NFL Picks Week 12: Picking the Games Against the Spread

Hey all you gambling fools out there, can you believe it's already time for Thanksgiving Day football?

It seems like just a week ago we had Roger Goodell changing the rules during the season about what is and what isn't a legal hit.

One thing is for sure though, there are a host of exciting games and close spreads all across the board this week, starting with the very first game on Thursday afternoon all the way until next Monday night, as eight games have a spread of less than five points.

So without further ado, here I have a host of picks, against the spread, for each game in the coming days.

New England Patriots At Detroit Lions

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 21: Shaun Hill #14 of the Detroit Lions throws a pass while being tackled by Demarcus Ware #94 of the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium on November 21, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Spread: New England -7

New England is on a roll, beating two elite teams in Pittsburgh and Indianapolis in the past two weeks. They now break with a game at Detroit before playing the Jets, Bears and Packers consecutively.

It is a classic trap game, plus the distraction of Thanksgiving should do well so New England struggles. I see no cover hear.

Pick: DETROIT (+7) over New England

New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 21: Quarterback Jon Kitna #3 of the Dallas Cowboys scrambles with the ball against defensive end Turk McBride #75 of the Detroit Lions at Cowboys Stadium on November 21, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys beat the Lions 35-19

Spread: New Orleans -3.5

This is probably one of the harder picks of the week.

New Orleans goes into Dallas to play a team that has won two straight after losing five straight. Also, before the last two games the 'Boys were 1-7 against the spread.

New Orleans, however is gaining steam with each successive week and are getting healthy, looking to be back in championship form.

Pick: New Orleans (-3.5) Over DALLAS

Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

CINCINNATI - NOVEMBER 21: Chad Ochocinco #85 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs with the ball while defended by Drayton Florence #29 of the Buffalo Bills during the NFL game at Paul Brown Stadium on November 21, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bills won 49-3

Spread: New York -9

This spread is way too high for a game with this many subplots and this much subtlety.

The Bengals have only lost two games this season, by more than eight points, while the Jets have only won five of their games by more than nine points.

The Bengals will either come out with a chip on their shoulder from the previous week or will come out completely flat. It's pretty much a coin toss.

Pick: Cincinnati (+9) over NEW YORK

Washington Redskins at Minnesota Vikings

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 21: Chris Hope #24 of the Tennessee Titans tackles Chris Cooley #47 of the Washington Redskins at LP Field on November 21, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Redskins won 19-16 in overtime. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Spread: Washington -2.5

The Vikings just lost their head coach and just had their quarterback give one of the mopiest press conferences in recent memory.

Washington, however, has a hot running back in Keiland Williams who has had a few great games in a row.

Neither team is exceptionally dominant, but under the circumstances this should be an easy pick.

Pick: Washington (-2.5) over MINNESOTA

Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH - NOVEMBER 21: Antonio Brown #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers evades tacklers during a punt return against the Oakland Raiders during the game on November 21, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Imag

Spread: Pittsburgh -6.5

The Steelers had their annual let-down game two weeks ago against New England, they then went on to whallop the tar out of a hot Oakland team.

The Steelers defense is as good as any in the league and they are finally falling into place for the postseason.

Pick: Pittsburgh (-6.5) over BUFFALO

Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 21: Arian Foster #23 of the Houston Texans runs the ball against the New York Jets on November 21, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Spread: Houston -6.5

Tennessee has the most turbulent locker room in the NFL right now and just lost to the injury plagued Redskins.

Houston has been dropping games like mad but are going to be playing against a team who is starting a guy by the name of Rusty Smith.

Would you ever trust a guy named Rusty to quarterback your favorite team to a win over a high powered offense?

Pick: HOUSTON (-6.5) over Tennessee

Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Giants

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

JACKSONVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 21: Mercedes Lewis #89 of the Jacksonville Jaguars reacts after scoring a touchdown during a game agaisnt the Cleveland Browns at EverBank Field on November 21, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Image

Spread: New York -7

The Giants have lost two games in a row to a terrific Eagles team and a miserable Cowboys team and should be looking to get back on track.

Jacksonville has squeezed out three wins in a row to raise their record to 6-4 and are looking to play their way into playoff contention.

This games doesn't figure to be a blowout by any means, and seven points may be too much.

Pick: Jacksonville (+7) over NEW YORK

Cleveland Browns at Carolina Panthers

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

JACKSONVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 21: Sean Considine #37 of the Jacksonville Jaguars recovers an interception from Benjamin Watson #82 to end the game agaisnt the Cleveland Browns at EverBank Field on November 21, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mi

Spread: Cleveland -11

Cleveland had some huge momentum going for the past few weeks with close games played against Pittsburgh, New Orleans, New England, New York and Jacksonville.

