Week 15 is here in the 2013 college football season.  Last week there was once again another unbeaten team that fell from the undefeated ranks as Alabama was defeated by Auburn in the Iron Bowl on one of the most memorable plays in college football history. The NCAA conference championships are here.  Check out the SEC Championship lines below.  The BCS picture will be final after this weekend.  As it stands, Ohio State and Florida State are set for the national championship game, but that could all change. As we saw last weekend, anything can happen.  Last chance to make some future bets on the current BCS National Championship Odds. 

Thursday NCAA Football Week 15 Lines For 12/5/13

#19 Louisville (-3.5, 51) at Cincinnati 7:30 PM EST
The Louisville Cardinals will head up interstate 71 to take on the Cincinnati Bearcats for the Keg of Nails trophy. Cincinnati has won four of the last five meetings between the schools, however Louisville won last year 34–31.

Friday Week 15 College Football Lines For 12/6/13
MAC Conference Championship Game Lines

Bowling Green vs. #14 Northern Illinois (-3, 57.5) 8:00 PM EST
Bowling Green will look to spoil Northern Illinois’ perfect season in the Mid-American conference championship. Quarterback Jordan Lynch Will look to strengthen his Heisman resume against a Falcon defense that is giving up only 13.8 points per game.

Saturday Week 15 College Football Lines For 12/7/13
2013 Conference Championship Game Odds & Lines

#17 Oklahoma at #6 Oklahoma State (-9.5, 57.5) 12:00 PM EST
Intrastate rivals meet as the Oklahoma State Cowboys, winners of six in a row host the Oklahoma Sooners. The Sooners will be looking to play spoiler. A win by the Cowboys would send them to a BCS game for the second time in three years.

Marshall (-4.5, 60.5) at Rice 12:00 PM EST
The Rice Owls will host the conference USA championship as they take on the Marshall thundering herd. Rice will definitely have their hands full as Marshall has one of the more potent offenses while averaging 44.6 points per game.

#25 Texas at #9 Baylor (-15.5, 72) 3:30 PM EST
The Texas Longhorns will be looking to play the role of spoiler as they take on intrastate rival Baylor. Should Baylor win, they will clinch a share of the Big 12 title and will go to a BCS bowl. Texas won last year’s contest between the two schools 56–50.

#3 Auburn (-2, 58) vs. #5 Missouri 4:00 PM EST
Auburn and Missouri will battle it out for the SEC Championship in the Georgia dome in Atlanta. Auburn punched their ticket with a miracle 34-28 win over then #1 Alabama. Missouri outlasted Texas A&M, winning 28-21. Should Auburn or Missouri win, they could move into the BCS championship with an Ohio State loss.

#7 Stanford vs. #11 Arizona State (-3, 55) 7:45 PM EST
Arizona State has been playing some of the best football in the country. On Saturday night they’ll get a chance to avenge one of their two regular season losses. This time, the stakes are higher, as they play for the PAC-12 championship in Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. Stanford won in week 4 in the regular season 42-28 in Palo Alto. The Sun Devils are 7-0 this year at home winning by an average margin of 28 points.

#1 Florida State (-29.5, 62) vs. #20 Duke 8:00 PM EST
The Duke Blue Devils will be looking to win their first ever ACC championship. They will also be looking to pull of the monumental upset as they take on the #1 ranked Florida State Seminoles. The Seminoles are coming off a 37-7 win over intrastate rival Florida. Duke punched their ticket beating North Carolina 27-25.

#2 Ohio State (-5, 51.5) vs. #10 Michigan State 8:17 PM EST
Ohio State will look to clinch a berth in the BCS National championship as they take on the Michigan State Spartans. Ohio State is lucky to be in the position their in, squeaking out a victory against rival Michigan. The Spartans have the #1 ranked defense in the country, and will look to slow down the high octane rushing attack of the Buckeyes.

Utah State at #23 Fresno State (-3.5, 59.5) 10:00 PM EST
The Fresno State Bulldogs will host the inaugural Mountain West conference championship, when they take on the Utah State Aggies. Fresno State had their perfect season go south as they were upset by San Jose State 62-52. The Aggies have won five straight and won last week defeating Wyoming 35-7.

List of College Football Week 15 & Conference Championship Lines at 5Dimes
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Week 15 College Football TV Schedule & Game Listings

The 2012 NFL schedule continues in Week 15, as there are just three weeks left in the campaign to determine which teams will and will not be going to the playoffs, and where they will all be playing. Join us here at Bankroll Sports, as we break down all of the games on the Week 15 NFL schedule, along with all of the Week 15 odds on the board.

There are a heck of a lot of teams that are fighting for their lives right now, and we’re going to see that right away on Thursday when the Cincinnati Bengals visit the Philadelphia Eagles. Cincy is one of the many teams this week that is favored by right around a field goal. In fact, there are nine games as of Tuesday evening that are lined between two and four. The Bengals are one of those at the high end of that spectrum at -4 on the road against a Philadelphia team that is trying to play the role of spoiler.

