NFL Top Games with Odds and Predictions for Weeks 1 through 8

by George Monroy - 5/27/2015

The 2015 NFL season is months away, and at the moment the entire football world is still focused on quarterback Tom Brady's pending appeal of a four-game suspension issued by the NFL for his role "Deflategate" scandal. Placing the controversy aside, there is still a season's worth of games on the horizon, and CG Technology has released its first set of lines for every game on the schedule. The 2015 season is set to open up with a Thursday night matchup between the defending Super Bowl champions and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Let's take a peek at the most interesting game of the week, give a few thoughts and make some predictions for the first half of the NFL year.

Week 1: Tennessee Titans at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3): the most intriguing game to open the 2015 season will be a matchup between two teams that will probably end the year with a sub-.500 record. The reason the matchup is interesting is because it will pit the No. 1 and No. 2 picks in the draft against each other in Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota. Prediction: Titans cover.

Week 2: Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers (-1): Week 2 is filled with multiple marquee matchups, but the best will be a Green Bay versus Seattle matchup that will see the Packers look for a measure of revenge after completing one of the biggest postseason meltdowns in NFL history. Seattle has owned this matchup over the last few seasons. Prediction: Take the points.

Week 3: San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals (-2.5): Most of the NFL world is off the San Francisco bandwagon after last year's disappointing season and the subsequent departure of coach Jim Harbaugh. The 49ers should continue to be a competitive team, but this matchup could be a coming-out party for an excellent Arizona squad. Prediction: Expect an Arizona blowout.

Week 4: Dallas Cowboys at New Orleans Saints (Pick'em): The Saints struggled last year, and this Week 4 matchup will the first opportunity for both teams to prove that they are in fact playoff contenders. This situation is the type of game that Dallas typically loses, and a win in New Orleans is still a big deal even if the Saint struggle in 2015. The Cowboys will be entering the season with confidence of knowing they were a blown call away from the NFC title game. Prediction: Cowboys win.

Week 5: New England Patriots at Dallas Cowboys (Pick'em): Week 4 is a big game for Dallas, but Week 5 will be even more important. If Brady's suspension holds up, he will not be back in uniform until the following week, which leaves this matchup as a must-win situation for the team. If Dallas expects to be a true contender, they need to win these games at home with or without Brady in the lineup. Prediction: Cowboys win.

Week 6: New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts (-1): Again, if Brady's suspension isn't repealed, his first game back will be against the team that started the "Deflategate" scandal in the first place. The Patriots have owned the Colts during the Andrew Luck era, and expect this game to have a "revenge factor". Prediction: Patriots win.

Week 7: Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers (+1.5): Seattle won, and covered, both of these matchups in convincing fashion last season. San Francisco seems to have fallen off the NFL mountaintop and will not be the same powerhouse team of the last few years. However, expect the team to stay competitive and at least put a scare into a Super Bowl contender like the Seahawks. Prediction: 49ers.

Week 8: Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos (-1.5): This game may see the highest total number of the entire season. Both squads are offensive powerhouses, and a Peyton Manning versus Aaron Rodgers matchup is a huge game for the league. Denver is a monster during the regular season, while Green Bay goes through stretches where it can struggle. Prediction: Denver and the over.

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Pick:	KANSAS CITY CHIEFS -5.5
Start:	December 15, 2024 @ 1:00 PM
Expert:	Doc's Sports

Analysis:

Free Play from Doc’s Sports. Take #465 Kansas City Chiefs -5.5 over Cleveland Browns (1p.m., Sunday, December 15 CBS) The Chiefs keep winning games and sooner or later one of those wins will come by a comfortable margin. I look for that to be this Sunday against a Browns team that is just playing out the string. Cleveland currently sits at 3- 10 and will enter this game having lost 4 of their last 5 games. Their only win came against Pittsburgh in a snow game on a short week. All 4 of those losses by the Browns have come over the posted number for this game. Kansas City is better on both sides of the football, and I just do not see the Browns offense keeping pace. Do not miss out on Doc’s Sports Weekend card featuring top plays in basketball, football, and hockey. We will feature our World-Famous Nonconference Game of the Year in College Basketball on Saturday. This game has won 13 of the 15 years it has been in existence and it is a must have for any big game hunter. Read More Read Less

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