NFL Betting: Week 15 Preview
Big chalk is back with a vengeance. After the favorites went 12-4 SU and 10-6 ATS last week, the NFL odds we have posted so far for Week 15 include just three games with a spread under seven points. That will likely change as the board fills up.
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For example, we’ve got a game coming up on Thursday night that should be a close one – depending on how hard the Indianapolis Colts want to play.
Lucky Thirteen
The Colts have already sewn up home-field advantage in the AFC at 13-0 SU and 9-3-1 ATS. Although this is a team that has historically rested its starters after clinching, new head coach Jim Caldwell has told reporters that all his “healthy” starters would suit up to face the Jacksonville Jaguars (7-6 SU, 5-8 ATS) on Thursday night. But what qualifies as healthy? The list of players considered “probable” for Thursday features QB Peyton Manning (gluteus) and WR Pierre Garcon (knee), while RB Joseph Addai (knee) is questionable and WR Reggie Wayne (foot) is undetermined. All four are expected to start, though, after participating fully in Tuesday’s practice.
The closer we get to Week 17, the more likely we’ll see the Colts deliver one of their patented “Sorgi Specials” – except QB Jim Sorgi (shoulder) is on injured reserve, which means we’ll see former Purdue pivot Curtis Painter make his NFL debut at some point. It could even be Thursday night. Keep checking the football betting lines at Bodog Sports for more on this matchup; live betting will be available as we watch along on the NFL Network (8:20 p.m. Eastern).
Losman Lives
It remains to be seen who will quarterback the Oakland Raiders (4-9 SU, 6-7 ATS) as they ascend Mile High Stadium Sunday afternoon to face the Denver Broncos (8-5 SU and ATS). But the Raiders have nonetheless been made 14-point underdogs with a total of 37. Coach Tom Cable has no choice but to make a switch after QB Bruce Gradkowski sprained both his knees in last week’s loss to the Washington Redskins. Cable’s options are former starter JaMarcus Russell, veteran third-stringer Charlie Frye, and the leader of your UFL champion Las Vegas Locomotives, J.P. Losman. He signed on Tuesday as a free agent.
Although no announcement was expected until Wednesday, the Raiders players appear to have no confidence whatsoever in Russell, who was sacked six times by Washington after replacing Gradkowski for the second half. That would leave Frye (16 TDs, 25 INTs, 70.5 passer rating lifetime) as Sunday’s likely starter while Losman gets acclimatized to the Oakland offense. The Raiders were 2-1 SU and ATS behind Gradkowski before he was injured.
Ware and Tear
The Dallas Cowboys (8-5 SU, 6-7 ATS) are bound and determined to put a stop to the undefeated streak of the New Orleans Saints (13-0 SU, 8-5 ATS) when they meet Saturday night in a possible NFC playoff preview. But the Cowboys still don’t know if they’ll have their best defender on the field. Linebacker DeMarcus Ware appeared to have suffered a serious neck injury last week against the San Diego Chargers, but hospital tests revealed no structural damage, and Ware was lifting weights on Tuesday with an eye on playing this weekend – provided he gets clearance from team doctors. Dallas was a 7-point dog (-120) at press time with a total of 53.
The Cowboys also have a decision to make with their place-kicker. Nick Folk is on the hot seat after missing six of his last nine field goal attempts. Dallas has already changed holders for Folk, going with quarterback Tony Romo over punter Mat McBriar. The next move would be to change kickers. Rookie David Buehler has improved the Dallas special teams unit by handling kick-offs; the USC product is sharing practice kicks with Folk this week in preparation for New Orleans. Neither man looked particularly impressive during the portion of Tuesday’s practice that was open to the media. Special teams coach Joe DeCamillis says Dallas is not interested in free agents Jason Elam or former Cowboy Shaun Suisham. The kicking situation in New Orleans is also in flux with Garrett Hartley playing the last two games in place of John Carney and shanking a PAT last week in Atlanta.