Division titles can basically be won (or actually be won) in a number of games on Sunday, and most of the games are going to be incredibly close calls.

The Green Bay Packers are going on the road to Soldier Field on Sunday, and the clash against the Chicago Bears is going to be the biggest game of the year for both of these teams. The Pack will win the NFC North with a victory, while the Bears will claw right back into the race if they can hold serve at home. However, Green Bay is clearly the better of these two teams and is better form at the moment, and it is favored by a field goal as a result.

In the other big time game of the weekend that could solve a division championship is in the AFC South. The Houston Texans are a win over the Indianapolis Colts away from winning the division. However, at this point, the Colts also control their own destiny for shocking the world and winning the division. Indy will be in the playoffs with a win one way or the other, and it will put the pressure on the Texans in a big time way in the division race. Meanwhile, Houston is three wins away from the No. 1 seed on the AFC side of the postseason. Everyone sees how “lucky” QB Andrew Luck and the Colts are getting, and the whole world saw the Texans get their doors blown off on Monday, yet the hosts are the biggest favorites of the weekend at -7.5.

Division leaders are also going to be involved in a few duels on Sunday as well that could shape the landscape of the playoffs in both conferences. We’ll start at the Georgia Dome, where the Atlanta Falcons are taking on the New York Giants. The G-Men are the team to watch here, as they are the ones with a heck of a lot more on the line. New York needs to win these final three games to ensure getting into the playoffs, and no other route will absolutely ensure a bit into the postseason. Atlanta is starting to stare over its back shoulder at some teams coming from behind, who might be able to catch up with it. The Giants are getting a point for now, but we wouldn’t be surprised if that flips by the end of the week.

Meanwhile over at M&T Bank Stadium, the Baltimore Ravens, who are perennially a fantastic home team, are actually two-point dogs this week to the Denver Broncos. The winner of this game is going to have a good chance to get a first round bye in the playoffs and keep their name in the hat for the No. 1 seed in the AFC. The loser is going to be in a lot of trouble, especially if it is the Ravens. Baltimore still hasn’t won the AFC North yet, and it needs a couple of wins down the stretch to ensure that that happens. The tiebreaker here is crucial for the Broncos, who already lose tiebreakers to both the Patriots and the Texans, and they aren’t going to want to have lost to all of their most competitive playoff foes going into the postseason.

Sunday Night Football this week also pits two division winners against each other. Both the San Francisco 49ers and the New England Patriots are chasing the top seeds in their respective conferences, and the team that loses this game is unlikely to ultimately be able to claim that top seed. The Niners are a group that garner a heck of a lot of respect, but this is the toughest game thus far in the career of QB Colin Kaepernick, who has to go against a New England defense that just shut down the top team in the NFL, the Texans, last week. That’s why the Pats are -5.5 to open up the week.

And then there are plenty of games that are going to involve teams with Wild Card playoff hopes as well. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints are essentially playing in an elimination game for sure, though both of these teams are already probably on the wrong side of the playoffs for good. New Orleans is laying 3.5 at the site of Super Bowl 47. The Washington Redskins are still hanging in there, and they have to go on the road to the Cleveland Browns this week as well. Cleveland is hot, and if the rest of the teams in the AFC North keep sliding, you never really know if it can actually get into the playoffs. Winning out is a pre-requisite for success though, and the Browns are getting 1.5 at home.

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Perhaps the most important of the Wild Card potential showdowns in the 1:00 ET hour pits the Minnesota Vikings against the St. Louis Rams. Both teams are still struggling to get into the playoffs, and both are going to need some wins and some help to get the job done. The loser is going to likely be done for this year, making this essentially a playoff game for both. The Rams are -2.5 at the Edward Jones Dome, and regardless of what happens to these two this year, both should be incredibly proud that they took a lot of steps in the right direction.

In the 4:00 ET hour though, there are two other crucial games. The Buffalo Bills are on their last gasp, and they have to win out and get a lot of help to think about the playoffs. They head to Toronto for their annual visit to the Rogers Centre on Sunday afternoon for a battle with the Seattle Seahawks, the team that everyone is chasing for the last playoff spot in the NFC. The Hawks are -4, and if they can win this one and watch the Bears lose earlier in the day, they’ll be in a spot where they really should make the playoffs from here.

The Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers are both 7-6 teams, and they’ll both know by the time they take the field in this one what it means to them. Dallas is in a spot this week where making up a game on the field in the NFC East is a distinct possibility, while Pittsburgh could draw nearer in the AFC North. However, the loser of this one will be just 7-7 through 14 games. That isn’t damning by any stretch of the imagination, but it will make life harder and open up the door for a number of teams that could slip into the playoff race around them both. This one should be tight at Dallas Cowboys Stadium, though the hosts are actually getting a point in what should be a crucial tilt.