However, this was all under Colt McCoy, who is now out as the starter with a high ankle sprain, and now they have a stinker in Jake Delhomme starting.

Pick: CAROLINA (+11) over Cleveland

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Baltimore Ravens

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 21: Jalen Parmele #34 of the Baltimore Ravens against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on November 21, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Spread: Baltimore -8

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 7-3, the Baltimore Ravens are 7-3, obviously Tampa is getting no love in this game.

As an underdog this season, Tampa is 5-2 against the spread, plus they are 4-1 on the road, and are one of the best road teams in the league this year.

It's hard to pick against them on this one.

Pick: Tampa Bay (+8) over BALTIMORE

Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 15: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates with team mate Mike McGlynn #77 after throwing his teams first touchdown against the Washington Redskins on November 15, 2010 at FedExField in Landover, Maryland. (Photo b

Spread: Philadelphia -3.5

I have been dissing the Bears all season, claiming that Jay Cutler is too inconsistent, their defense is good, but not as good as past years, and they have no intimidation offensively.

Conversely I have been on the Philadelphia and Michael Vick bandwagon all season long.

Nothing changes this week, but it could be the game to make me look like an idiot and finally change my mind on Chicago.

Pick: Philadelphia (-3.5) over CHICAGO

Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

ST. LOUIS - NOVEMBER 21: Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons passes against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on November 21, 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Falcons beat the Rams 34-17. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Spread: Atlanta -2.5

The Falcons-Packers game this Sunday has the potential to be one of the best games of the season, and one of the toughest to pick.

They both have great defenses, they both have terrific offenses, they are both 6-4 against the spread this season, they are both in the height of a recovery process after losing a franchise quarterback.

When all else fails, the Falcons are 5-0 at home.

Pick: ATLANTA (-2.5) over Green Bay

Oakland Raiders at Miami Dolphins

Thearon W, Henderson/Getty Images

OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 3: Running Back Darren McFadden #20 of the Oakland Raider tries to avoid the tackle of linebacker Zac Diles #54 of the Houston Texans during an NFL football game October 3, 2010 at The Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Cal

Spread: Oakland -3

The Oakland Raiders, despite their depressing loss to Pittsburgh a week ago are on the rise, while the Dolphins, in all their wildcat running glory are on the downswing.

They have quarterbacks scared of getting man slapped by Richard Seymour and defenders afraid of getting run over by Darren McFadden.

Pick: Oakland (-3) over MIAMI

Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

KANSAS CITY, MO - NOVEMBER 21: Verran Tucker #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs congratulates Dwayne Bowe #82 after a touchdown during the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Arrowhead Stadium on November 21, 2010 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie

Spread: Kansas City -1.5

The minuscule spread on this game is making me pull my hair out.

These teams are so evenly decent that it is hard to make heads or tails of this game, but the Chiefs have the edge at quarterback, running back, and a slight edge on defense.

Pick: Kansas City (-1.5) over SEATTLE

Saint Louis Rams at Denver Broncos

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 14: Sam Bradford #8 of the St. Louis Rams is hit by Manny Lawson #99 of the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on November 14, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Spread: Denver -4

Sam Bradford has looked like a capable quarterback this season and has been propped up by a very good defense behind him.

Kyle Orton has somehow thrown for over 3,000 yards already (high altitude can be the only explanation), and the Broncos are scoring at will.

My telling observation, however, is that Denver is 3-7 against the spread this season and the Rams are 7-3, let's go with Vegas not knowing what to do with these two teams as much as us.

Pick: St. Louis (+4) over DENVER

San Diego Chargers at Indianapolis Colts

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

SAN DIEGO - NOVEMBER 22: Quarterback Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers in action against Denver Broncos at Qualcomm Stadium on November 22, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Spread: Indianapolis -3

The Chargers are having their usual second half surge while the Colts are being propped up by Peyton Manning's greatness.

Manning has been the sole reason for the Colt's success this season, and have had no defense to speak of, which Philip Rivers should take full advantage of.

Pick: San Diego (+3) over INDIANAPOLIS

San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 21: Troy Smith #1 of the San Francisco 49ers passes the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Candlestick Park on November 21, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Spread: San Francisco -1

The Arizona Cardinals have been terrible for the past five weeks, losing every game, and losing their last two by 18 points each time.

Needless to say they wouldn't have been able to get a game close enough to stop their opponent from covering a one point spread.

Plus, Troy Smith has been surprisingly good since Alex Smith went down with an injury a few weeks ago, and has looked in complete control.

Pick: San Francisco (-1) over ARIZONA

Bet the house on this one folks.