NFL
NFL Week 15 staff picks against spread: A difference of opinion on Cowboys vs. Colts
NFL Week 15 staff picks against spread: A difference of opinion on Cowboys vs. Colts

Here are our picks against the spread for Week 15 of the NFL season, including for Cowboys vs. Colts and Packers vs. Bears.
The NFL’s Week 15 slate treats bettors to a pair of games Saturday, in addition to the traditional Sunday and Monday fare (and this all comes after that [Thursday night thriller](https://www.betchicago.com/chargers-cash-as-underdogs-in-thrilling-29-28-win-over-chiefs)), and BetChicago staffers have picks against the spread for all three days of pro football ahead. As a friendly reminder, we’re professional sports betting writers and editors, not pro bettors – "sharp" should not be used to describe our handicapping abilities. Nevertheless, we work hard at researching and analyzing games, and we have our own skin in these games. Read up, enjoy and find some value in our selections and explanations.
The point spreads listed here were available on Las Vegas oddsboards on Friday morning.
# Marcus DiNitto
## [Broncos-2.5 vs. Browns, Saturday](https://www.betchicago.com/browns-broncos-betting-lines-odds-ats-pick-money-spread-underdog)
Both teams are trending in the right direction in the second half of the season, but the Broncos’ route has been more impressive. I’ll stack up Denver’s wins over the Steelers and Chargers and outgaining the Chiefs in Kansas City against the Cleveland’s accomplishments, particularly when the Broncos get the Browns at home on a short week. Lay the short number here.
## Panthers +6 vs. Saints, Monday
I don’t love chasing teams (betting them again the week after I [lost on them](https://www.betchicago.com/nfl-week-14-picks-against-spread-rams-bears)), but there’s value with Carolina plus the points at home in this spot. Yes, the Panthers have lost five in a row, but four of those games were on the road and all but the first – the Thursday night debacle at Pittsburgh – have been one-score games. The Panthers are 5-1 at home this season and will continue to fight for a playoff spot. The last time they played the Saints was in the playoffs last season, and they nearly pulled of the straight-up win, losing 31-26 but covering the 6.5-point spread. This time around, they’re getting just a half-point less at home.
# Joe Rodgers
## Colts -2.5 vs. Cowboys, Sunday, noon CT
Last week I got burned uncharacteristically siding with the public. This week, I go back to my principles and stay away from the public underdog of the week, Dallas. The Cowboys are one of the hottest teams in the NFL, but they haven't played a road game in nearly a month. The Cowboys have also all but locked up the NFC East and are dealing with a myriad of minor injuries that has resulted in missed practice time. The Colts are 7-0 straight up in their last seven games as home favorites and are the more desperate team. Consider laying the points.
## Raiders +3 at Bengals, 1 p.m. CT
Health, motivation and effort. In a matchup of bad teams late in the season, the visiting Raiders have all three checkmarks. Bad defenses shouldn't be laying points, and there is no worse defense in the league than Cincy 421.9 yards allowed). Yes, the Raiders are bad too, but QB Derek Carr is playing decently with a 97.2 QB Rating and 69.5 completion percentage. Oakland has covered its last two games against the Chiefs and Steelers, and I expect they'll make it three in a row on Sunday.
# Chris Mascaro
## [Bears -6 vs. Packers, noon CT](https://www.betchicago.com/packers-bears-betting-lines-odds-ats-pick-chicago-favored-green-bay)
Years of Aaron Rodgers breaking hearts in Chicago has come to this. One of the top defenses in the league, at home, facing a team (and a quarterback) that staged a 20-point comeback against them in Week 1 and now has a chance to clinch the division title for the first time since 2010 -- yup, it's [revenge time](https://www.betchicago.com/nfl-week-14-picks-against-spread-rams-bears). The Packers (5-7-1 SU and ATS) were able to move the ball [last week against](https://www.packers.com/news/packers-vs-falcons-in-game-updates) Atlanta only because they got their run game going, but they won't be able to Sunday against the second-best rush defense in the league. The Bears (9-4 SU and ATS) have been magnificent at home, failing to cover only once this season at Soldier Field (and they were only a yard short of tying the Patriots game after a completed Hail Mary), while Green Bay is 0-6 SU and 1-4-1 ATS on the road. The Packers have won 14 out of 16 in this series, but it's about time Chicago bucks that trend.
## Cowboys +3 at Colts, noon CT
I've been impressed with what I've seen from the Cowboys defense, and they're on hot streak, with five straight wins and covers. Dallas (8-5 SU and ATS) can clinch the NFC East with a win, and while they haven't been a good road team (2-4 SU and 3-3 ATS), Indy, which couldn't score at all [two weeks ago in Jacksonville](https://www.jaguars.com/news/game-report-jaguars-6-colts-0), will again struggle offensively. The Colts (7-6, 6-6-1 ATS) are also on a roll, winning six of seven after a 1-5 start, but the UNDER has cashed in their last four games, meaning scoring has come at a premium, which is right up the Cowboys' alley. Indianapolis is one of a handful of teams in the mix for the six seed in the AFC but has a tough schedule the rest of the way (vs. NYG and at TEN after Sunday) and will be left out of the postseason for the fourth straight year.
__Win playoff tickets:__ [Bears-Packers pick 'em contest](https://betchicago.chalkline.com/games/nfl-chicago-contest)
2018-12-14T16:06:45.467Z2018-12-14T11:06-05:00