Of course, for all of the great games on the docket, there are some lousy ones as well that we’ll fly through quickly. The Miami Dolphins are favored by a touchdown, making them the second biggest favorites of the weekend against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Carolina Panthers and San Diego Chargers are separated by just home field advantage, while the Detroit Lions are going to put their skid of four out of five games on the line against the longest losing streak in the NFL, that of the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona has dropped nine in a row, and it is coming off of the embarrassing 58-0 loss in Seattle last week. That’s why it is getting six points at home. The dog game of dog games pits the 10-loss Oakland Raiders against the 11-loss Chiefs. The loser of this one will be in significantly better shape in terms of the NFL Draft than the winner will be, but the Raiders are -3 thanks to home field advantage. Monday Night Football features the Titans at -2 against a New York Jets outfit that, believe it or not, could actually get back onto level terms for the last playoff spot on with a win and some help.

‘Totals’ this week are pretty tightly packed as well. There are only two numbers stuck in the 30s this week. The Jags and Fins are only expected to reach 37, the lowest ‘total’ of the weekend, while the Rams and Vikings are at 38. There are only two games in the 50s as well. The Falcons and Giants are the second highest number on the board of the weekend at 51, while the highest, not surprisingly, features the Saints and Bucs, who have two of the worst defenses in the NFL. That over/under is set for 53.5. All other ‘totals’ this week chime in between 42 and 48.

2012 NFL Week 15 Odds @ WagerWeb Sportsbook (as of 12/16/12):
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Week 15 NFL Betting Odds for Thursday, December 13th
301 Cincinnati Bengals -4.5
302 Philadelphia Eagles +4.5
Over/Under 45

Week 15 NFL Spreads for Sunday, December 16th (1:00 ET Kickoffs)
303 Green Bay Packers -1
304 Chicago Bears +1
Over/Under 43

305 New York Giants +1
306 Atlanta Falcons -1
Over/Under 51

307 Tampa Bay Buccaneers +4
308 New Orleans Saints -4
Over/Under 53.5

309 Minnesota Vikings +1
310 St. Louis Rams -1
Over/Under 39

311 Washington Redskins -1
312 Cleveland Browns +1
Over/Under 43

313 Jacksonville Jaguars +8
314 Miami Dolphins -8
Over/Under 37.5

315 Denver Broncos -3
316 Baltimore Ravens +3
Over/Under 48

317 Indianapolis Colts +10
318 Houston Texans -10
Over/Under 47.5

NFL Week 15 Betting Lines for Sunday, December 16th (4:00 ET Kickoffs)
319 Carolina Panthers +3
320 San Diego Chargers -3
Over/Under 44.5

321 Seattle Seahawks -4.5
322 Buffalo Bills +4.5
Over/Under 43

323 Detroit Lions -6
324 Arizona Cardinals +6
Over/Under 43.5

325 Pittsburgh Steelers -1
326 Dallas Cowboys +1
Over/Under 44

327 Kansas City Chiefs +3
328 Oakland Raiders -3
Over/Under 44

Sunday Night Football Week 15 Odds for Sunday, December 16th
329 San Francisco 49ers +4.5
330 New England Patriots -4.5
Over/Under 46

Monday Night Football Week 15 Lines for Monday, December 17th
331 New York Jets +1
332 Tennessee Titans -1
Over/Under 41

We’re down to the nitty-gritty of the fantasy football season, and we are set to head into the playoffs. Find yourself in a bind? Check out these fantasy football sleepers for Week 15!

Heath Miller vs. San Francisco 49ers
The Niners still haven’t allowed a rushing touchdown this year, and it is completely up in the air whether QB Ben Roethlisberger is going to give it a go or not on Monday Night Football. That doesn’t mean that all of a sudden, Pittsburgh isn’t going to score. It’ll be tough to get the ball up the field to these speedy receivers against a great San Fran secondary, but the Steelers might be able to work the ball to Miller in the slot. Miller only has 56 points so far this season in standard ESPN.com fantasy leagues, but he really could be in line for a decent day, especially near the red zone if RB Rashard Mendenhall can’t find any holes to take advantage of. This is a sneaky play for a man that you could probably find on the waiver wire.

Sammy Morris vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Before you ask who Sammy Morris is and what he is doing in this article, we’ll answer those questions for you. He might be the back that is getting the goal line carries this week against a rush defense that ranks dead last in the game against fantasy backs this year. The Cowboys signed Morris on Tuesday, but with both RBs Phillip Tanner and DeMarco Murray going on IR in recent weeks, Jerry Jones had to do something to bolster his team’s running game. RB Felix Jones isn’t anywhere near a between the tackles back, and at 6’2″, 200 lbs, we very well could see some action for Morris straight off of the streets, a la Kevin Smith a few weeks ago for the Lions. Don’t say that we didn’t warn you, especially against a Tampa Bay team that is turning the ball over a ton and can’t seem to get out of its own way offensively this year.

