NFL Picks Week 15: 5 Underdogs Sure to Cover the Spread

The NFL regular season is wrapping up and playoffs are less than a month away.

Late December games are often prime opportunities to ride underdog teams.

There are a handful of favorites out there trying to get by with debilitating injuries as well as teams with different levels of fight left in them.

Week 15 offers a handful of matchups in which the underdog has a good chance to pick up a road win or at least cover.

Here's a breakdown of those matchups to watch.

Miami Dolphins: Pick

The Miami Dolphins hit the road to take on the Buffalo Bills.

Sure the Dolphins are a road team who just fired their coach, but Tony Sparano was not the most popular guy anyway.

The Dolphins are simply playing better football than the guys from Buffalo.

Miami has won four of its last six games while the Bills have gone winless over that same stretch.

This is not exactly a heavyweight battle, but look for the Dolphins to come out of western New York with a win.

Seattle Seahawks: -3.5

The Seattle Seahawks are 3.5 point underdogs on the road against the Chicago Bears.

A few weeks ago it would have sounded insane to consider taking the Seahawks anywhere outside of Seattle.

However, that was before the Bears' offense was decimated by injuries and Seattle running back, Marshawn Lynch, switched on "Beast Mode."

This trip won't be easy for the Seahawks since the Chicago defense is still intact, but Lynch has been one of the league's best runners over the past several weeks.

With Jay Cutler and Matt Forte on the sidelines, the Seahawks have a chance to win this game outright, but should at least be able to cover the 3.5 points.

Carolina Panthers: -6.5

The Carolina Panthers will head to Houston to face the Texans in Week 15.

Cam Newton and the Panthers are only 4-9 on the season, but a number of those losses have come in close games.

The Texans are trying to survive with third-string quarterback T.J. Yates running the offense.

Look for Houston to come out on top as they push for home-field advantage, but Newton will give them a run for their money.

The Carolina Panthers are a strong bet to cover the 6.5 points in Houston.

New York Jets: -3

The New York Jets are three-point underdogs in Philadelphia against the Eagles.

This is one of the few road games in which their truly is no disadvantage. The Eagles are a dismal 1-4 at home this season.

Rex Ryan's guys are fighting to hold onto the last playoff spot in the AFC, while Andy Reid is just doing his best not to get fired.

The Eagles are coming off of a respectable win, on the road over Miami, but if this season has taught us anything it's that we should not count on Philadelphia's consistency.

The Jets are not a dominant team this year, but they are still talented and engaged in the game. Philadelphia is just trying to see its way out of a disastrous season.

The Jets should cover the spread and have a very good chance to win this game outright.

Pittsburgh Steelers: -1.5

The Pittsburgh Steelers are getting 1.5 points on the road against the San Francisco 49ers.

This Monday night matchup really comes down to whether Ben Roethlisberger will be able to go given his ankle injury.

If Roethlisberger is on the field, the Steelers can win this game.

San Francisco will have trouble scoring, even with the James Harrison suspension, and could still be without Patrick Willis.

Willis is the heart and soul of the Niners' defense. Without their leader in the middle the Steelers will have too much offensive talent for San Francisco to handle.