NFL Week 15 Bet Now, Bet Later: Play Long Game With Underdog Jags

NFL Week 15 is a quirky one. We have action on Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. 

But no matter the day of the week, the assignment is the same: get the best NFL odds for your opinions. 

That means jumping on opening odds when they hit the board and waiting for some movement to buy back the other side later. That’s the name of the game with my weekly “Bet Now, Bet Later” lines.

Here are spreads and totals to wager on immediately and a couple of lines to wait on in NFL Week 15.

Week 15 bet now, bet later picks

• Broncos at Lions: Bet Now
• Ravens at Jaguars: Bet Later
• Chargers at Raiders: Bet Now
• Vikings at Bengals: Bet Later

Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.

Denver Broncos (+4) at Detroit Lions: Bet Now

Saturday night’s alright for fighting in Ford Field with the red-hot Denver Broncos taking on a stumbling Detroit Lions team.

Detroit is 1-2 SU and ATS in its last three outings and opened as a 4-point home favorite for this 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff. Denver, on the other hand, has lost only once in the past seven outings with a 5-2 ATS record in that span.

The 4-point spread has gained more significance in terms of key numbers in football betting in recent years, what with missed PATs and 2-point conversions. Getting the underdog at +4 does warrant urgency.

The Broncos bring one of the better defenses in the NFL to Motown, sitting No. 4 in EPA allowed per play since Week 6. The Lions, on the other hand, have allowed 26 points or more in each of their last five games and sit 29th in EPA allowed per play since Week 10.

This will be Denver’s third straight road game, so that stretch could be wearing on the Broncos, but considering current form and this spread on its way to Detroit -3.5, I’d bet the Broncos now.

Best odds to bet Broncos +4 right now

Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars (+3): Bet Later

If your book doesn’t show Jacksonville with the half-point hook on the field goal, wait it out. And then wait some more.

The Jacksonville Jaguars opened as 3-point home underdogs for this monster AFC affair on Sunday Night Football and early money is hitting Baltimore with both fists, pushing this point spread past the key number.

Jacksonville is reeling with back-to-back losses while the Baltimore Ravens’ run keeps moving, bringing a three-game winning streak to Duval County after Sunday’s OT thriller against the Rams.

The Jags just got lit up by the likes of Jake Browning and Joe Flacco in those two losses and now face the most dangerous QB in the land in Lamar Jackson. In fact, Jacksonville has taken on a quarter of this caliber since Josh Allen in London back in Week 5.

Some shops are already showing Jaguars +3.5 and it wouldn’t surprise me to see this hit +4 and maybe even flirt with +4.5 before next Sunday night. If you’re not backing Baltimore, wait for more with the home dog.

Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders (Under 34.5): Bet Now

With the icky feeling of Vikings-Raiders still crawling on our skin and Justin Herbert suffering a broken finger on his throwing hand, the Under in this AFC West war is a “bet now” option.

Books that did open the total hit the board at 34.5 points. That’s pretty low considering the defenses involved and the fact the game is being played indoors.

However, the Los Angeles Chargers offense was bad before Herbert got hurt, scoring a total of just 23 points over their last three games. As for the Las Vegas Raiders, it’s boring scorekeepers with an average of 11.5 points over its past four outings. We’re talking No. 30 and No. 32 in EPA per play since Week 11.

That offensive ineptitude coupled with the Raiders’ shutout loss, Hebert’s hand, and a short turnaround to play on Thursday night and this total is destined to drop. Bet the Under now.

Best odds to bet Under 34.5 right now

Minnesota Vikings at Cincinnati Bengals (Over 39): Bet Later

Nick Mullens vs. Jake Browning. Just how we want to spend our Saturday afternoon, right?

It sure ain’t Kirk Cousins vs. Joe Burrow and it might not even be Justin Jefferson vs. Ja’Marr Chase, with J.J.’s return to the lineup lasting less than two quarters before leaving due to a chest injury.

On the heels of the Minnesota Vikings’ 3-0 win in Vegas, this opener of 40.5 points is already slimming at select sportsbooks with a low of 39 on Sunday night.

Kevin Stefanski told the media he was “encouraged about the early news on Justin” ahead of this short week slate. And while the Vikings’ offense was awful, Mullens managed to look better than the benched Josh Dobbs.

As for the Cincinnati Bengals, Browning is doing his best Burrow impersonation.

After stunning the Jaguars on Monday, the Bengals backup QB finished with 275 yards and two touchdown passes in a 34-14 win over Indianapolis. Turnovers and bad red-zone offense left plenty of points on the table for both teams in that game.

The extended forecast looks clean for Cincinnati on Saturday, so if you’re not soured by the Vikes “Yikes!” 3-0 win in Sin City, stick a pin in this point total and come back later to bet the Over. 

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