If Week 13 was any indication, next week’s slate of intense playoff-bound football action will be just as wild and unpredictable as its precedent.
The San Francisco 49ers were one of the teams that pulled off a stunning upset this past weekend, and they can seemingly replicate that upending trend this coming Sunday when they visit the lifeless Cleveland Browns. Read on to find out which are the other four teams joining the Niners on Week 14’s schedule that are bound to defy their respective underdog statuses against the spread.
And for a thorough breakdown of each of next week’s games on tap, check out our complete Week 14 picks and predictions feature to round out your football betting and reading needs.
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Top 5 NFL Week 14 Sleepers Predictions
San Francisco 49ers (+1) at Cleveland Browns (Sun, Dec. 13, 1:00 PM ET)
[sc:NFL240banner ]Why the 49ers will win: San Francisco’s season is all but lost at this point, but the team refuses to tank in preparation for next year’s draft as was evident in its gritty overtime win at Soldier Field on Sunday.
Compare that to the visibly defeated Browns, who have lost seven straight and sadly have no credible quarterback to run its already talent-deficient offense. Cleveland’s QB depth chart actually makes the Niners’ Blaine Gabbert look like a Pro Bowl selection.
Why the 49ers will lose: Any game on the road is a tough one, and the 49ers know a lot about that. Prior to Sunday’s OT thriller, the Niners had lost their last nine contests played away from Santa Clara and went 2-7 against the spread during that stretch as well.
Writer’s Prediction: A solid road victory for San Francisco (+1), 24-13.
New Orleans Saints (+4) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sun, Dec. 13, 1:00 PM ET)
Why the Saints will win: Although New Orleans lost on Sunday, the team’s offense came to life that afternoon by putting up 38 points, all the more against Carolina’s vaunted defense. Also, now that Drew Brees seems to have regained his mojo, his hot hand could very well torch Tampa Bay yet again as he had done so in the recent past. Brees and the Saints have won five of their last six meetings with the Bucs in Florida, with the total going over on four of those occasions as well.
Why the Saints will lose: Let’s face it: the Saints’ defense is downright horrendous, as it has allowed a league-worst 31.7 points per contest this season. Not to mention that Tampa Bay, which is the second-best team in the NFL with 143.3 rushing yards per game, will face New Orleans’ league-worst run defense (nearly 138 rushing yards allowed per contest).
Writer’s Prediction: The Bucs win by just a slim margin, 29-27, which ultimately helps the Saints cover (+4).
Why the Steelers will win: Pittsburgh’s offense is clicking right now after having posted four-straight outings of 30 or more points per game. And as impressive as the last pair of the Bengals victories are, let’s keep in mind that those were against the pathetic Rams and Browns. Plus, the Steelers have actually won four of the last five games against their division rivals that were played in Cincinnati.
Why the Steelers will lose: The game on Sunday is scheduled at 1:00 PM, so Andy Dalton’s ginger mop could very well be solar-ly powered once again to turn him into the offensive juggernaut that he has been for most of this season. Having the league’s best defense (just 16.3 points allowed per contest) should also help temper the Steelers’ suddenly sharp aerial and ground assault.
Writer’s Prediction: The Steelers (+3) make the Bengals sweat in their race for the AFC North’s crown with the much-needed 34-29 win.
San Diego Chargers (+10) at Kansas City Chiefs (Sun, Dec. 13, 1:00 PM ET)
Why the Chargers will win: San Diego’s last two defeats (just a field goal scored in each of those games) were definitely abysmal to say the least, but six of the team’s other seven losses this season were decided by just one possession. Also, Philip Rivers’ arm remains a threat as the Chargers still have the fourth-best passing game in the league right now at a little under 300 yards per game.
Why the Chargers will lose: Unfortunately for San Diego, Kansas City’s secondary is top-notch. That unit only trails Carolina for the most interceptions this season with 17 picks. We might as well bring up the elephant that Kansas City brought into this matchup’s room, too: its current six-game winning streak. During this run, the team has averaged a staggering 32.3 points per contest.
Writer’s Prediction: It’s another one of those “close but no cigar” losses for Chargers (+10) as they fall to the blazing Chiefs, 29-21.
Atlanta Falcons (+7.5) at Carolina Panthers (Sun, Dec. 13, 1:00 PM ET)
Why the Falcons will win: Excluding the 20-10 loss to the Vikings in Week 12, Atlanta lost its other four bouts from its current five-game losing streak by just a combined 11 points, meaning that the team still has the capability of covering spreads at the very least. Furthermore, we often overlook that the Falcons – much like the Chargers – still have the sixth-best passing offense in the NFL at 278 yards per game, and we all saw what Drew Brees just did to the Panthers’ D this past Sunday.
Why the Falcons will lose: No need to over-analyze this one: undefeated Carolina versus five-game skid Atlanta. Enough said.
Writer’s Prediction: Make that 13-consecutive wins for the Panthers, 30-24, with Atlanta barely covering (+7.5).
Create a betting account now to cash in on any or all of these sleepers in Week 14 of the NFL’s exciting 2015 season.
