Thanksgiving weekend marks the end of November action in the NFL. That means it's time to ramp up the positive results for the game picks and predictions against the spread.Week 12 of the 2021 season brings another set of tricky betting linesand odds. There are several to sup games with one team favored only slightly. That blurs the line betweenagainst the spread and straight upBut this isn't dubbed a fearle s forecast for nothing. For better or for worse, here's the latest round of pro pigskin prognostications for another 15-game slate:(Game odds courtesy of ) NFL POWER RANKINGS:Cardinals back to No. 1; Chiefs, Patriots rise as Cowboys, Bills fall for Week 12 NFL picks against the spread for Week 12Game of the Week: Rams (-1.5, 47 o/u) at PackersSunday 4:25p.m. ET, Fox The Packers lost a wild shootout in
John Randle Jersey Minnesota but still got back to rolling with Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams in the pa sing game. In this divisional playoff rematch, they will flex a little more in the running game in Lambeau Field with more of A.J. Dillon filling in for Aaron Jones. After a bye, Sean McVay's offense will clean up some things, leading to an exciting duel between Rodgers and old NFC Northfoe Matthew Stafford. Rodgers is just bound to make fewer mistakes at home and exploit the weakne ses around Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey better than Stafford does against an overachieving Green Bay defense.Pick: Packers win 30-24.Thanksgiving: Bears (-3.5, 41.5
Minnesota Vikings Hats o/u)at Lions Thursday 12:30p.m. ET, FoxThe Bears are going back to starting Andy Dalton after rookie first-rounder Justin Fields got knocked out with an injury to his ribs against the Ravens. The Lions may stick with Tim Boyle over Jared Goff, who mi sed all of Week 11 at the Browns with an oblique injury.Detroit created some ugly games in Pittsburgh and Cleveland with a run-heavy, gritty defensive approach. But its last two home games against Cincinnati and Philadelphia were disasters. Chicago has good recent history in Ford Field, including two consecutive Thanksgiving game wins.The Bears are mi sing key defensive players but still hve plenty of offense in this matchup to support Dalton, led by running back David Montgomery and breakout wide receiver Darnell Mooney. The Lions will try to ride D'Andre Swift to victory in the backfield, but their lack of reliable downfield pa sing game hurts here. Whether it's Fields or Dalton, the Bears will break out of scoring in the teens and execute enough to delay the end of the Matt Nagy era.Pick: Bears win 27-17 and cover the spread.Result: Bears win 16-14 but fail to cover the spread.Thanksgiving: Raiders at Cowboys (-7, 51o/u) Thursday4:30p.m. ET, CBS The Raiders are back to fading hardout of the AFC playoff picture. They can no longer run the ball and play adequate defense, which is putting a lot of pre sure on Derek Carr in what's become a compre sed pa sing game again. All those developments are bad for facing the Cowboys. Dallas had the Denver hiccup at home but has otherwise rolled in Jerry World.The Cowboys' offense will bewithout former Raiders wideout Amari Cooper (COVID-19) and likely also new top target CeeDee Lamb (concu sion). They were kept out of the end zone in Kansas City last week as both Dak Prescott and the running game struggled. Look for them to go back to basics with the backfield of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, with more short-to-intermediate pa sing and still just enough receiving pop with Michael Gallup and Cedrick Willson.The Raiders can do some damage with Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow inside for Carr, but again he'll be under siege and make critical mistakes as
Garrett Bradbury Jersey Dan Quinn's defense schemes to confuse him.Pick:Cowboys win 27-17and cover the spread.Result: Raiders win 36-33. Thanksgiving: Bills(-4, 46.5) at SaintsThursday8:20 p.m. ET, NBCThe Bills have lost their way offensively as the big plays downfield have been taken away from Josh Allen and they struggle to support him with a traditional running game. Allen needsto rely more on his own athleticism to make plays, takinga cue from what Jalen Hurts did against the Saints' defense. Throwing a lot more to Stefon Diggs and Dawson Knox on short-to-intermediate routes is also a smart,
Zack Bailey Jersey patient game plan.The Saints are uncertain to have Alvin Kamara (knee) back on a short week after he mi sed the past two games. The Bills' run defense should be motivated to show the Jonathan Taylor debacle at home was a fluke. Trevor Siemianshould see plenty of pre sure and won't see much open available with his limited receiver and tight end committee.Pick: Bills win 27-17and cover the spread.Result: Bills win 31-6 and cover the spread.Lock of the Week: Patriots (-7,43.5 o/u) over TitansSunday 1p.m. ET, CBSThe Patriots are putting it all together with their defense, special teams, running game and now more from rookie Mac Jones in an efficient downfield pa sing game. Bill Belchick has been foiled by his former linebacker Mike Vrabel's team in big spots but Vrabel is dealing with a shorthanded deck, making their once explosive offense easy to defend while they remain a lot of key fundamental holes in the defense. Ryan Tannehill was burned plenty by Belichick in AFC East play and his sudden Henry-le s slump doesn't bode well to put up more points than Jones does.Pick: Patriots win 24-10 and cover the spread.Upset of the Week: Giants (+3.5, 45.5 o/u) overEaglesSunday 1p.m. ET, FoxThe Giants are coming off tough Monday night home game vs. the Buccaneers. The Eagles have been red-hot of late, doing damage with Jalen Hurts leading a run-heavy approach. They also have been careful with limited receiving optionsfor Hurts. Danel Jones' team
Ameer Abdullah Jersey has been playing spoiler for fringe playoff teams ahead of them, including the Saints, Panthers and Raiders. New Yorkwould love nothing more than to burn Philadelphia with Saquon Barkley and a high-percentage pa sing game from Jones, who makes a few more plays at home to beatHurts.Pick: Giants win 24-23. Jets at Texans(-2.5, 44.5o/u) Sunday 1 p.m.ET, Fox The Jets get a break here because the Texans aren't an effective rushing by committee team away from old Bills rival QB Tyrod Taylor. Even down rookie running back Michael Carter, they have the better collection of versatile playmakers to help whoever's starting opposite Taylor. Robert Saleh's defense also packs a little more punch than David Culley's.Pick: Jets win 17-14.Buccaneers (-3.5, 53o/u) at ColtsSunday 1 p.m. ET, Fox Tom Brady should be comfortable moving the ball on the Colts' zone defense and should Vita Vea return for the Bucs as expected, they can at least slow
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