Santana Moss vs. New York Giants
Last week, Moss had 11 targets, but he was only able to convert on three of those. That being said, he did have 81 yards and a TD, and now, he is going against a defense which ranks No. 31 against fantasy wide receivers this year in that of the Giants. New York just doesn’t have a great secondary, and if you want proof of that, just check the 76 yards that Moss had the first time that these two teams met in Week 1. It seems as though Moss is getting back into the groove again after missing a month injured, and he could be in line for another big time day for Washington, as it tries to pull off the upset of the G-Men to ruin their playoff chances.

Arizona Cardinals D/ST vs. Cleveland Browns
In spite of the fact that the Browns have a hard time putting points on the board, they really haven’t been all that bad about turning the ball over and giving up sacks thanks to the short passing game of QB Colt McCoy. The Cardinals aren’t a turnover forcing machine either, but in this one, we know that we have a safe play that isn’t going to cost you points. We always have the off chance at a defensive TD, especially against an offense that is going to be likely featuring QB Seneca Wallace on Sunday, and we know that DB Patrick Peterson is always capable of returning a punt for a touchdown. The Cardinals have only had one week since Week 7 in which they have scored fewer than eight points. They’re not going to be a play that wins you your week, but if you’re in a bind and want a consistent option that you know will get you some point, Arizona’s defense and special teams could probably be had off of the waiver wires.

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Week 15 of the 2010 NFL campaign is going to get underway this weekend. Below you will find the current list of 2010 Week 15 NFL lines and spreads along with a breakdown of the Week 15 NFL odds. Be sure to check out the free NFL picks from the expert handicappers at Bankroll Sports this weekend…

For all of the teams that just narrowly hung on to their playoff lives in Week 14, Week 15 picks are going to feature a matter of survival once again. The biggest teams that are still trying to survive are the San Francisco 49ers and the San Diego Chargers. These two teams both kept their seasons alive last week with huge wins, and now they’ll meet at Qualcomm Stadium on Thursday Night Football in what amounts to be the biggest game of the year for both teams to date. San Diego is probably in worse shape and needs this win more, as it has a tough task to run down the Kansas City Chiefs than the Niners do in the NFC West against all of the teams there. Still, this instate rivalry is going to be very, very intense, and both of these teams are going to be going all out to stay alive for the race to the playoffs. The Chargers are eight point home favorites and are probably going to be very, very public.

The Miami Dolphins are still staying alive at this point, as they pulled off the big time upset against the New York Jets last week. They still need to win out and get a heck of a lot of help to get the job done, but we have a hard time picking against Head Coach Tony Sparano. Sparano just tends to do what he needs to do on a regular basis. Though playing at home has been very difficult at time for the Fins, they’ll have to be at their best on Sunday. The Buffalo Bills and their big time cover streak are in town, and the visitors are catching 5.5 points in Week 15.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers just barely survived against the Washington Redskins last week, and now, they are getting a little bit closer towards a playoff berth after watching the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears both lose in Week 14. This is the easiest game of the year left for Tampa Bay on Sunday, as it has the Detroit Lions. Remember that these Lions beat those aforementioned Packers last week, and they have one of the best ATS marks in the league. However, if Detroit is going to prove to be frisky for another upset this week, it is going to have to do so as a six point underdog.

The biggest game of the day in Week 15 involves the New York Jets and the Pittsburgh Steelers. There really should be no doubt that these two teams are going to the postseason, but they are going to try to get a leg up on the other one in a potential playoff fight. New York badly needs to get back in the win column in a hurry to stop the sting from two straight losses, while the Steelers are just looking to make sure that they keep the Baltimore Ravens off of their backs. At home, it should come as no surprise that the men in black and gold are favorites, but it seems like a stretch that they are favored by 6.5 on the NFL betting lines.

The other big time game goes on in Indianapolis, where the Jacksonville Jaguars are going to try to put away the AFC South for all intents and purposes. If they can beat the Indianapolis Colts, the AFC South might be clinched, and the Colts will be eliminated from postseason contention. The season is on the line for QB Peyton Manning, who really needs to get back in gear after throwing 11 INTs in his last four games. The hosts are favored by 4.5 points.

All eyes in the NFC will be on the Atlanta Falcons, who might be playing their last difficult game of the season. We already know that someone is going to have to beat them in the Georgia Dome to make it to the Super Bowl, but a win on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks could wrap up the No. 1 seed in the playoffs in the NFC. Seattle isn’t really expected to be able to put up a fight here, as it is a dog by 6.5 points.

