NFL Picks Against the Spread Week 12: Underdogs with No Chance to Cover

Parity is a word often associated with the NFL, but here are a few lopsided matchups in Week 12 in which the underdog won't come close to covering the spread. 

At this point in the season, with just six weeks left before the playoffs, the league's best teams have begun to separate from the pack. Meanwhile, the teams occupying the NFL's cellar are looking ahead to the 2014 NFL draft.

This distinct difference in focus often leads to blowout wins for good teams when they face poor ones, which is what we'll see in at least a few contests this weekend. 

Here's a look at every game on the schedule in Week 12, along with picks against the spread for each one, followed by a closer examination of the games in which the underdog has no chance of covering the spread.

Away	Home	Spread	ATS Pick
New Orleans Saints	Atlanta Falcons	ATL (+9.5)	NO
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Detroit Lions	DET (-9)	DET
Jacksonville Jaguars	Houston Texans	HOU (-10)	JAC
Minnesota Vikings	Green Bay Packers	GB (-4.5)	MIN
San Diego Chargers	Kansas City Chiefs	KC (-4.5)	KC
Carolina Panthers	Miami Dolphins	MIA (+4.5)	CAR
Pittsburgh Steelers	Cleveland Browns	CLE (-1)	PIT
Chicago Bears	St. Louis Rams	STL (-1)	CHI
New York Jets	Baltimore Ravens	BAL (-4)	BAL
Tennessee Titans	Oakland Raiders	OAK (-1)	OAK
Indianapolis Colts	Arizona Cardinals	ARI (-2.5)	IND
Dallas Cowboys	New York Giants	NYG (-2.5)	DAL
Denver Broncos	New England Patriots	NE (+2.5)	DEN
San Francisco 49ers	Washington Redskins	SF (-5)	SF

New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons (+9.5)

At nearly 10 points, this spread could scare some bettors who like New Orleans away, but the Saints are going to beat the Atlanta Falcons handily on Thursday Night Football by at least two touchdowns.

After struggling to score 23 points against the San Francisco 49ers last weekend, New Orleans is due for another offensive explosion like the one we saw against the Dallas Cowboys the week before. 

The Falcons have allowed the fourth-most points per game in the NFL (29.2), while New Orleans enters this upcoming game with the league's second-highest scoring offense (28.8). On the other side, the Falcons are only scoring 21.4 points per game, and New Orleans ranks No. 5 in the NFL, allowing just 18.3.

Atlanta's roster has been ravaged by injuries this season on both sides of the ball, and with a record of 2-8 heading into the final weeks, it's clear this has been a lost campaign. 

San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs (-4.5)

The Kansas City Chiefs will be eager to get the nasty taste of losing out of their mouths at home this Sunday after losing to the Broncos in Denver last Sunday night for the first time this year. 

San Diego, on the other hand, has lost three games in a row after opening the season with a record of 4-3 through seven games. 

The Chiefs are the best team in the league at shutting down tight ends, thanks to a dynamite linebacking corps and excellent safety help, meaning Antonio Gates will likely be a non-factor.

Combined with the Chiefs' three cornerbacks, who will shut down San Diego's receivers, there won't be much offense to be found for the Chargers.

On the other side, look for Jamaal Charles to have a monster game at home, carrying the Chiefs to an easy victory. 

San Francisco 49ers at Washington Redskins (+5)

The only reason San Francisco is favored by just five points is that the 49ers have lost two games in a row while putting up less than 200 yards of offense in both contests. 

But the Carolina Panthers and Saints feature two of the league's top five scoring defenses, while Washington is amongst the least effective at stopping teams from scoring (No. 30, allowing 31.1 points per game).

Conversely, San Francisco's defense is one of those top teams, along with Carolina and New Orleans. The 49ers allow just 17.8 points per game and rank in the top 12 against the run and pass. 

Making matters worse for Redskins fans, Washington's offense is a wreck. The 49ers should have no trouble heading back to California with an easy, blowout win against flailing Washington. 

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