Week 15 NFL Predictions – Spread ’em

You know what time it is! The favorite part of everyone’s week is here as The Cover 4 is posting Week 15 Predictions.

This week you will get predictions and analysis from five Cover 4 Sports Activists giving you a number of options to go with your picks on Sunday. As much as I love picking winners, the fans have spoken and want the spread!

The Cover 4 is dedicated to bringing the fans the ultimate experience; this is headlined by our slogan of “for the fans, by the fans”. Looking back to last week, let’s just say it wasn’t pretty for any of us, mostly myself. There are good weeks, bad weeks, and sometimes just down right ugly weeks. But, like any successful person, when you get knocked down, you get right back up and that is certainly what we will be doing.

The NFL is truly an ANY GIVEN SUNDAY league. This year especially, there is a lot of parody and inconsistency among teams. Look at the Cardinals who started 4-0 and have lost 9 in a row. Those same Cardinals beat the Patriots, who just throttled the top of the AFC Texans. Does it get any better?

A little fantasy advice for those in their playoffs or near their league championships this year: trust your gut and don’t read all of those funny websites about “who to start/sit”. Every site has their own opinion but go with your gut because this is when its time to win some money! Am I bitter? Yes as I decided to change a player in my starting lineup last minute and lost my playoff game. For all you wavier wire all-stars, great job making it this far with a terribly drafted team. We know all your picks sucked, but you were able to hunt the waiver wire in an effort to make it into the playoffs. This one’s for you.

Who doesn’t love money? I certainly do, and that’s why I’ll be following The Cover 4 this weekend for my football bets. Each week The Cover 4 will give to you our “Cover 4” parlay picks for the week. These are our must bet picks!

The Cover 4: Giants +1½, Pit -1½, Jaguars +7½, Jets +2 

Now onto the picks and analysis! (All lines from the LVH as of 12/14/12 at 8:30 pm PST)

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Green Bay Packers -3 @ Chicago Bears

General Peppers – GB -3 

Jesse – GB -3 – GB owns Chicago in this rivalry of late, although I expect a battle.

Long Island Sound – GB -3 – Woodson & Mathews are back.

Plumb – CHI +3 – Green bay coming off a big Mnf win looking to get back on track face a stout bears defense lookin to rebound from last week.

James – GB -3 – Tough game to play in Soldier Field but GB is bringing back some key starters while Chicago is losing some. __________________________________________________________________________

New York Giants @ Atlanta Falcons -1½

General Peppers – ATL +1½

Jesse – NYG +1½ – Giants beat good teams; ATL close calls to OAK, CAR, ARI, all at home

Long Island Sound – NYG +1½ – Take the G-Men as a road underdog.

Plumb – NYG +1½ – Atlanta is coming off abysmal loss to Carolina an now face a hot giants teams gmen defense too tough

James – NYG +1½ – Just can’t take ATL in this one. The Giants show up to play big games. __________________________________________________________________________

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints -4

General Peppers – NO -4

Jesse – TB +4 – Worst passing D in the league vs. Drew Brees spells disaster, but I dunno if we’re dealing w/ the same Brees as past years.

Long Island Sound – TB +4 – Vincent Jackson field day.

Plumb – TB +4 – Tampa bay loves blowing leads in the 4th quarter but New Orleans defense is pretty awful. Ill take the points in this one.

James – NO -4 – The Saints D is brutal and should be torched for a few this week but I think Brees makes up for it on the backend.

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Minnesota Vikings @ St. Louis Rams -3

General Peppers – MIN +3 

Jesse – STL -3 – STL posts a 9-4 record ATS and gets the inept Ponder coming to town. AP will get his, but it won’t be enough.

Long Island Sound – STL -3 –  Jeff Fisher vs bad Qbs. I like the cover.

Plumb – MIN +3 – St. Louis has proven to me they have a tough defense but they haven’t faced a back like ap before. Minn barley edges rams

James – MIN +3 – I am taking Peterson and crew. I like the Rams defense but it won’t be enough to win by 3+ points. __________________________________________________________________________

Washington Redskins @ Cleveland Browns – NO LINE

General Peppers –

Jesse – CLE (NO LINE) – Washington is in a tough spot. After battling hated rival Giants to a 1-point victory two weeks ago on MNF, and going to OT vs. close-rival Baltimore, they have to travel to the lowly Browns who are playing well as of late.

Long Island Sound – CLE (NO LINE) – Hitting their stride.

Plumb – CLE (NO LINE) – Skins browns in a pickem? RGIII must be out for me to take the browns. So if his is gimme Cleveland if he isn’t gimme wash.

James – Washington (NO LINE) – I might be the only one on the Kirk Cousins bandwagon.

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Jacksonville Jaguars @ Miami Dolphins -7½

General Peppers – JAX +7½

Jesse – JAX +7½ – Miami is a TD favorite? I’ll take the Jags who’re 5-1 ATS on the road this season.

Long Island Sound – JAX +7½ – Miami isn’t reliable to bury a team.

Plumb – JAX +7½ – The battle of Florida is this week and what better time is it for henne to come back to Miami and steal on from his old team. Miami is giving to much in this game

James – JAX +7½ – I am with the rest of The Cover 4 team as I can’t pick the Dolphins to win this game by a touchdown.

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Denver Broncos -3 @ Baltimore Ravens

General Peppers – DEN -3

Jesse – DEN -3 – This is a well-oiled machine poised for a deep playoff run. After this game, Denver finishes up vs. CLE & KC, both at home. I expect this to be a tough game, though. As of right now, NONE of Denver’s last 8 opponents have winning records save for 7-6 Cincy.

