NFL Week 15 Tips: Weekend acca can provide punters with an early Christmas present

Make sure you free up your calendar this weekend because Saturday match-ups return to the National Football League with three games scheduled before another enticing Sunday slate.

Less than a month remains of the regular season (I’m upset by this as well!), so the pressure is on to try to land at least one more accumulator before the campaign is out. Here’s a four-team bet that I will be placing for Week 15’s action.

Minnesota Vikings (+3) @ Cincinnati Bengals (-3)

Kick-off: 6pm Saturday BST

Jake Browning versus Nick Mullens isn’t the quarterback battle people were hoping for when this game was penciled in for week 15, but it’s unfortunately the hand we have been dealt due to season-ending injuries suffered by Joe Burrow and Kirk Cousins.

Browning, a four-year professional, didn’t play a single snap prior to this season but has shined in victories over the Jaguars and Colts in the last fortnight. The Bengals scored 34 points in both games and a similarly efficient offensive display will see them overcome a struggling Vikings side that is resorting to a third-string journeyman quarterback after scoring three points last week.

Prediction: Bengals to win @ 4/7

Pittsburgh Steelers (+1.0) @ Indianapolis Colts (-1.0)

Kick-off: 9.30pm Saturday BST

The intense race for the playoffs continues in the AFC. With identical records of 7-6, the Steelers and Colts will look to secure an extremely important win on Saturday as they look to make the post-season. The winner’s chance of playing football in mid-January will greatly increase, while the losing side will drop out of the picture for the time being.

Mike Tomlin’s Steelers have been dominant in recent meetings between these two franchises - they have won 18 of the 20 meetings since 1985 - but defeats to the Cardinals and Patriots hardly inspire confidence that they can continue the trend. The Colts, who are without Jonathan Taylor, will have to impress in the passing game via Gardner Minshew’s arm if they are to record a rare success over this opponent.

I always like to bet the over in games like this and it seems a perfectly reasonable wager once again, especially as the Colts have given up 28 points on eight occasions this year. The Steelers are also pretty banged up on defence despite TJ Watt given the all-clear to play.

Prediction: Over 42 total points @ 10/11

Houston Texans (+3.5) @ Tennessee Titans (-3.5)

Kick-off: 6pm Sunday BST

The Texans have impressed this year thanks to elite performances from CJ Stroud, Nico Collins and Tank Dell. However, the first-named pair both missed practice on Wednesday due to a concussion and calf problem respectively, while Dell is out for the season with a leg injury. Being thumped by the Jets last week was just another nail in the coffin.

Tennessee, on the other hand, caused a shock victory over the Miami Dolphins in week 14 and will look to make a late run to the playoffs. Veteran running back Derrick Henry has absolutely dominated the Texans in the last five match-ups, posting 1018 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. That’s an incredible average of 204 yards and 2 touchdowns per game. 

A similar display will make the Titans hard to beat, which is why they are my strongest bet this week.

Prediction: Titans to win @ 4/6

Baltimore Ravens (-3.5) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (+3.5)

Kick-off: 1.20am Monday BST

Despite playing last week, Trevor Lawrence didn’t look his usual self and maybe his ankle injury is causing more issues than we are led to believe. When Lawrence doesn’t fire, the Jaguars don’t win, and this week they face arguably the best team in the AFC: the Baltimore Ravens. As a result, this could be rather one-sided.

The Ravens weren’t at their best seven days ago as they came off a bye week, which can sometimes cause rust in championship teams, but they still got the job done thanks to an unbelievable punt return touchdown from Tylan Wallace. 

Expect Lamar Jackson and company to come out firing as they look to firm up their grip on the number one seed on Sunday night. They face the 49ers and Dolphins in their next two games, so a win here is vital.

Prediction: Ravens to win @ 8/15

NFL Week 15 Tips

Vikings @ Bengals: Bengals to win @ 4/7
Steelers @ Colts: Over 42 total points @ 10/11
Texans @ Titans: Titans to win @ 4/6
Ravens @ Jaguars: Ravens to win @ 8/15

Accumulator odds: 6.32/1