NFL Predictions Week 12: Vegas Odds, Spreads and Picks for All Games

Week 12 of the 2016 NFL season is here, bringing along three Thursday games. 

Had the point spreads listed below been released at the beginning of the season, people would have been scratching their heads.

The Atlanta Falcons are favored by four points over the Arizona Cardinals. The Carolina Panthers are underdogs to the Oakland Raiders.

But the 2016 season has turned many of our assumptions on their heads, and these are the narratives that will play out in Week 12. 

Many of this week's top matchups take place on Thanksgiving Day. Let's break down the point spreads and pick the winners of this week's games now so you don't have to think about it during your food coma. 

Date	Away	Home	Point Spread	Pick
Thursday	MIN	DET	DET -2.5	Vikings
Thursday	WAS	DAL	DAL -6.5	Cowboys
Thursday	PIT	IND	PIT -3	Steelers
Sunday	TEN	CHI	TEN -2	Titans
Sunday	JAC	BUF	BUF -7	Bills
Sunday	CIN	BAL	BAL -4	Ravens
Sunday	ARI	ATL	ATL -4	Falcons
Sunday	NYG	CLE	NYG -7	Giants
Sunday	LA	NO	NO -7	Saints
Sunday	SF	MIA	MIA -7	Dolphins
Sunday	SD	HOU	Even	Texans
Sunday	SEA	TB	SEA -5	Seahawks
Sunday	NE	NYJ	NE -9	Patriots
Sunday	CAR	OAK	OAK -4	Raiders
Sunday	KC	DEN	DEN -3.5	Broncos
Monday	GB	PHI	PHI -3	Eagles

Safe Bet: Seattle Seahawks (-5)

John Froschauer/Associated Press

The 7-2-1 Seahawks are riding a three-game win streak and have the best record of any team in the NFC save the Dallas Cowboys. 

The 4-5-1 Arizona Cardinals don't seem to have a chance of challenging Seattle for the NFC West crown, so the Seahawks can head into the postseason push with confidence. 

That being said, even if the division is almost certain to fall to them (and there's still enough time that nothing is guaranteed), Seattle still has plenty to play for, including home-field advantage.

Russell Wilson and Co. could take a step closer to that outcome on Sunday in their tilt with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

The Bucs are 5-5 yet still somehow in second place in the NFC South. They've won two games in a row and are in the midst of their own small hot streak; however, that should come to an end on Sunday against the Seahawks. 

Seattle's defense is allowing only 17.3 points per game, the fewest of any team in the league. The Seahawks are also ninth in yards allowed with just 335.4. 

The only thing that may trip Seattle up is the fact that the Seahawks will be traveling to Tampa Bay. Seattle's only two losses this season were on the road. 

Still, Seattle seems like one of the safer bets in this week's odds slate. 

Big Gamble: Detroit Lions (-2.5)

Jose Juarez/Associated Press

The Thanksgiving Day matchup between NFC North rivals the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions feels like the biggest toss-up on the schedule in Week 12. 

Whether the point spread was in Detroit's favor or Minnesota's favor by 2.5 points, this game is still probably one to avoid betting on this week.

The Vikings are feeling good after snapping a four-game losing streak on Sunday with a win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. 

Both teams head into Thursday's matchup tied at 6-4, but the Lions hold first place in the division with the current tiebreaker, given that they took the first meeting with Minnesota. 

It's not that the Lions don't have a chance of defeating the Vikings by a field goal or more; they certainly do. Detroit has won two games in a row and is averaging more yards per game (346.7) than Minnesota (321.2). 

However, the biggest difference is on the defensive side of the ball. The Vikings defense is allowing just 18.9 points per game, compared to Detroit's 25.

And as the Vikings showed on Sunday against the Cardinals, their defense and special teams can be difference-makers when it comes to scoring points as much as limiting them. Twelve of Minnesota's 30 points on the day came from Xavier Rhodes' 100-yard interception returned for a touchdown and Cordarrelle Patterson's 104-yard kickoff return. 

Plus, as NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano pointed out, the Lions haven't exactly been winning handily:

It's always fun to add a little wagering to the family time on Thanksgiving Day games, but Minnesota-Detroit is too slippery to handle. 

NFL odds via Odds Shark and current as of Monday, Nov. 21.