2010 NFL Football Week 15 Lines @ BetUS Sportsbook (as of 11/15/10):
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Week 15 NFL Odds for Thursday, 12/16/10

301 San Francisco 49ers +8
302 San Diego Chargers -8
Over/Under 44.5

Week 15 Lines for Sunday, 12/19/10

303 Kansas City Chiefs +3
304 St. Louis Rams -3
Over/Under 42.5

305 Houston Texans +1
306 Tennessee Titans -1
Over/Under 47

307 Jacksonville Jaguars +4.5
308 Indianapolis Colts -4.5
Over/Under 48

309 Arizona Cardinals +2.5
310 Carolina Panthers -2.5
Over/Under 37.5

311 Cleveland Browns +1
312 Cincinnati Bengals -1
Over/Under 40

313 Buffalo Bills +5
314 Miami Dolphins -5
Over/Under 40

315 Philadelphia Eagles +3
316 New York Giants -3
Over/Under 46.5

317 Washington Redskins +7
318 Dallas Cowboys -7
Over/Under 44.5

319 Detroit Lions +4.5
320 Tampa Bay Buccaneers -4.5
Over/Under 42.5

321 New Orleans Saints +1.5
322 Baltimore Ravens -1.5
Over/Under 43.5

323 Atlanta Falcons -6
324 Seattle Seahawks +6
Over/Under 46

325 New York Jets +5
326 Pittsburgh Steelers -5
Over/Under 35.5

327 Denver Broncos +7.5
328 Oakland Raiders -7.5
Over/Under 42

329 Green Bay Packers +14
330 New England Patriots -14
Over/Under 43.5

Week 15 Spreads for Monday, 12/20/10

331 Chicago Bears -9
332 Minnesota Vikings +9
Over/Under 33.5

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Note: Below this post, there is a complete listing of all the NFL week 15 lines (sides & totals) from BetUS Sportsbook (100% signup bonus when you click here) if you would like to skip our weekly NFL lines breakdown.

Last week in the NFL, our expected low scoring trend continued around the league as we have predicted.  The under totals were 8-4-1 compared to the over totals in week 14 of the NFL season. It was the 3rd week in a row where the under totals have outweighed the overs as defenses have controlled the tempo in later weeks. As for our other trends, favored teams took home an 8-5 mark ATS this week and home favorites were also fairly strong with a 5-3 mark ATS. The home vs. away teams battle has been back in forth all year and they actually split right down the middle at .500 for the week. Looking into the week 15 NFL lines, the playoff factor will likely play influence on our trends. One theme that is pretty consistent in the recent NFL lines is the number of home teams that are favored. Home teams are favored in 8 of the 12 contests, but do not let that fool you. There are a few away teams that really need to come through including the Dallas Cowboys, who will be 7 point underdogs against the Saints on Saturday night in a game that has an over/under total at the highest mark of the week;  holding steady at 53 ½. Also, the week fifteen NFL lines have a ton of games where teams are favored by a touchdown or more; which is rather unusual at this point in the season. In 8 of the 12 games the betting lines show a team favored by 7 points or more.  It is very likely that the outcomes will be much closer in some of those games meaning there are some sharp underdog plays to be made. The week 15 NFL betting will kickoff this Thursday night when the Indianapolis Colts put their undefeated campaign on the line against the Jaguars; a rematch that resulted in a close 14-12 win earlier this season for Peyton Manning and the mighty Colts. The week closes with the New York Giants on the road, trying to salvage postseason opportunities as they will be mere 3 point favorites over the Redskins on Monday Night Football. Check out all the other action in between those exciting games below as the week 15 NFL betting lines below are brought to you by BetUS Sportsbook where you can get a HUGE 100% Bonus (Up to $500) Using This Exclusive Link. Be sure to also check out the complete NFL playoff pitcure below to see which teams are still alive and which teams will be watching the playoffs on TV.

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2009 Week 15 NFL Lines & Spreads From BetUS (as of 12/16 @ 4:00 am EST):
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The postseason picture continues to unravel as there are just 3 weeks left in the season. Shockingly we still have two undefeated teams in the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints. Both of those teams have clinched division titles and first round byes in the playoffs. However, there are many other teams that do not have that type of comforting feel about the postseason destiny. We break down the NFL playoff picture again heading into week 15.

NFC East:

Philadelphia Eagles (9-4) – The Eagles offense was just unstoppable in their big win over the Giants and they now sit alone atop the NFC East. With the Cowboys struggling, the Eagles appear to be big favorites to win the division. Philadelphia really only needs one more win against Dallas to clinch the division, but the way the offense is playing they have the possibility of running the table.

Dallas Cowboys (8-5) – The December woes continue and with meetings with both New Orleans and Philadelphia still on the schedule, things do not look good. The Dallas offense seems to be moving the ball, but just not putting it in the endzone. With the Giants on their trail and having beaten them head to head, the Cowboys will most likely have to win at least two of the last three.

