NFL Picks Week 12 Against the Spread: Which Underdogs Will Cover?

The National Football League regular season has quickly moved into the traditional Thanksgiving weekend, which means the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions will host a pair of games Thursday.

Sports bettors have a great odds board to shoot at in the early going, as no team is currently laying double digits in Week 12.

Oddsmakers have certainly been on the mark this year, with underdogs being 76-76-7 against the spread heading into Monday night's contest between the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots.

Let's take a closer look at this week's action from a betting perspective.

Miami Dolphins at Dallas Cowboys

It's always dangerous to back the Dallas Cowboys when the early wagering has moved the betting odds in the opposite direction, but quarterback Tony Romo is 18-2 in his career in November.

Bettors will also be lining up to back "America's Team" due to covering the spread in 10 consecutive Thanksgiving Day contests when playing an opponent with an under .500 record.

The Miami Dolphins have won three consecutive games, but they weren't exactly facing murderer's row.

Handicapper Line: Dallas Cowboys (-9)

Recommendation: Dallas Cowboys (-6.5)

Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions

The Green Bay Packers will put their perfect 10-0 record on the line Thursday against the Detroit Lions, coming off a 35-26 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as 14-point home favorites.

Bettors will find that the defending Super Bowl champions are 3-0 against the spread (ATS) as a road favorite of 3.5 to 7 points during the 2011 campaign.

The Detroit Lions will be dressing up as home underdogs for the first time this year, sitting three games back of this week's opponent in the NFC North divisional race.

Both teams won on their home field a year ago.

Oddsmakers have sent out an incredibly sharp line that hasn't really moved in the first 24 hours of wagering.

Handicapper Line: Green Bay Packers (-5.5)

Recommendation: Detroit Lions (+6.5)

San Francisco 49ers at Baltimore Ravens

The Harbaugh family will be getting together on Thanksgiving night when the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens face off.

Brothers Jim and John have both of their teams on top of their respective divisions, as this sets up as a major bragging rights contest.

Baltimore has the advantage of playing at home and San Francisco has traveled quite a bit already this season.

It's important to note that the 49ers are still the only undefeated team against the spread, covering nine of their 10 games and collecting a push versus the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2.

Handicapper Line: Baltimore Ravens (-3)

Recommendation: Baltimore Ravens (-3)

Buffalo Bills at New York Jets

The New York Jets have dominated the Buffalo Bills in the last three meetings due to a punishing running game, but that might not be possible with Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson dealing with injuries.

It's also important to note that the Jets are 1-9 ATS when playing a game following a straight-up loss as a favorite.

Buffalo isn't going to get much attention in this matchup, especially given the team's 3-10 ATS mark when coming off a division game.

Handicapper Line: New York Jets (-10.5)

Recommendation: New York Jets (-8)

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals suffered two losses in their first run through the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, which makes this contest almost an afterthought.

That's when you need to be careful when stepping up to the betting window.

Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis is 1-6 ATS as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points the last two-plus years.

Cleveland is difficult to back in any situation due to an abysmal offense, especially with an 0-4 ATS mark versus teams with a winning record.

Handicapper Line: Cincinnati Bengals (-8.5)

Recommendation: Cleveland Browns (+9)

Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars

I'm not exactly one to back a team that will start a new quarterback due to injury, as the Houston Texans will be piloted by Matt Leinart Sunday.

The situation is also more troubling from a situational standpoint due to being favored on the road against a Jacksonville Jaguars' defensive unit that ranks third in the league with allowing just 300.2 yards per game.

Texans head coach Gary Kubiak has also dropped four consecutive games versus the number when coming off a bye.

Handicapper Line: Houston Texans (-2)

Recommendation: Jacksonville Jaguars (+3.5)

Carolina Panthers at Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts come off their bye week and are probably tired of hearing about being the only winless NFL team at this juncture.

Injured starting quarterback Peyton Manning will play an integral part in setting up an offensive game plan to go after the Carolina Panthers due to the time off.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is being too careless with the football to lay points against any opponent.

Handicapper Line: Carolina Panthers (-3)

Recommendation: Indianapolis Colts (+3.5)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tennessee Titans

The oddsmakers are clearly protecting themselves from certain exposure with this line, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are one of the better underdogs in the NFL.

Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson could be in line for a major day, facing a defensive unit that's giving up 133.5 rushing yards per game.

It's still important to note that the Titans are 1-4 ATS as a favorite this season.

Handicapper Line: Tennessee Titans (-6.5)

Recommendation: Tennessee Titans (-3)

Chicago Bears at Oakland Raiders

Somebody needs to tell the early bettors that the Chicago Bears are a veteran-laden team and have one of the best running backs in the National Football League.

Jay Cutler's thumb injury has caused the betting odds to move six points in most spots, something that could end up backfiring.

Bears running back Matt Forte will be facing the league's 25th-ranked defense, and the franchise's top unit is always a threat to score as well.

The Oakland Raiders need to be careful here as penalties could leave the door wide open for a potential cover down the stretch.

Handicapper Line: Oakland Raiders (-3.5)

Recommendation: Chicago Bears (+5.5)

Washington Redskins at Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks are very difficult to play as favorites due to scoring 16.8 points per game and allowing 20.9.

From a handicapping perspective, oddsmakers certainly couldn't place the Washington Redskins in that particular role, as they are losers of six straight.

It's important to note that the Seahawks are 0-3 ATS after two or more consecutive wins the past two-plus years and they enter Sunday on a two-game winning streak.

Handicapper Line: Seattle Seahawks (-7.5)

Recommendation: Seattle Seahawks (-4)

Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers

The San Diego Chargers have lost five straight games and will likely get run out of town if they fail to deliver a home win versus the Denver Broncos Sunday.

Quarterback Tim Tebow has the Mile High City in a frenzy, leading the Denver Broncos to three consecutive wins, including a 17-13 victory over the New York Jets in Week 11.

Good luck—the oddsmakers are saying that as well with the line.

Handicapper Line: San Diego Chargers (-7)

Recommendation: Run away from this game

New York Giants at New Orleans Saints

Both teams come in needing a victory to stay atop their respective divisions, with the New Orleans Saints coming off a bye week, while the New York Giants will try to bounce back from a disappointing loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

I personally believe that the Saints are one of the few teams that the Giants don't match up well against, but their pass rush has to be respected.

New Orleans is 4-0 ATS at home, while New York is 1-9 ATS when playing a team with a winning record in the second half of the season the past two-plus seasons.

Handicapper Line: New Orleans Saints (-5.5)

Recommendation: New Orleans Saints (-6.5)