ll need to, because the Raiders and Carson Palmer will pull this one out.
New England -6 At Denver
The Patriots are favored on the road to take down the Tebow squad from Denver. The Broncos have all the last second magic you could ask for, but New England is where the buck stops, for now at least. New England to win and cover the spread in an interesting showdown.
At Philadelphia -3 NY Jets
The Jets need every win they can get if they want to make the postseason. Somehow the Eagles are still mathematically alive for a playoff spot, but let’s be real, they’re 5-8 and just not that good. Take the Jets to get a road upset win here and keep themselves in the hunt while knocking out Philly for good.
At Arizona -6.5 Cleveland
The Cardinals have won three games in a row and four of their last five, and now are one win away from moving to a .500 record. They’ll get back to even with a home win over the Browns, but it will be a might be a close game with Cleveland beating the spread.
Baltimore -2.5 At San Diego
The Ravens are slight favorites on the road in the Sunday night game of the week. Baltimore is a tougher and more complete team than San Diego, and they want a division title and a first round bye. Take Baltimore on the road to win and cover the spread.
At San Francisco -3 Pittsburgh
Ben Roethlisberger might not be in the lineup for this game, which would give the 49ers a huge edge, especially with their running defense. Take San Francisco to win this intriguing Monday night showdown between playoff teams.
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