For football fans, there is perhaps no better regular season week better than the one that falls on Thanksgiving Day. What better way to enjoy a day off from work than watching football and making wagers on all the big games. With that in mind, let’s jump right into Thanksgiving and make our Straught-Up and Against the Spread picks for Week 12 so you can make your bets and cash in against our NFL odds.
Houston Texans over Detroit Lions
Every team in the league dreams of having an elite QB under center, as that is usually the first step in being competitive in any given season. There are, of course, always exceptions to the rule, and it is fair to suggest that the Texans and Lions are among that group. Deshaun Watson and Matthew Stafford are quality QBs who have already proven that they are among the best, but they are surrounded by players that are not on the same level. Neither of these teams have anything left to play for this season, but it is still going to be fun to watch these two gunslingers go back and forth. While still not where they want to be, the Texans do have 2 wins in their last 4 games, while the Lions have lost 3 of their last 4, including being shut out over the weekend. I think the Texans have the slight edge here.
Dallas Cowboys over Washington Football Team
With these teams having a combined record of 6-14, you would not imagine that either one of them would have a shot at the playoffs. The reality, though, is that both are very much in the hunt in what is a truly awful NFC East Division. The winner of this one would actually take the top spot in the division, for a few days at least, so this game is huge. Both teams are coming off a win, but you have to say that the Cowboys victory over the Vikings was a good deal more impressive than Washington knocking off the Bengals, who lost QB Joe Burrow to injury while the game was still close. Washington won the earlier meeting this season, but I think that Dallas has the edge at home, which is why I am taking the Cowboys.
Arizona Cardinals (-2 ½) at New England Patriots
If the Cardinals are going to make it into the playoffs this season, they are going to need to break out of the slump that has seen the, lose 2 of their last 3 to fall to 6-4 on the season. This weekend, they will be in Foxboro to take on a New England Patriots team that is a pale shadow of the franchise that we saw with Tom Brady at the helm. They are now sitting at 4-6 and well of the pace being set by the teams sitting above the playoff line. In the last 7 meetings between these teams in New England, the Cardinals have only managed to cover once, but as we already said, this Patriots team is not on a par with those of the past. I like the Cardinals to get back to winning ways this weekend, and I also like them to cover the spread, as they are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 versus teams with a losing record.
Las Vegas Raiders (-3) at Atlanta Falcons
The Raiders saw their 3-game win streak come an end over the weekend with a 35-31 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. While they will not be happy with the defeat, they will still be able to take some positives out of pushing the defending Super Bowl Champions to the limit. Still, the Raiders need to get back to winning ways if they are to stay in the playoff picture and their trip to Atlanta this weekend to face the Falcons needs to be considered on that is winnable. Atlanta saw their modest 2-game win streak come to an end against the Saints in Week 11. They have gone just 1-4 ATS in their last 5 at home, whole going just 2-14 ATS in their last 16 versus teams from the AFC. The Raiders, meanwhile, have covered in 5 of their last 6 overall.
New York Giants (-6 ½) at Cincinnati Bengals
The NFC East is far and away the worst division in football this season, but as bad as it has been, it has also given us a rather odd playoff race. No team in the division has more than 3 wins, but one of them has to land on top and get into the postseason. The New York Giants are back in the hunt after back to back wins against divisional foes, which certainly helps their chances of finishing first. This weekend, they will go on the road to face a Cincinnati Bengals team that is sure to still be reeling after losing rookie QN sensation Joe Burrow for the season with a knee injury. This is an opportunity for the Giants to cover in their 5th straight game, which I think they will do.