2016-NFL-Week 15-Sunday football-Full betting preview

Lions at Giants (-4, 41) – 1:00 PM EST

Detroit
Record: 9-4 SU, 8-5 ATS, 9-4 UNDER
Super Bowl Odds: 30/1

The Lions keep continuing to show they are not a fluke, coming off their fifth consecutive victory last Sunday against the Bears, 20-17. Although Detroit didn’t cover as 7 ½-point home favorites, quarterback Matthew Stafford overcame a finger injury to score the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter as the Lions cashed the UNDER for the seventh straight game. Detroit’s defense has been fantastic during this stretch, giving up 20 points or less in each of the past seen contests, while seeking its third consecutive road win after starting the season with 1-3 record overall.

New York
Record: 9-4 SU, 7-5-1 ATS, 10-3 UNDER
Super Bowl Odds: 22/1

The Giants are the only team in the league to beat the Cowboys and New York accomplished that feat for the second time this season in last Sunday’s 10-7 triumph. New York didn’t compile many yards from an offensive standpoint (260 yards), but the Giants took the lead for good thanks to an Eli Manning 61-yard touchdown connection with Odell Beckham, Jr. late in the third quarter. The Giants improved to 6-1 at Met Life Stadium, while riding a five-game streak to the UNDER overall. New York is facing Detroit for the first time since the 2014 season opener when the Lions blasted the Giants, 35-14 at Ford Field.

Best Bet: New York -4

Colts at Vikings (-4, 45 ½) – 1:00 PM EST

Indianapolis
Record: 6-7 SU, 6-6-1 ATS, 8-5 OVER
Super Bowl Odds: 125/1

The Colts were dealt a huge blow in their chances to win the AFC South title following last Sunday’s 22-17 home defeat to the Texans as 6 ½-point favorites. Indianapolis has not lost consecutive games since the first two weeks of the season as the Colts are 5-0 SU/ATS in their last five contests off a defeat. The Colts have performed well on the highway recently by winning three straight road games, while scoring at least 31 points in each of those victories.

Minnesota
Record: 7-6 SU, 8-5 ATS, 8-5 UNDER
Super Bowl Odds: 85/1

The Vikings haven’t had much luck this season as both quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and running back Adrian Peterson were injured early on. Bridgewater won’t return this season, but Peterson will come back following an 11-game absence due to a right knee injury. Peterson is a welcome sign for a Minnesota team that has won only twice in the last eight games since a 5-0 start. The Vikings knocked off the Jaguars last Sunday, 25-16 as three-point road favorites as Sam Bradford threw for 292 yards and a touchdown. Minnesota has been a solid team to back at U.S. Bank Stadium this season by going 4-2 SU and 5-1 ATS.

Best Bet: Indianapolis +4

Titans at Chiefs (-4 ½, 42 ½) – 1:00 PM EST

Tennessee
Record: 7-6 SU, 5-8 ATS, 9-4 OVER
Super Bowl Odds: 85/1

The Titans are right in the mix of the AFC South race as Tennessee faces Houston in Week 17 at home. However, Tennessee needs to take care of business in Kansas City on Sunday on the heels off a huge victory over another AFC West foe, Denver last week. The Titans knocked off the Broncos, 13-10, while limiting Denver to 18 yards rushing on nine carries. Tennessee has held its own away from Nissan Stadium with a 3-3 road record, including outright underdog triumphs at Detroit and Miami.

Kansas City
Record: 10-3 SU, 7-6 ATS, 9-4 UNDER
Super Bowl Odds: 17/2

The Chiefs braved the frigid temperatures at Arrowhead Stadium last Thursday night to pull off the season sweep of the rival Raiders, 21-13 to cash as 3 ½-point favorites. Kansas City holds the tiebreaker advantage over Oakland atop the AFC West as each team enters Sunday’s action at 10-3. The Chiefs improved to 5-1 at Arrowhead with the win, but Kansas City has cashed only twice in the role of a home favorite this season. Kansas City looks to avenge a 26-10 setback to Tennessee suffered in the 2014 season opener as the Titans outgained the Chiefs, 405-245.

