NFL Week 12 Thanksgiving Day: Odds & Betting Lines
Houston Texans (-1.5) at Detroit Lions
Time and Channel: 12:30 PM EST, FOX
Detroit was shut out at the hands of the P.J. Walker-led Panthers last Sunday. While they were without Kenny Golladay and D’Andre Swift, putting up a goose egg against a three-win team with a backup quarterback is unacceptable. Matthew Stafford was sacked five times, so the Lions will look to bounce back against a Texans defense that ranks 18th in sacks per game.
The Lions are 37-41-2 all-time on Thanksgiving day, and they have lost the previous two games, both to the Bears. Assuming Detroit gets Golladay and Swift back, they have more weapons offensively than Houston, which will lead them to a turkey day win.
Washington Football Team at Dallas Cowboys (-2.5)
Washington is right in the thick of the NFC East race (or hobble) after their 20-9 win over the Bengals. Their run game is largely to thank for that, as Washington racked up 164 yards on the ground. The defense also totaled four sacks and picked off backup Ryan Finley while holding the Bengals scoreless in the second half.
Dallas also kept their playoff hopes alive with a three-point win over the Vikings in Andy Dalton’s return, in which he threw three touchdowns. While Dalton played well, Dallas went back to what they should’ve done all season; they ran the ball. Ezekiel Elliott had 103 yards, and the Cowboys as a whole netted 180 yards on the ground.
While both teams ran the ball exceptionally in Week 11, Washington’s defense is far superior to Dallas and will be the key in their win.
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers (-3.0)
Pittsburgh just keeps winning, and they did so once again in Jacksonville. The Steelers picked off Jake Luton four times en route to their 27-3 win over the Jaguars. Diontae Johnson also had a career day, hauling in 12 receptions for 111 yards as the Steelers passing game was on point.
Baltimore has dropped its last two games and hasn’t looked great in either of them. Once again, Lamar Jackson and the passing game were subpar. Jackson threw for less than 200 yards and had a QBR of just 40.2.
The Steelers defense is clicking on all cylinders, and Baltimore can’t seem to put it all together. The Steelers seem poised to all but clinch the AFC North this Thursday.
NFL Week 12 Sunday Games | Betting lines and odds
Las Vegas Raiders (-1.5) at Atlanta Falcons
Time and Channel: 1:00 PM EST, CBS
Although the Raiders lost in the final minute against the Chiefs, they have proven themselves as a legitimate playoff contender in the AFC. Derek Carr has played well, and the offense can compete with the likes of anyone.
Atlanta really disappointed last week, only scoring nine points while Taysom Hill and the Saints got a victory in a game that made the Falcons look worse than some may have thought they were.
Carolina Panthers at Minnesota Vikings (-4.5)
Time and Channel: 1:00 PM EST, FOX
The Panthers shut out the Lions with backup quarterback and XFL legend P.J. Walker under center. Carolina gained 116 yards on the ground even without Christian McCaffrey and blanked the Lions for their fourth win.
After winning three straight, the Vikings lost to the Cowboys by three following a late Dallas touchdown. Even in the loss, Kirk Cousins played phenomenally, finishing with three touchdowns and a passer rating of 140.1, as Dalvin Cook had another 100-yard game.
The Vikings have been the more impressive team over the last month, and they should rebound at home in Week 12.
Los Angeles Chargers at Buffalo Bills (-5)
Time and Channel: 1:00 PM EST, CBS
In typical Chargers fashion, Los Angeles couldn’t even put away the Jets as convincingly as they should have. That said, Justin Herbert went off for 366 yards and three touchdowns, and Keenan Allen also had a day by hauling in 16 passes for 145 yards.
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The Bills are coming off their bye week after that heartbreaking loss at the hands of the “Hail Murray” in Arizona. That aside, the Bills are still in the driver’s seat in the AFC East. Stefon Diggs entered Week 11 as the No. 2 receiver in the league in receiving yards, and Josh Allen was atop the league leaders in passing yards.
While it’s arguable that the Chargers are the more talented roster, it’s abundantly clear that the Bills are the better team, and they will rebound in a shootout in Week 12.
Miami Dolphins (-6.5) at New York Jets
Time and Channel: 1:00 PM EST, CBS
It was a weird week for Miami. Tua Tagovailoa was pulled after the Dolphins were struggling in their loss to the Broncos. While Ryan Fitzpatrick almost worked another piece of “Fitzmagic,” the Dolphins have appear adamant that Tua will remain the starter.
The Jets are horrid; there isn’t much else to say that we haven’t said a thousand times this season. Whether it’s Joe Flacco or Sam Darnold calling the signals, they have no talent that can compete with any other team in the league.
Miami will be playing angry after their struggles against the Broncos and should take this one easily but check how high the line goes to.