New York Giants (7-6) – Despite the constant big plays by the Eagles, the Giants showed a lot of character and had a strong offensive showing on Sunday night. However, the week 14 loss to Philly really set their playoff chances back and took destiny out of their hands. The good news for Giants fans is that their next two games are very winnable before the season finale against Vikings; who may end up resting Brett Favre and Adrian Peterson in the last week. Giants fans should be rooting for New Orleans to seal up that one-seed.  At least one of the two wildcard teams will come out of the East.  But, the Giants are going to need some external help from the opponents of the Cowboys and Packers.

Washington Redskins (4-9) – Out

NFC North

Minnesota Vikings (11-2) – Clinched Division. The Vikes are just two back from New Orleans for the one-seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.  However, New Orleans would win the tiebreaker over Minnesota in the result of a tie for the one spot.

Green Bay Packers (9-4) – The Packers got a lot of ground support from running back Ryan Grant in their 21-14 win over the Bears this weekend. The win marks the 5th straight by the Packers as they are the leading team in the running for a wild card position. Green Bay also gets the struggled Pittsburgh Steelers followed by the Seahawks next on the schedule which should help pad their cushion for a playoff seat.  They still have a shot at winning the division, but it’s looking more and more like they are going to have that first wildcard spot.  The Pack are looking like one of the hotter teams in the NFC down the stretch.

Chicago Bears (5-8) – Out

Detroit Lions (2-10) – Out

NFC South:

New Orleans Saints (12-0) – New Orleans clinched the division and first round bye with their squeaker over the banged up and fading Atlanta Falcons.  The Saints can secure home field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win and a Minnesota loss.

Atlanta Falcons (6-7) – QB Chris Redman had an excellent showing in place of Matt Ryan throwing for over 300 yards in a near upset win over the Saints. The Falcons really needed the victory, but fell short 26-23. The Falcons absolutely have to win out to have a chance at the postseason now. However while most will write them off, every game remaining is very winnable.

Carolina Panthers (5-8) – Even at 5-8 somehow through a bizarre scenario of miraculous events the Panthers are still mathematically in the picture. The only thing that have to do now is win out and do it against the possibly 3 of the best teams in the NFC. It is likely that the Vikings could put them out of their misery next week.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-12) – Out

NFC West:

Arizona Cardinals (8-5) – The Cardinals looked like a solid playoff contender just two short weeks ago.  However, they looked like the complete opposite against the 49ers on Monday night. Arizona still needs another win and a 49ers loss before they will clinch the division.  If they continue to play like they did on Monday Night, the Cardinals may find themselves back in an underdog role in the playoffs; or even worse yet, missing the postseason all together.

San Francisco 49ers (6-7) – San Francisco did exactly what they had to this week against the Cardinals as the kept them selves in the playoff hunt with a 24-9 victory. The 49ers defense played extremely well forcing Kurt Warner to a couple of picks. The Niners are two games behind the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC West with just three games left to play.  They own the tiebreaker over the Cardinals having beaten them twice this year.  Their only realistic shot at the playoffs would be to catch the Cardinals for the division.  They would need a lot of chips to fall into place in order to get in as a wildcard this year.

Seattle Seahawks (5-8) – The Seahawks are another team that is somehow mathematically in the equation, but rather have no chance at actually making those events happen. Seattle was destroyed by Houston 34-7 last week and they have some major issues to resolve over the off season.

St. Louis Rams (1-12) – Out

AFC East:

New England Patriots (8-5) – The Patriots got off to a sluggish start last week against the Panthers and showed a lot of trouble stopping the run throughout the game. With Miami knocking on the door, the Patriots can not afford any more less than impressive performances. The good news is the schedule looks very manageable as it reads Buffalo, Jacksonville, and ends with Houston. It is most likely to assume two wins would get the Patriots into the playoffs as that would make Miami have to run the table. However, 3 straight wins would guarantee them the division.

Miami Dolphins (7-6) – Do not look now but the Dolphins are getting it done having won 4 of their last 5 as they held on to hold off the Jaguars 14-10 this past Sunday. The very interesting factor to this scenario is that a loss by the Patriots and a win by the Dolphins would actually put Miami ahead in the tie breaker scenario given their conference record. Miami also has a winnable remaining schedule where they will likely be favorites in each of their final 3 games. A couple of scenarios could play out depending on the Jets and Patriots outcomes over the next 3 weeks, but the Dolphins appear to need at least 2 wins in most probable cases.

New York Jets (7-6) – The Jets are right in the middle of the interesting AFC East battle that looks very similar to the 2008 regular season. New York beat up on Tampa Bay last week 26-3, but they have the most difficult schedule out of the division teams remaining. Atlanta next week will be interesting, but the last two games with the Colts and Bengals is frightening for their hopes at the postseason. The Jets would lose both tie breakers against Miami due to their head to head sweep and the Patriots due to a worse record in the division. Therefore, the division may be a long shot but a couple more wins could still find a wildcard spot if everything falls into place.

