NFL Picks Week 15: Upset Specials That Will Enhance Your Christmas Budget

The wrong team is favored in the following three games. Matchups and cumstances dictate that these underdogs are going to defy the point spreads.

If you are looking to place a wager, you can take these following teams straight up with confidence. Consider this my Christmas present to you.

New England Patriots at Denver Broncos

Line: Patriots -7.5

It is shocking how quickly the Broncos are discounted in this matchup. The Broncos have won six games in a row, and yet they are over a touchdown underdog at home.

The thought is that they just won't be able to keep pace with the Patriots prolific offense, as the mastermind genius Bill Belichick institutes a game plan to stifle the Tim Tebow led offense.

There is one big problem with this. The Patriots defense is awful. Belichick doesn't have the horses to stifle anyone. That is why they have given up more yards allowed per game than any other team in the NFL.

It is true the Broncos have struggled to score points during their win streak. However, they put up 38 against the Raiders and 35 against the Vikings. Those two teams were exceptionally weak in one area of defense—the Raiders on rushing defense and the Vikings on passing defense.

The Patriots pass defense is worse than the Vikings. It is worse than any team in the NFL, and maybe even a few colleges. They are 32nd in the league.

The Broncos will be able to put up some points. Defensively, the Broncos are fifth in the league in sacks. This will allow them to apply some pressure on Tom Brady and that is exactly what you need to do to slow down the Patriots' offense. Expect another miracle here that Tim Tebow gets entirely too much credit for.

Prediction: Broncos 31, Patriots 28

Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears

Line: Bears -3.5

How are the Bears favored over anyone at this point? They have scored a grand total of 13 points in their last two games.

This offense is just a total disaster without Jay Cutler and Matt Forte, and Forte is not going to be back this week.

The Bears will be playing a suddenly hot Seahawks team that is winning with solid defense. The Hawks have won four of their last five and have allowed just 14.25 points per game during that stretch.

Chicago is not going to be able to score on this defense, and that means sooner or later they are going to get run over by Beast Mode. Marshawn Lynch is one of the hottest backs in football and he will be taking on a Bears' defense that is 21st in yards allowed per rush.

This will be a low scoring game, and sooner or later the Bears defense will wear down.

Prediction: Seahawks 17, Bears 6

Detroit Lions at Oakland Raiders

Line: Lions -1

The Raiders are going to win this game because they are far better equipped to exploit the mutual weakness in this game.

The Lions are 27th in rushing yards allowed and the Raiders are 29th.

On the offensive end, the Raiders are sixth in rushing yards gained and the Lions are 24th. This is going to lead to the Raiders taking over the game on the ground.

What is going to help the Raiders out is the fact that wide receiver Denarius Moore is expected to return to action (reported by Vittorio Tafur of the San Fransico Chronicle).

Carson Palmer has been struggling the past two weeks, but he has not enjoyed the services of Moore or Jacoby Ford. These are the Raiders two main deep threats, and without them teams have been able to crowd the line, and key on the run.

The Lions will now not have that luxury, and Michael Bush will make them pay with big rushing yards.

Prediction: Raiders 27, Lions 20