NFL Expert Picks for Week 12 - Competitive Odds

It’s Friday, and that means the weekend is almost here—and what a weekend it’s shaping up to be in Week 12 of the NFL season! After kicking off last night with Thursday Night Football featuring the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns in an AFC North clash, we’re gearing up for a full slate of action. While last night’s game may have been a bit one-sided on paper, that theme continues into the weekend, with most matchups featuring uneven records.

Interestingly, this week doesn’t have a single game where both teams boast winning records—until we get to Monday Night Football. That’s when the much-anticipated “Harbaugh Bowl” will pit John’s Baltimore Ravens against Jim’s Los Angeles Chargers, adding a little sibling rivalry to cap off the week.

So, as we prepare to settle in for a weekend of football, let’s dive into some of the best bets for Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season. Let the games begin!

Best NFL Picks for Week 12

Our Expert Week 12 Picks

• Pick #1: Detroit Lions -7.5 over Indianapolis Colts (+100) 
• Pick #2: Miami Dolphins -7 over New England Patriots (-108)
• Pick #3: Los Angeles Rams +3 over Philadelphia Eagles (-120)

PICK #1: Lions -7.5 over Colts (+100)

Don’t look now, but the Detroit Lions are favored to win the Super Bowl. That’s right—this once-struggling franchise is now being hailed as the best team in football, and for good reason. At 9-1, Detroit is crushing opponents week after week. They’ve scored a jaw-dropping 52 points in two of their last four games and put up at least 42 points two other times in what is shaping up to be a historic offensive season.

Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, and Amon-Ra St. Brown are rewriting the record books, already setting the all-time NFL record for three teammates each scoring at least one touchdown in the same game—a feat they’ve accomplished eight times. This spells disaster for an Indianapolis pass defense that ranks 26th in the NFL against the pass and 25th in yards per attempt allowed.

Expect Detroit to add another dominant performance to their season as they roll over Indianapolis this weekend.

PICK #2: Dolphins -7 over Patriots (-108)

Both of these AFC East rivals are saddled with losing records, but the reality is that the matchup between New England and Miami is a lopsided one on paper. The Patriots have one bright spot in rookie quarterback Drake Maye, but this team is otherwise terrible. And Maye is more of a future prospect than a current star, anyway. Although the No. 3 overall pick has plenty of potential, it’s not like he is going to put a mostly weak roster on his back and single-handedly carry it to the playoffs in 2024. The Pats are already out of the running at 3-8, and their only victories since Week 1 have come at the expense of the New York Jets and Chicago Bears.

This is a tough matchup for New England, too, because Miami boasts a stout pass defense. On the other side of the ball, a healthy Tua Tagovailoa has seven touchdown passes and just one interception in four games since returning from a concussion. The Dolphins have won two in a row and should make it three here to keep their playoff push alive.

PICK #3: Rams +3 over Eagles (-120)

Sunday Night Football brings us an intriguing showdown between potential playoff teams in the NFC. The Rams may be a modest 5-5, but that is largely because receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua have missed time. Both guys are healthy now, which makes facing Los Angeles an entirely different proposition for any opponent. Head coach Sean McVay’s squad has won four of its last five games, also thanks in part to a youthful defense that includes rookie pass rusher Jared Verse. The Eagles are playing great, too, but five of their eight wins have come by one-possession margins. At the very least, the Rams should keep this one close.

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