Three Thanksgiving Day games are already in the books, but there are still 13 games remaining in Week 12 of the 2011 NFL season, including the Pittsburgh Steelers game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football. Let's take a look at the lines and make some picks.
Season to Date: 60-53-2 (no picks made in Week 6, 7, 9)
Lines courtesy of Bet Online as listed on SB Nation's NFL Odds page, powered by Odds Shark. You can see variability of lines between other sites (Bodog, 5Dimes) to find best value.
NFL Week 12 Lines and Picks
Minnesota Vikings (-115) at Atlanta Falcons (-9.5)
- No Adrian Peterson = no chance for Minnesota to hang tough against a Falcons team that can't afford a slip up this week as it tries to keep pace in the NFC South and wild card races. Pick: Atlanta
Cleveland Browns (-105) at Cincinnati Bengals (-7)
- Hard to believe that Cleveland can still make something quite positive of their season if they can go 3-3 or better down the stretch. I think they're better than people realize, and have primarily been held back by their unfamiliarity with Pat Shurmur's new west coast offense. Their offense still doesn't scare a soul., but they are at least starting to run the football better. Because Cincinnati continues to find ways to fall in big holes early, I'll take the Bengals to keep things close and perhaps pull off the upset. Pick: Cleveland
Carolina Panthers (-3) at Indianapolis Colts (+105)
- The 'Suck For Luck' sweepstakes are comfortably in reach, but as downtrodden as the Colts players may be, there is still pride at stake. Good spot for them to get off the schneid. Carolina's defense is just abysmal. Pick: Indianapolis
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Houston Texans (-6.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars
- It pains me to pick the Jaguars considering how bad they are, but no thanks on taking a position on a Matt Leinart led football team. Jags at least keep this close, even if their coach finds new and amazing ways to blow it again this week. Pick: Jacksonville
Buffalo Bills at New York Jets (-9)
- That's an awfully high line for a Jets team that's struggled to play a complete four quarters, but the Bills really are reeling. If you can find this line at 9 though, it's a good play, as it's up over 10 at least one offshore book. Pick: New York
Arizona Cardinals (-130) at St. Louis Rams (-3)
- Strange line movement with this game. At some books, the line is just 1.5, on BetOnline the line has stayed at 3, but the juice is exorbitant if you're wont to take Arizona.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-120) at Tennessee Titans (-3.5)
- First career start for Jake Locker in Nashville. He almost brought the Titans back last week, but that was in garbage time with little pressure. Tampa Bay is reeling, so this is a good first spot for Locker to be in, but something tells me Raheem Morris will have his guys ready to play knowing that he is getting dangerously close to being on a real hot seat. Pick: Tampa Bay
Chicago Bears at Oakland Raiders (-4)
- I'm picking against the new quarterbacks this week. Pick: Oakland
Washington Redskins (-115) at Seattle Seahawks (-3.5)
- Washington is a mess and I love it. Mike Shanahan has always been one of my least favorite figures in the NFL, and we're seeing that he's far from the 'elite' coach some thought he was in the wake of the two Super Bowls John Elway deserves most of the credit for. Seattle meanwhile is on the up-and-up. Exciting, young team to watch if you like defense. Pick: Seattle
New England Patriots (-3.5) at Philadelphia Eagles (-115)
- Vince Young gets start number two for Philadelphia in place of the injured Michael Vick. I think he'll do just fine, but it's the Eagles defense that will really have to rise up and play well like it did last Sunday night if the Eagles are to win their second straight and remain alive in the NFC East. Pick: Philadelphia
Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers (-6)
- Just how crazy can Tebow-Mania get? Real crazy if the Broncos were to win again in Week 12. Unfortunately for Denver fans, I don't see that happening. The Chargers have all sorts of issues, but they should be able to force the Broncos to take to the air to win, and that should bring the Broncos mini-run to a temporary halt. Pick: San Diego
Pittsburgh Steelers (-10.5) at Kansas City Chiefs
- The Chiefs are not a good football team. I would be extraordinarily disappointed if the Chiefs steal a win. The Steelers have won three straight coming out of their bye week under Mike Tomlin. Pick: Pittsburgh
New York Giants (-105) at New Orleans Saints (-7)
- The last time New Orleans played on Monday Night Football, they rang up over five dozen points on Indianapolis. They won't be able to have that kind of success against the Giants' defense, but I do think they'll have more than enough to send the G-Men to their third consecutive loss and inch close to the 49ers for the No. 2 overall seed in the NFC. Pick: New Orleans