Each Friday of the 2018 NFL season, we’ll be picking every game (except for Thursday Night Football, of course) against the spread.
Here are the picks for Week 12.
Oakland Raiders at Baltimore Ravens (-10.5)
The Pick: Ravens
This is a bigger spread than I would’ve expected and it makes me a bit uncomfortable, but I can’t pick a 2-8 Raiders team that has travelled across the country.
Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals (-3)
The Pick: Browns
The Hue Jackson Revenge Game! The Browns played their best game of the season before the bye, and now face one of the league’s worst defences in Cincinnati.
New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles (-6)
The Pick: Giants
The Eagles could be without four cornerbacks against a Giants offence that has played much better over the last couple of weeks. New York will keep this close or win straight up.
San Francisco 49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3)
The Pick: 49ers
The Buccaneers are 1-3 at home against the spread, covering only in a Week 2 win over the Eagles, and have turned the ball over more than any other team in the NFL.
New England Patriots (-10) at New York Jets
The Pick: Patriots
If the Patriots can’t win by at least two touchdowns against a Jets team that lost by 31 to the Bills, then there really is reason to be concerned about New England.
Jacksonville Jaguars (-3) at Buffalo Bills
The Pick: Bills
The return of Josh Allen should be a boost for Buffalo’s offence, but it’s the Bills defence against Blake Bortles in Orchard Park that is the reason behind this pick. The safest bet for this game? The under, which is set at 37 as of this writing.
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Chargers (-13)
The Pick: Cardinals
I fully expect the Cardinals to lose this game, but Arizona is 2-1 against the spread on the road this season and have lost by 13 or more just once since Week 3.
Pittsburgh Steelers (-3) at Denver Broncos
The Pick: Steelers
If this spread was a bit bigger I’d consider going with the Broncos, but the Steelers by a field goal feels like a solid pick.
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Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts (-7.5)
The Pick: Colts
Riding a four-game win streak, the Colts have won those contests (three of which were at home) by an average of more than 19 points.
Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings (-3)
The Pick: Packers
I can’t go against Aaron Rodgers this late in the season. Whether it’s R-E-L-A-X or a running-the-table prediction, Rodgers makes it happen late in the season and I’m betting on it happening again, starting Sunday night.
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans (-6.5)
The Pick: Titans
The Gut Pick of the Week. I have no real explanation here — just a feeling about it. That is, unless Blaine Gabbert starts for Tennessee. Then all bets are off.