Best Bet: Tennessee +4 ½

Steelers (-3, 45) at Bengals – 1:00 PM EST

Pittsburgh
Record: 8-5 SU, 8-5 ATS, 9-4 UNDER
Super Bowl Odds: 8/1

The Steelers knocked the Bengals out of the playoffs last season in the Wild Card round, as Pittsburgh seeks its third straight postseason appearance. Mike Tomlin’s squad has won four consecutive games, including each of the past three away from Heinz Field. The Steelers cashed in each of those victories, as Pittsburgh is fresh off a 27-20 triumph at Buffalo as running back Le’Veon Bell rushed for a career-high 236 yards and three touchdowns. Pittsburgh has won six of the past seven matchups with Cincinnati, including a 24-16 victory at Heinz Field in Week 2 as three-point favorites.

Cincinnati
Record: 5-7-1 SU, 5-8 ATS, 7-6 UNDER
Super Bowl Odds: OFF

It may be too little, too late for the defending AFC North champion Bengals to qualify for the playoffs. However, Cincinnati is looking to finish strong, coming off back-to-back wins over Philadelphia and Cleveland the last two weeks. The Bengals’ defense is stepping up of late by allowing 19 points or less in each of the past four games, while Cincinnati is currently on a 4-1 run to the UNDER. Cincinnati is listed as a home underdog with Andy Dalton starting at quarterback for the first time since Week 16 of the 2014 season in a 37-28 victory over Denver.

Best Bet: Cincinnati +3

Patriots (-3, 44) at Broncos – 4:25 PM EST

New England
Record: 11-2 SU, 10-3 ATS, 8-5 UNDER
Super Bowl Odds: 13/5

The Patriots are eyeing the top seed in the AFC after finishing with the second seed last season. New England fell short of consecutive Super Bowl appearances after losing at Denver in the AFC Championship, 20-18 as three-point favorites. The Pats have dropped their past three visits to Sports Authority Field as they put their 6-0 road record on the line on Sunday. Bill Belichick’s club has covered in five of six away contests this season, while facing their third different Denver quarterback since last October (Trevor Siemian, Peyton Manning, Brock Osweiler).

Denver
Record: 8-5 SU, 8-5 ATS, 7-6 UNDER
Super Bowl Odds: 60/1

The Broncos are back at home in a must-win spot as the defending champions face a treacherous three-game stretch to close the season. Following New England, Denver takes on division rival Kansas City on the road before hosting Oakland in the season finale. The Broncos are coming off a three-point loss at Tennessee last week, but Denver has dropped back-to-back games only once this season. Since Gary Kubiak took over as head coach last season, the Broncos have produced a 9-2 ATS mark in the underdog role, including a 3-0 SU/ATS ledger as a home ‘dog.

Best Bet: Denver +3

Raiders (-3, 49) at Chargers – 4:25 PM EST

Oakland
Record: 10-3 SU, 8-5 ATS, 10-3 OVER
Super Bowl Odds: 20/1

The Raiders are 10-1 this season against any team not from Kansas City as Oakland suffered its second loss to its division rivals last Thursday. Oakland is back on the road with a trip to San Diego, going for the sweep of the Chargers. The last time these teams met up at the Black Hole in early October, the Raiders rallied for a 34-31 triumph as both Derek Carr and Philip Rivers eclipsed the 320-yard mark. Oakland is listed as a road favorite for only the second time this season, as the Raiders are 4-3 ATS this season when laying points.

San Diego
Record: 5-8 SU, 7-6 ATS, 8-4-1 OVER
Super Bowl Odds: OFF

The Chargers have played to plenty of exciting finishes this season, but are running out steam down the stretch following interconference losses to the Buccaneers and Panthers. San Diego has fallen apart in each of its last two home defeats to Tampa Bay and Miami by allowing 45 second half points in those setbacks. The Chargers have lost three straight meetings with the Raiders, but the underdog has cashed in nine of the past 10 matchups, including San Diego’s cover as 3 ½-point ‘dogs in Week 5 at Oakland.

Best Bet: Oakland -3