Essential Week 12 Betting Notes for NFL Sunday
Looking for some quick-hitting betting info for Week 12 of the NFL slate? We break down all the need-to-know facts and figures for Sunday’s NFL matchups.
New Orleans Saints at Houston Texans (-3, 48)
* New Orleans coach Sean Payton gave his players an entire week off and is hoping for a change from the squad that dropped an overtime decision at home to Tennessee before getting crushed in Washington.
* After beginning the season 2-5 SU and ATS, the Texans have gone 3-0 SU and ATS in their previous three games.
St. Louis Rams at Cincinnati Bengals (-8.5, 42)
* The Rams are on a three-game losing skid and have gone 0-2-1 ATS over that span.
* The Bengals opened the season with eight consecutive victories (7-0-1 ATS) but have dropped two in a row (1-1 ATS) following a last-second defeat at Arizona on Sunday night. “I think the one thing you can take from this is that there’s no quit,” Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton told reporters after the 34-31 setback. “We fought until the very end and that’s good to see. We’ve got to keep that mentality.”
Minnesota Vikings at Atlanta Falcons (-1.5, 45.5)
* Minnesota’s third-ranked scoring defense looks to further frustrate a Falcons’ offense that has committed 16 turnovers in the last six games.
* The Falcons took a hit with running back Devonta Freeman (1,184 scrimmage yards, 11 TDs) leaving last week’s game with a concussion, and with him being unlikely to play Sunday, the Falcons will count on Matt Ryan and Julio Jones, the NFL’s leading receiver, to power the offense.
New York Giants at Washington Redskins (+2.5, 47)
* The Giants have covered the spread in the previous five meetings with their NFC East rivals.
* The Redskins are 4-1 at home on the season with its lone loss coming in its season opener against the Dolphins.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Indianapolis Colts (-3, 46)
* Bucs QB Jameis Winston is dragging his team back to respectability with wins in four of the last six games (5-1 ATS).
* The Indianapolis Colts are undefeated with 40-year-old Matt Hasselbeck starting under center (2-1 ATS) and are hanging in at the top of the AFC South.
Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs (-6, 41.5)
* Buffalo has been solid at stopping the run, which bodes well against a fairly conservative Chiefs offense, and the defense typically keeps the team in games as long as the offense doesn’t implode.
* Kansas City has gone a franchise-record four straight contests without committing a turnover. The Chiefs are 4-0 ATS in those games.
Oakland Raiders at Tennessee Titans (+1, 44)
* The Raiders have struggled offensively of late, totaling 27 points in their last two contests after scoring at least 34 in each of their previous three games.
* Tennessee fell to 1-2 SU and ATS under interim coach Mike Mularkey when it came out on the wrong end of a 19-13 decision at Jacksonville on Nov. 19.
San Diego Chargers at Jacksonville Jaguars (-5.5, 46.5)
* The Chargers are 0-4 on the road this year (2-2 ATS) and have lost five straight away from home dating to last season.
* Jags QB Blake Bortles has thrown at least two touchdown passes in five of his last six games and has connected with wide receiver Allen Hurns for a score in seven of the last eight contests.
Miami Dolphins at New York Jets (-3.5, 42.5)
* After the firing of coach Joe Philbin seemed to turn the Dolphins’ season around with two straight wins, Miami has lost three of its last four games and it appears the Dolphins will miss the playoffs for the seventh straight season.
* The Jets gave quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick a vote of confidence during the week despite throwing four interceptions in the past two weeks, both losses in games that New York was favored.
Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers (+10.5, 45)
* Owners of the league’s highest-scoring offense with an average of 33.6 points per game, the high-powered Cardinals manhandled the 49ers 47-7 in Week 3.
* Niners QB Blaine Gabbert has completed 37 of 59 pass attempts for 449 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in his two starts since taking over. San Fran has gone 1-1 SU, ATS and O/U.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Seattle Seahawks (-3.5, 45.5)
* Pittsburgh is 3-0 SU and ATS against the NFC West this season.
* Seahawks QB Russell Wilson is 6-0 (4-2 ATS) at home against AFC opponents.
New England Patriots at Denver Broncos (+2.5, 43)
* Tom Brady started showing the effects of losing leading receiver Julian Edelman and running back Dion Lewis, completing a season-low 51.3 percent of his passes and failing to throw for multiple touchdowns for the first time last week.
* Denver’s defense not only leads the league with 34 sacks, it also is surrendering the fewest total yards (284.3) and has scored four touchdowns.