NFL Week 12 Picks: Upcoming Odds and Predictions for Full Schedule

The elite teams are starting to separate themselves from the rest of the pack as the NFL heads into Week 12, but 18 teams are at least within one game of .500 and fighting for playoff spots.

The Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans and New York Giants are all 5-5 and either tied for first or leading their division outright.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots are undefeated and have all but wrapped up a playoff spot.

It's been an odd season with so many teams hovering around .500, to say the least, but entertaining as well. Here's a look at the upcoming schedule, odds and predictions for Week 12, as well as some analysis of three games that could affect the playoff picture:

Date	Away	Home	Odds	Prediction
Thursday, Nov. 26	Philadelphia Eagles	Detroit Lions	PHI -1.5	Detroit, 28-20
Thursday, Nov. 26	Carolina Panthers	Dallas Cowboys	CAR -1	Carolina, 30-21
Thursday, Nov. 26	Chicago Bears	Green Bay Packers	GB -7	Green Bay 23-16
Sunday, Nov. 29	Oakland Raiders	Tennessee Titans	OAK -2	Tennessee, 20-13
Sunday, Nov. 29	Buffalo Bills	Kansas City Chiefs	KC -3.5	Kansas City, 26-16
Sunday, Nov. 29	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Indianapolis Colts	IND -3	Tampa Bay, 30-27
Sunday, Nov. 29	New York Giants	Washington	NYG -1.5	New York, 35-34
Sunday, Nov. 29	New Orleans Saints	Houston Texans	HOU -3	Houston, 20-9
Sunday, Nov. 29	Minnesota Vikings	Atlanta Falcons	ATL -2.5	Atlanta, 24-21
Sunday, Nov. 29	St. Louis Rams	Cincinnati Bengals	CIN -7.5	Cincinnati, 27-20
Sunday, Nov. 29	San Diego Chargers	Jacksonville Jaguars	JAC -4.5	Jacksonville, 16-10
Sunday, Nov. 29	Miami Dolphins	New York Jets	NYJ -4.5	New York, 28-21
Sunday, Nov. 29	Arizona Cardinals	San Francisco 49ers	ARI -9.5	Arizona, 40-10
Sunday, Nov. 29	Pittsburgh Steelers	Seattle Seahawks	SEA -3.5	Seattle, 21-17
Sunday, Nov. 29	New England Patriots	Denver Broncos	NE -9.5	New England, 28-19
Monday, Nov. 30	Baltimore Ravens	Cleveland Browns	N/A	Cleveland, 14-13

Buffalo Bills (5-4) at Kansas City Chiefs (5-5)

A month ago, the Chiefs were 1-5 and without Pro Bowl running back Jamaal Charles, who is out for the season with a torn ACL.

Four wins later, they have an outside shot at the AFC West and sit just one half-game back in the wild-card race.

The Bills have dealt with injuries to key players as well. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor, running backs LeSean McCoy and Karlos Williams, and wide receiver Sammy Watkins all have missed at least one game.

They sat at 3-4 with a Week 7 road loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars but have won two in a row to remain in the wild-card race. The Bills will play at New England in Week 11 on Monday Night Football.

It's a battle of defenses in this matchup, and the Chiefs have the upper hand. They have not allowed a team to score more than 18 points while going 4-2 the past six games.

Although Charles is out, they haven't missed much on offense either with backup Charcandrick West totaling 476 yards from scrimmage and four total touchdowns during their four-game win streak. West was injured in Week 11, but backup Spencer Ware filled in with 96 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. 

Buffalo will finish a tough, three-game stretch against division opponents Monday. The game against Kansas City will be its third straight on the road.

The Chiefs are playing as well as anyone right now, and the defense should be able to shut down a worn-out Bills squad.

Chiefs win, 26-16. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-5) at Indianapolis Colts (5-5)

Tampa Bay and Indianapolis are two teams that exemplify what a wild—or mediocre—season it has been. 

Heading into Week 9, the Colts were 3-5 and the Bucs 3-4. Neither teams were thought of as playoff contenders, especially considering their quarterback situations.

Andrew Luck has been banged-up all season and is currently sidelined with a lacerated kidney. All his backup—longtime veteran Matt Hasselbeck—has done is go 3-0 as a starter and keep the Colts alive for the AFC South title.

Tampa Bay had the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft and selected Jameis Winston. The former Heisman Trophy winner got off to a shaky start with a pick-six on his first NFL pass and started 1-3, but he has led Tampa to wins in three of four games.

He tied a rookie record with five touchdown passes in a 45-17, Week 11 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. ESPN Stats & Info showed how the rookie matched Cam Newton of the 10-0 Panthers step by step:

Winston showed he can win a tight, low-scoring game as well in a 10-6 victory in Week 10 against the Dallas Cowboys with a late-game touchdown drive.

He doesn't seem to mind playing on the road, winning three of five games away from Tampa this season, and should be able to do so again in Week 12. Look for an emerging Winston to shine against a Colts defense ranked 28th against the pass.

Buccaneers win, 30-27.

New York Giants (5-5) at Washington (4-6)

It's yet another playoff-implication game with teams who should be afterthoughts; however, Washington will lead the NFC East with a win and Philadelphia Eagles loss, while the Giants will remain in first with a victory.

New York currently sits atop the division with Washington and Philly one game back, so this week could prove pivotal to which NFC East team hosts a playoff game despite a season of mediocrity.

Marshall Harris of CSNPhilly.com asked Sunday on Twitter what everyone else has been wondering:

While both teams have been hard to figure out—New York began 0-2 and Washington is hanging in the race with a career backup at quarterback—the Giants did win the first matchup between these teams handily in Week 3.

One advantage the Giants have is they are coming off a bye, while Washington is licking its wounds after a 44-17 blowout loss in Week 11 at the hands of the Panthers.

Another is the fact that while the Giants running game is abysmal, it's slightly better than Washington's.

The Redskins can't decide who should be the feature back, while the three-headed monster of Chris Thompson, Alfred Morris and Matt Jones gained a whopping 10 yards on 11 carries against the Panthers. 

Washington has more fumbles (seven) than rushing touchdowns (five) this season.

Kirk Cousins has improved the passing game of late, throwing nine touchdowns and two interceptions the past four weeks, but the Giants are vastly better through the air.

Eli Manning has thrown for 2,700 yards, 21 touchdowns and just six interceptions this season. There is no reason to think he won't air it out against an average Washington defense that was abused by Newton in Week 11 to the tune of 246 yards and five touchdowns.

Giants win, 35-34.