NFL Week 15 Picks: 4 Teams That Are on Upset Alert This Weekend

Each and every week, the NFL features several upsets.

Week 15 will be no different as there are several underdogs that can pull off an upset. The regular season is winding down, and teams are jockeying for a playoff spot and going all out on the field in an attempt to make the playoffs.

Last week, I selected four underdogs and three out of the four teams covered against the spread with two of the underdogs winning outright on the field.

This week, there are four favorites that are on upset alert and could easily lose in week 15.

Washington Redskins vs. New York Giants

The New York Giants host the Washington Redskins this week and they are the first team that is on upset alert.

The Giants just completed one of the best wins of their season with a come-from-behind thriller on the road against the Dallas Cowboys. Before that, they played against two of the best teams in the NFL in the New Orleans Saints and the Green Bay Packers.

With that in mind, it's easy to see how the Giants may have some letdown playing against the Redskins.

The Vegas point spread on this game is the Giants -7 and a consensus shows that over 75 percent of the betting public is on the Giants. The Redskins are losing football games but not for a lack of trying. The defense is playing admirably and rookie running back Roy Helu has revitalized the running game.

The Giants are 4-10-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last 15 games as a home favorite giving between 3.5 to 10.0 points, and the Redskins are 5-1 ATS in the last six games in division. The Redskins keep this game close and could walk away winners on Sunday.

Washington Redskins (+7)

New Orleans Saints vs. Minnesota Vikings

The New Orleans Saints head north to battle the Minnesota Vikings, and this is a potential pitfall for the Saints.

This is the second game in a row on the road, and they have a Monday Night Football game against their rivals next week.

The Vikings will see the return of Adrian Peterson, and that running game will help the offense get in gear against the Saints.

The Saints play down to losing teams. They are just 3-11 against the number in the last 14 games against teams with a losing record, and one of their losses this year was on the road against the St. Louis Rams. The Vikings will play hard at home and will be within striking distance of a major upset.

Minnesota Vikings (+7)

Baltimore Ravens vs. San Diego Chargers

The Sunday Night Football game features an AFC tilt between the Chargers and the Ravens. The Chargers are attempting to make a run at the playoffs with their usual late-season run.

The Ravens are expected to get Ray Lewis back from injury, but traveling across country to take on the Chargers at home in the prime-time game of the night, puts the Ravens on upset alert.

The Ravens have fallen to lesser teams all year long like the Titans and the Jaguars. In short, they play down to their opponent.

Phillip Rivers is playing for his playoff life, and the home team is 6-2 against the number in the last eight meeting between these two teams. Forget the one point in this game, the Chargers will win outright and pull off the mini-upset.

San Diego Chargers

Detroit Lions vs. Oakland Raiders

Ndamukong Suh will return to the lineup for the Lions, and that's enough to get the public buzzing about the Lions in this game. The line opened as a pick ‘em and public betting pushed this line to Detroit -1. This is because the public is hammering the Lions in this game.

This is due to an overreaction to Suh’s return and the recent slide by the Silver and Black. This game is played on grass and that will slow down the Lions. The Raiders are in must-win mode and they are an upset special at home in the black hole.

The Lions are 1-8-1 ATS in their last 10 games as a road favorite, 0-4 ATS against a team with a winning record and 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall. The Raiders are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games as an underdog.

The Raiders will upset the Lions and get the outright victory at home.

Oakland Raiders (+1)

The Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints and New York Giants are all very good football teams, but in week 15 they are all on upset alert.

James Brown is a B/R Featured Columnist and can be followed on Twitter here. Feel free to contact James at [e-mail]. James is also a contributor at Bookie Blitz football picks Web site.