Long Island Sound –BAL +3 – Coming off a bad loss, and need to regain their form.

Plumb – DEN -3 – Denver and Balt clash this week in a huge Afc showdown. After Balts embarrassing loss last week after giving up all those points to wash they need a win to sustain top dog in Afc north but Peyton is too tough in this one.

James – DEN -3 – I understand Baltimore is at home but I think Denver abuses that secondary as no one can cover Thomas.

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Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans -10

General Peppers – HOU -10

Jesse – IND +10 – Houston’s D (specifically passing D) has been bad as of late. Indy’s got D problems of their own, but they can put points on the board. I’ll take the TD+. This team is a legitimate 9-4.

Long Island Sound – IND +10 – Luck finds ways to cover.

Plumb – IND +10 – After Houston gettig blown out on Mnf they home to play a hot Indy try to make playoffs under for luck sake (haha).

James – HOU -10 – The line jumping from 8 to 10 is a large difference. Indy won’t have enough Luck in this one (it never gets old).

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Carolina Panthers @ San Diego Chargers -3

General Peppers – SD -3 

Jesse – CAR +3 – I can’t lay points with SD. Newton has something to build on as he’s thrown 7TDs & 0INTs in the last 3 games (9.2 YPA).

Long Island Sound – CAR +3 – Cam found his form again. Bolts off a big away win – expect a letdown.

Plumb – SD -3 – Big win for car last week. I don’t see a repeat against a tough San Diego D.

James – CAR +3 – Both teams have alternated having good games and bad games this year. I am taking Carolina with the points.

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Seattle Seahawks -5½ @ Buffalo Bills

General Peppers – BUF +5½

Jesse – BUF +5½ – I like the points here. Seattle will be preparing for their Sunday night battle vs. Niners the following week.

Long Island Sound – BUF +5½ – Too many big wins lately, and one of the longest trips in the league.

Plumb – SEA -5½ – After massacring the cards Seattle goes on the road to a disappointing bills team can’t go against hawks on this one

James – BUF +5½ – Lets ride the dogs!

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Detroit Lions -6½ @ Arizona Cardinals

General Peppers – ARI +6½ 

Jesse – ARI +6½ – John Skelton has been demoted (again) and Lindley will start. Arizona has a ton of problems, but its rare that teams get blown out in back-to-back weeks in the NFL. These dudes are pros. AND WHY THE EFF IS A 4-9 TEAM A 6-POINT ROAD FAV ANYWAY?

Long Island Sound – DET -6½ –  I could play QB for the Cardinals right now.

Plumb – DET -6½ – This looks like a trap game with the eye but then I realized Arizona doesn’t have an offense and Detroit can capitalize on that. If they cards score its because of the defense. The numbers say cards cover but I think other wise

James – DET -6½ – How can you not go this route after last week? Also, I will never let Jesse convince me that Arizona +10 is the “best play of the week”! haha SMH __________________________________________________________________________

Pittsburgh Steelers -1½ @ Dallas Cowboys

General Peppers – PIT –1½

Jesse – PIT –1½ – I cannot publicly back the schizophrenic Cowboys. Who knows which team we’ll see? Pitt is holding on dearly to that 6th seed and need this W especially if the Bengals win on Thursday. I also like Tomlin + Big Ben coming off a loss.

Long Island Sound – PIT –1½ – Ben will be ready, and Cowboys Stadium is no real advantage.

Plumb – PIT –1½ – Pittsburgh got a break last week with all the other Afc north losing and might have another one this week. Dallas is depleted and steelers have something to play for.

James – PIT –1½ – Tomlin won’t let them lose two in a row. __________________________________________________________________________

Kansas City Chiefs @ Oakland Raiders -3

General Peppers – OAK -3

Jesse – OAK -3 – Both of these teams are awful. Just bad, bad teams. Chiefs just lost Dwayne Bowe for the season, Oakland had 10 days to prepare for Brady Quinn & co. I’ll take the host.

Long Island Sound – OAK -3 – KC is looking towards the draft.

Plumb – OAK -3 – Probably one of the worst games on this weeks schedule but someone has to win so the number say raiders so I guess ill take that!

James – OAK -3 – The Chiefs aren’t on their high horses after an emotional few weeks.

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San Francisco 49ers @ New England Patriots -4½

General Peppers – SF +4½

Jesse – SF +4½ – New England played a near perfect game to beat the Texans in their “most important game in history.” Believe it or not, I expect the Niners to jump out on the flat-Pats and keep this game close.

Long Island Sound – NE -4½ – Big test for Kaep to hang with the best. Doubt he passes the first test.

Plumb – SF +4½ – Even match up this week San Fran plays NE tough.

James – NE -4½ – Did everyone just forget what New England did to the Texans? __________________________________________________________________________

New York Jets @ Tennessee Titans -2

General Peppers – NYJ +2 

Jesse – NYJ +2 – I’ll take the points in the game that no one will watch this coming Monday. Jets, believe it or not, could still potentially snag the 6th seed. Titans suck.

Long Island Sound – NYJ +2 – Jets find their way to make playoff pushes.

Plumb – NYJ +2 – Jets barley beat jax and Tennessee can be tough at times however tenn is giving points so the pressure is off Sanchez.

James – NYJ +2 – If the Jets can continue to run the ball and get back to the team they were a few years ago, they can sneak into the playoff picture.

Alright. Thanks for reading The Cover 4. Keep telling your friends about our site. Now go make that $ this weekend.

Contact us at james@thecover4.com

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James Kaikis
Chief Sports Activist for The Cover 4
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