Buffalo Bills (5-8) – Out

AFC North:

Cincinnati Bengals (9-4) – Cincinnati could have really strengthened their chances to clinch the division last week, but appeared rather out-matched by the Vikings as they lost 30-10. Also, if they do not regroup quickly they could drop two straight considering they take on the red hot Chargers this weekend. The Bengals hold the tie breaker over Baltimore so just one more victory will clinch the AFC North.

Baltimore Ravens (7-6) – The Ravens exploded against the Lions last week to win by 45 points as Ray Rice had a huge performance racking up 166 yards on the ground. Baltimore is right in the thick of the wild card position battle and if they can continue to play well their schedule will allow a few more wins. However, they still may need the Jaguars to misfire to increase their postseason chances. The Ravens could also win out and hope the Bengals lose out to win the division. However, the most likely chance for the playoffs maybe through the wildcard position and it appears that they will have to at least be 9-7 to have that opportunity.

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-7) – Let’s just forget the playoffs talk. The Steelers were beating by the Browns of all teams who had just one victory previously. Pittsburgh now has the NFL’s longest losing streak at 5 straight losses. The defending Super Bowl Champions could at least find a way to go out with some dignity. Pittsburgh must win out to better position them selves for a possible wildcard position given they already out of the division race.

Cleveland Browns (2-11) – Out

AFC South:

Indianapolis Colts (13-0) – Clinched Division and home field advantage throughout playoffs.  The Colts appear to have nothing to play for now that the home field advantage is wrapped up. However, this team is still undefeated and the chance to end the season that way is very rare. In fact, only 4 teams have accomplished that feat in NFL history so do not expect the Colts to back off.

Jacksonville Jaguars (7-6) – The Jaguars lost a close battle with the Dolphins this week, but they would still be in the playoffs if the season ended today. However, with the Ravens playing well there is hardly any room for mistakes. The problem is how do you avoid any mistakes when you have the Patriots and Colts next on the schedule? The Jaguars would win any tie breaker scenario considering they have the best conference record of teams battling for a wildcard position. However, it depends on which team they would be up against considering they lost to Miami and beat the Jets which are two teams fighting for wild card positions if the season ended today. Jacksonville will likely need to get at least two more wins and need some bad luck from Miami and possibly Baltimore.

Tennessee Titans (6-7) – Chris Johnson led the Titans in a dynamic win over the Rams last Sunday 47-7. Johnson racked up 117 yards on the ground as well as 69 yards receiving with numerous big plays throughout the games. Also, both Kerry Collins and Vince Young were effective behind center. The Titans are still starring at an unconquerable mountain for the postseason needing to win out like the Texans, but they could really build some momentum to end the season as they have the chance to score some respectable wins over the next 3 games.

Houston Texans (6-7) – The Texans destroyed the Seahawks as QB Matt Schaub threw for 365 yards in the routing. Despite little chance of the postseason, Houston will likely be a team that plays a huge role in shaping out the AFC playoff picture as they play some teams that are right in the thick of the mixture. Houston could still win out and have a shot at the postseason giving a few more helpful scenarios as well. With 4 different teams already at 7-6 and the Broncos at 8-5, the Texans would have to get to 9-7 to have a chance at breaking any tie breakers.

AFC West:

San Diego Chargers (10-3) – San Diego captured a big time victory over the Cowboys 20-17 this week and really put a strangle hold on the AFC West. In the most probable scenario, the Chargers will most likely win the division with just one more victory. However, the Chargers may be one of the more dangerous teams in the NFL at this point in the season and they are known for playing well in December. If San Diego can manage just 2 more victories, they will get a first round bye in the playoffs.

Denver Broncos (8-5) – The Broncos suffered a setback this week in a loss to maybe the best team in the NFL as they fell to the Colts 28-16. Denver is in position to grab the first available wild card position and they are playing at a level which they should be able to maintain that position. Also, 2 of the last 3 games are against Oakland and Kansas City which should guarantee the Broncos will be in the postseason. However, they still have to get the job done and win the games. If they can just manage 2 out of the next 3 they will be hard to chance at 10-6. However, if the Ravens get hot the Broncos would lose tie breaker scenarios with them due to the head to head factor. As for any other tie breakers teams involved with the Broncos, it would fall by their final conference records as to which team won the tie breaker. Of course if they win out, they guarantee a playoff position.

