NFL Week 15 schedule: 5 best bets on favorites

Taking a deep look at the NFL Week 15 schedule, here are five favorites homage great bets to both win and cover their spreads.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (-1) vs. Tennessee Titans

The public realized this was the right line to hammer all week. The Steelers began the week as two-point underdogs at home to the injury-plagued Titans, but things have switched. Pittsburgh is now giving a point, but the line is still favorable to the home team. Tennessee is without a litany of important players including receiver A.J. Brown and running back Derrick Henry. The Steelers are flawed, but this is a bad matchup for Tennessee without Henry.

4. Dallas Cowboys (-11) at New York Giants

How could anybody think it’s a good idea to take the Giants in any capacity here. Hell, teasing them up to +17 might be the only route, and even that is fraught with danger. New York has been pitiful most of the year and is dealing with a slew of injuries, including to starting quarterback Daniel Jones. Dallas is waiting for Dak Prescott to get right, and although 11 points is a big number to lay, bet on Prescott to start rolling in a big way on Sunday.

3. Green Bay Packers (-6) at Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens might be without star quarterback Lamar Jackson, who has missed the whole week of practice due to an ankle injury. Baltimore would turn to Tyler Huntley in that situation, and while Huntley has done well enough in spot duty, he’s not keeping this game close against Aaron Rodgers, especially when Rodgers has the luxury of facing the league’s 31st-ranked passing defense. This game has all the makings of a runaway for Green Bay, which is trying to secure the NFC’s top seed.

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-11.5) vs. New Orleans Saints

This one is simple. While the Saints have beaten Tom Brady in three of the four matchups they’ve had with him since joining the Buccaneers, this isn’t the same fight. New Orleans is without Jameis Winston and Michael Thomas, rendering the offense incapable. Tampa Bay is going to get up early and unleash its nasty pass rush on Taysom Hill.

1. Buffalo Bills (-12) vs. Carolina Panthers

The Panthers are beyond cooked, and the Bills are beyond desperate. At 7-6, Buffalo might well need to win out or face the shocking prospect of missing the postseason. Josh Allen and Co. aren’t losing to the Panthers, who are 2-8 in their last 10 games and have no clear starting quarterback.