NFL Picks Week 12: Picking the Winners Against the Spread
It's time to make some NFL picks Week 12! Even after Thursday's slate of games, there are still plenty of games to watch and pick, including some fantastic matchups in Atlanta, Chicago, and New York.
But we're not just picking winners; oh no, we're talking about the spreads. We'll take a look at the lines for every game, break down who you should pick, and telling you how much of a lock the pick is. Let's get started, shall we?
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Buffalo Bills
1 of 13
What's the Line: Pittsburgh are listed as six point favorites, as of today.
Who's the Pick: The Steelers should cover the spread this week.
Why: Buffalo's offense may be better than ever, but Pittsburgh's defense is on a completely different level. Even at home, the odds of the Bills finding success this week are slim. With Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers' offense firing on all cylinders, Pittsburgh ought to win this one in a laugher.
Lock Rating: 9/10. The Steelers are clearly the better team, and even the sizable line isn't enough to make me pick the Bills.
Final Score: Pittsburgh 28, Buffalo 10.
Carolina Panthers @ Cleveland Browns
2 of 13
What's the Line: Cleveland find themselves as 10 point favorites heading into Saturday.
Who's the Pick: Cleveland will cover this one.
Why:The line might be big and the Browns might not have quarterback Colt McCoy, but Cleveland is better than their record indicates, and the Panthers are the worst team in football. Peyton Hillis will run over, around and through Carolina's defense.
Lock Rating: 8/10. Jake Delhomme scares me in this one, but not enough to pick the Panthers.
Final Score: Cleveland 28, Carolina 17.
Minnesota Vikings @ Washington Redskins
3 of 13
What's the Line: The Redskins are one-point favorites over the Vikings in this one.
Who's the Pick: The Vikings.
Why: Minnesota's a mess, but the Redskins' defense struggles to contain even the weakest of offenses. Plus, the Vikings' defense will harass Donovan McNabb all game long, and the Redskins' weapons aren't exactly terrifying.
Lock Rating: 5/10. This one's tricky, because of the situation in Minnesota, but I feel like this team is going to get rolling under Leslie Frazier.
Final Score: Minnesota 17, Washington 14. It might not be pretty, but the Vikes will grab a win.
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Tennessee Titans @ Houston Texans
4 of 13
What's the Line: Houston sits at 6.5 point favorites heading into Saturday.
Who's the Pick: Tennessee.
Why: Chris Johnson. Sure, Rusty Smith is starting. But Johnson's going to run roughshod over the Texans' defense, and Houston is officially reeling right now. The Texans might not lose, but they sure won't cover.
Lock Rating: 5/10. Houston's offense is potent, and it's Rusty Smith.
Final Score: Houston 28, Tennessee 24.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ New York Giants
5 of 13
What's the Line: The Giants are seven-point favorites against the Jags on Sunday.
Who's the Pick: Jacksonville.
Why: Because New York is banged up, and while Jacksonville isn't as good as their record indicates, they're not terrible. Seven points seems like a bit much.
Lock Rating: 4/10. Then again, the Jaguars' defense is awful, and the Giants still have Ahmad Bradshaw and Eli Manning. Buyer beware.
Final Score: New York 24, Jacksonville 21.
Miami Dolphins @ Oakland Raiders
6 of 13
What's the Line: Oakland sits as three-point favorites.
Who's the Pick: The Raiders cover.
Why: Because the Dolphins are banged up, and weren't all that good healthy. Plus, Darren McFadden and Michael Bush will tear Miami's defense apart, and Tyler Thigpen is starting at quarterback for the Dolphins.
Lock Rating: 6/10. Maybe the Fins cover, but they don't win.
Final Score: Oakland 24, Miami 17.
Kansas City Chiefs @ Seattle Seahawks
7 of 13
What's the Line: Kansas City are 2 point favorites over the Seahawks in this one.
Who's the Pick: The Chiefs cover.
Why: I know the Chiefs can't win on the road. But Seattle's defense is so bad, and their offense so uninspiring, I feel like the Chiefs can't help but beat them.
Lock Rating: 6.5/10. The Seahawks have been chippy at home all season long, and Kansas City has struggled on the road, so be wary of this one.
Final Score: Kansas City 21, Seattle 17.
Green Bay Packers @ Atlanta Falcons
8 of 13
What's the Line: The Falcons are two-point favorites over the Packers in this clash of division leaders.
Who's the Pick: Green Bay.
Why: The Packers are rolling right now, and their defense might be one of football's best. The offense is potent as well, with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and the Falcons' secondary is struggling mightily in recent weeks.
Lock Rating: 2/10. This one could go either way, but it's going to be a fun one to watch.
Final Score: Green Bay 28, Atlanta 24.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Baltimore Ravens
9 of 13
What's the Line: Baltimore are currently seven and a half point favorites in this one.
Who's the Pick: Baltimore covers.
Why: Tampa Bay's not quite as good as you think, and Baltimore's been excellent at home this year. The Bucs' defense is vulnerable to big plays, and the Ravens excel at breaking them off.
Lock Rating: 4/10. The Bucs have been playing teams close all season long, and there's no reason to think they won't do it again this week.
Final Score: Baltimore 35, Baltimore 27.
Philadelphia Eagles @ Chigago Bears
10 of 13
What's the Line: The Eagles are 3.5 point favorites over the Bears in this one.
Who's the Pick: The Bears.
Why: Michael Vick hasn't beaten a truly good defense this season; the Giants had been overachieving for most of the year, and he didn't play all that well in that one. The Bears pose the biggest threat to the Eagles thus far.
Lock Rating: 6/10. This one's shaky, but even if the Bears can't win, they'll keep this one close.
Final Score: Chicago 28, Philadelphia 27.
St. Louis Rams @ Denver Broncos
11 of 13
What's the Line: Denver come in as four-point favorites in this one.
Who's the Pick: St. Louis.
Why: When you take one of the NFL's best running backs (Steven Jackson), add the worst rush defense in the NFL (Denver) and one of the worst pass defenses (also Denver), and you get a team who can't cover this spread at home.
Lock Rating: 7/10. Denver's offense scares me, especially against a Rams' secondary that has been torched by good passing attacks this season.
Final Score: Denver 24, St. Louis 21.
San Diego Chargers @ Indianapolis Colts
12 of 13
What's the Line: The Colts are three-point favorites over the Chargers.
Who's the Pick: Indianapolis.
Why: The Colts' offense is better than the Chargers' defense. Indy's defense has quietly been improving in recent weeks, and there's the whole "Philip Rivers is the least-clutch quarterback this side of Tony Romo" issue.
Lock Rating: 3.5/10. San Diego's defense has been statistically solid this season, and the Chargers' offense can put big numbers up in any given week. Avoid this one.
Final Score: Indianapolis 28, San Diego 21.
San Francisco 49ers @ Arizona Cardinals
13 of 13
What's the Line: San Francisco is a one-point favorite in this one.
Who's the Pick: The 49ers cover.
Why: The Niners have been bad for most of 2010, but the Cardinals defense cures all ills. Plus, Arizona's offense is essentially "Throw deep to Larry Fitzgerald", so I think the Niners will figure it out.
Lock Rating: 9/10. San Fran will win this game, and thereby, cover the spread.
Final Score: San Francisco 35, Arizona 21.
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