Oakland Raiders (4-9) – Out

Kansas City Chiefs (3-10) – Out

With only two weeks to go in the regular football season there are still a bunch of teams battling for playoff positions and games to watch going into week 16 in the NFL. Looking back it was definitely a wild week in professional football with a number of huge plays and unlikely winners. The Dallas Cowboys had a full week of controversy surrounding their offensive standouts. Star wide receiver Terrell Owens accused QB Tony Romo of throwing the ball to tight end Jason Witten too often and it lead to a media field day. However, the Cowboys dominated the New York Giants Sunday night to win 20-8. The Giants were a team many thought clearly to be the best in the NFC. The win put the Cowboys who seemed like a long shot for the playoffs back in the captain’s seat for a wildcard spot. The Giants on the other hand dropped two in a row and now will play in a huge game next week against the Carolina Panthers to determine who has home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Carolina Panthers on the other hand continue to prove why many are considering them favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. The Panthers trampled the Broncos 30-10 and improved their home record this season to 8-0. A win next week would make the Panthers very difficult to beat considering they would get the rest of their games at Bank of America Stadium. The Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings both got wins in their quest to win the NFC North. Both teams records are likely not good enough to earn a wildcard position and they are battling it out to try and win the division. The Vikings need one more win to clinch the division, but they will take on two of the better teams in the NFC in the New York Giants and the Atlanta Falcons. The Bears must run the table against the Packers and Texans because a single loss would end their postseason hopes.

The Washington Redskins troubles continued as they fell victim to the Cincinnati Bengals 20-13. The Redskins have just been torn apart in recent weeks losing 5 of their last 6 games. Sunday’s loss to the Bengals officially eliminated Washington from the playoff picture. The Philadelphia Eagles are set to collide with the Cleveland Browns primetime on Monday night. The Eagles still have an outside shot at making the playoffs and must win their last 3 games. A single loss will eliminate the Eagles from contention. The Eagles have been playing well and if they could pull of the 3 wins, they still could quite possibly need some help to still make the playoffs. However, with absolutely nothing to lose you can expect Philadelphia to keep up their stellar of recent weeks.

One of the more anticipated match-ups heading into last week showcased the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons desperately needed a win and that is exactly what they got as they edged the Bucs out by a field goal in overtime 13-10. Both teams now stand at a season record of 9-5 with the Cowboys. The Buccaneers hold the tie-breaker over the Falcons, but with two games to go anything can happen. Especially considering how well the Falcons are playing and the Buccaneers have now lost two straight. The Falcons really need to win their last two games because one loss simply does not look like it will get the job done. The Arizona Cardinals have already clinched the NFC West, but have now lost 3 of their last 4 games including a blowout loss to the Vikings Sunday 35-14. The Cardinals must get the offense back to playing as they did early in the season. The Cardinals looked like a team that could possibly surprise a few teams a few weeks ago and now look like they could be a cake walk in the first round.

In the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers held a classic grudge match between their two stellar defenses. The Ravens lead nearly the entire game, but the Steelers would stage a comeback in the 4^th quarter for the 2^nd time in two weeks to clinch the AFC North. Pittsburgh now has the opportunity in a big game against the Tennessee Titans this week to earn the chance at home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Titans and the Steelers both have already earned first round byes, but are now fighting for the home field and whoever wins this weekend will claim the home turf. On the other hand, the Ravens are now in a 4 way tie for the final wildcard spot and cannot afford a single loss. The AFC is as tough this year as it has been in the last decade and if a quality caliber team like the Ravens misses the playoffs this season that will say a lot for how strong the AFC has played this season.

The Indianapolis Colts held off a valiant effort from the winless Detroit Lions this week to win 31-21. The Colts now have a record of 10-4 and are one win away from clinching a wildcard position because they would win all tie-breakers due to the fact they only have two losses in the AFC. The AFC East division is wild horse race with 3 teams tied at 9-5 including the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, and New England Patriots. The Jets hold the tie-breaker as of now, but every team will need to win out. New York received a gift on one of the wildest plays of the weekend. Down by 3 points to the Bills with under 2 ½ minutes to go in the game, QB J.P Losman fumbled the football that led to a Jets recovery for a touchdown. The play was huge in keeping the Jets in playoff contention and an absolute nightmare for the Bills. Buffalo should have been running the ball, but tried to get fancy and it cost them big time. That single play had huge consequences for a number of team’s playoff chances and hopes.

The Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots both picked up wins this weekend keeping pace with the New York Jets. The Patriots may have a slight advantage considering Miami and New York will meet in the last game of the season. The Patriots blew out the Raiders 49-26 and will get two struggling teams in Arizona and Buffalo to close out the season. Miami held on to a defensive battle to beat the 49ers 14-9 as well Sunday. The Dolphins victory kept things on the right path and they will need two more wins for a chance at the playoffs. Baltimore, Miami, New England, and New York all stand at the 9-5 mark and one loss would be devastating for any of those teams. The Ravens have perhaps been the strongest of the 4 this season, but they will take on the Dallas Cowboys in what appears to be a tough game next week. Week 16 in the NFL season promises to be as exciting as this past week as these playoff contenders leave everything on the field in their quest to make the postseason.