NFL Week 15 Picks: Desperate Home Teams That Will Cover the Spread

As the calendar hits mid-December, the NFL finds itself with a bevy of teams that are in must-win situations.

Nothing is better to gamblers than knowing they’re laying money down on a team that will give it their all (cue all the people nodding who have placed Eagles bets this season), and this week there are two home teams that find themselves with no choice but to win.

(Spreads courtesy of Covers.com)

Washington Redskins at New York Giants -7

The G-Men are coming off a highly emotionally win over the Cowboys and can’t afford to let their guard down against another division rival in the Redskins.

Way back in Week 1, Washington shocked the Giants, and you can bet that opening day loss has yet to be forgotten in New York.

Expect Eli Manning and the fourth-ranked passing attack to take advantage of the clear advantage they have with Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz and Mario Manningham against an injury-plagued 'Skins secondary.

Washington has absolutely nothing to play for except receiving a worse draft pick by winning, while the Giants hold the slimmest of leads over the Cowboys and can’t afford to drop a home game to a 4-9 team.

Expect a blowout in this one.

Prediction: Giants 34, Redskins 21

Detroit Lions at Oakland Raiders -1

Both of these teams are reeling, and both might not make the playoffs after very promising starts.

The Raiders have gotten the snot beat out of them in consecutive weeks, thanks in large part to all of the injuries their best offensive players have suffered. RB Darren McFadden, WR Denarius Moore and WR Jacoby Ford are all going to be questionable again this week, and even the addition of one of them would do wonders for QB Carson Palmer.

Palmer has thrown nine TDs to 13 interceptions since becoming a member of the Raiders. He’s at his best with the threat of speed at his disposal. Remember: Even without McFadden for the last seven games, the Raiders are still ranked sixth in the league in rushing. Michael Bush may not be on the same level as McFadden, but he is more than capable of tearing up a Lions run defense that is 27th in the league.

Ndamukong Suh will return after serving his two-game suspension. Sure he’ll help the front four, but how’s his conditioning and where’s his head at after the car wreck and media backlash?

Both teams are desperate and both teams are likely finished with a loss. I’ll give the advantage to the home team with the more balanced offense (the Lions have absolutely no running game to speak of).

Prediction: Raiders 26, Lions 23