Arizona Cardinals (-2.5) at New England Patriots
Time and Channel: 1:00 PM EST, FOX
The Cardinals being favored by only 2.5 is one of the more generous Week 12 opening betting lines. Yes, they dropped a Thursday night thriller to the Seahawks, but Arizona has proven themselves as one of the most electrifying teams in the NFL. DeAndre Hopkins is the best receiver in the league right now in terms of receiving yards, and Kyler Murray is in the MVP conversation.
New England is very up and down. One week they beat Baltimore; the next they are losing to the Texans. All the opt-outs have been noticeable, and the lack of any explosive talent on offense is very apparent.
Arizona is the more prolific team, and they will rebound to keep pace with Seattle in the NFC West race by beating New England and covering in the process.
Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts (-3.5)
Time and Channel: 1:00 PM EST, CBS
The Titans and Colts are both coming off big wins in overtime. Tennessee beat the Ravens off the strength of a huge day from Derrick Henry, and the Colts knocked off the Packers thanks to the foot of Rodrigo Blankenship. The Colts still have the advantage in the division following their win over the Titans in Week 11.
The Titans’ special teams cost them the previous contest between these two teams, and we expect them to take back the division lead and even the score with the Colts. .
New York Giants (-4.5) at Cincinnati Bengals
Time and Channel: 1:00 EST, FOX
The Bengals will be without Joe Burrow for the rest of the season following his knee injury against Washington. With Ryan Finley the starter, their offensive flare is all but gone.
The Giants are coming off their bye week and could gain an upper hand in the NFC East race with a win. The Giants defense is only allowing 20 points per game over their last five games and could have a big day against a debilitated Bengals offense.
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Cleveland Browns (-6) at Jacksonville Jaguars
Time and Channel: 1:00 PM EST, CBS
The Browns are 7-3, and they have done it by running the ball. Nick Chubb had his second straight 100-yard game after returning from injury, and the Browns will continue feeding him against a bad Jags defense.
Jacksonville is in the midst of a nine-game losing streak and failed to score a touchdown while turning the ball over four times. It’s unclear if Gardner Minshew will return, but regardless of who is under center, they are a mess.
Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt will do their thing on the ground, but Cleveland’s lack of an air attack may keep this close.
New Orleans Saints (-5.5) at Denver Broncos
Time and Channel: 4:05 PM EST, FOX
Well, the Saints are 1-0 with Taysom Hill as the starter after beating Atlanta, and he looked solid under center. The Saints’ defense also looked good, holding the Falcons to just nine points.
Denver pulled off the upset over the Dolphins, and having another game in Mile High where the November weather is unforgiving could play to their advantage.
The Saints may be the better team, but they are a dome team playing in unfamiliar conditions. The Broncos may shock the Saints here.
San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams (-6.5)
Time and Channel: 4:05 PM EST, FOX
The Rams defense has been the story of their season, surprisingly. They rank second in total yards per game, and their pass defense has been top-notch. Not to say that LA has been bad offensively, but this is a 180 of the team we are used to.
The 49ers will be fresher than the Rams, as their bye week was last week, and the Rams will be on a short week following their Monday night game in Tampa Bay.
In this division, it is tough to beat anyone twice. The Niners may benefit from the extended time off and the six-day turnaround for the Rams.
Kansas City Chiefs (-2.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Time and Channel: 4:25 PM EST, CBS
The Chiefs were taken to the wire against the Raiders and had to rely on last-minute heroics from Patrick Mahomes to escape Vegas with a win. The defense gave up 31 points and needs to do some fine-tuning before their matchup with the Bucs array of playmakers.
Tampa Bay is looking to catch the Saints in the NFC South, and a win over the best the AFC has to offer would go a long way in doing so. The Chiefs’ secondary was exploited against the Raiders, and Tom Brady will look to do the same.
It’s hard to play exceptional after a hard-fought game, and the Chiefs will show some signs of that this week.
Sunday Night Football
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers (-7.5)
Time and Channel: 8:20 PM EST, NBC
The Packers blew a 14-point halftime lead in their overtime loss to the Colts last Sunday, and turnovers were the main culprit. You can bet that an angry Aaron Rodgers is the last thing any team ever wants to be against.
The Bears’ defense is good, but their offense is atrocious. They are coming off their bye week and are losers of four straight.
Monday Night Football
Seattle Seahawks (-5.0) at Philadelphia Eagles
Time and Channel: 8:20 PM EST, ESPN
The Eagles have shown they deserve no faith. Their offense is horrid, and Carson Wentz can’t stop turning the ball over and making bad decisions, which isn’t exactly a recipe for success.
Seattle is coming off an extended rest after their Thursday night win over the Cardinals and should be able to pick apart an Eagles defense that has been inconsistent. It would have been hard to make these NFL Week 12 odds big enough to a point that the Seahawks wouldn’t still be a tempting pick.
