Week 12 NFL Football Betting Power Rankings-Ratings Courtesy of Alex Smart, An Award-Winning Professional Football Handicapper Featured on Touthouse.com. If you are Betting on NFL Football in Week 12, Be Sure to Buy Alex’s Expert NFL Picks
1: Tennessee Titans (9-1 ATS, 10-0 SU) (LW: 1) Much like Bo Derek, the Titans are now a perfect 10. Much like the Patriots of last season, they’re also 9-1 ATS through ten games. What could separate these Titans from those Pats are the next few games. New England closed out the season 1-8 ATS including the playoffs. Will things be better for Titans bettors?
Next Up: Home vs. Jets (-5)
2: New York Giants (8-2 ATS, 9-1 SU) (LW: 2) The defending champs are playing the part on a consistent basis now. The G-Men pummeled the Ravens 30-10 by running all over the #1 defense in the NFL. A trip to the desert next week could be tricky, as they’ve lost back-to-back games both SU and ATS in Arizona.
Next Up: Away @ Cardinals (-3)
3: Green Bay Packers (7-3 ATS, 5-5 SU) (LW: 5) Few teams were as impressive on Sunday as Green Bay was in its 37-3 victory over the Bears. No one has been as impressive against the spread since the start of ’07 for football bettors than the Pack, though. They are now an astounding 19-6-1 ATS since the start of the 2007 season.
Next Up: Away @ Saints (-3)
4: Arizona Cardinals (7-3 ATS, 7-3 SU) (LW: 6) Is there a team that has it easier this season than the Cards? Ten games into the season, Arizona has the NFC West all but wrapped up following another relatively easy 26-20 victory over an inferior divisional opponent. It’s on the hunt for respect though, and a win over the defending champs this week will turn a lot of heads, as Kurt Warner takes on his former squad.
Next Up: Home vs. Giants (+3)
5: Baltimore Ravens (7-3 ATS, 6-4 SU) (LW: 3) Maybe the Ravens defense isn’t as good as we thought… The defense gave up over 200 rushing yards to the Giants on Sunday, and got shellacked in the Meadowlands by a 30-10 final count because of it. Baltimore fans know the toughest tests of the season are likely behind the team since it’s already played six of its eight road games.
Next Up: Home vs. Eagles (-1)
6: New York Jets (6-4 ATS, 7-3 SU) (LW: 12) No team gained more in Week 11 than the J-E-T-S, who are atop the AFC East all by themselves following a thrilling overtime victory in Foxboro on Thursday. They’ve had a long week of preparation for the undefeated Titans, in what should be the best game of the weekend.
Next Up: Away @ Titans (+5)
7: Atlanta Falcons (6-4 ATS, 6-4 SU) (LW: 4) For the third consecutive week, Atlanta was favored in a game that the average sports bettor would’ve given them no chance of winning at the outset of the season. The Falcons lost to Denver 24-20 in a thrilling game last week, but find themselves as favorites for the fifth time this season against Carolina. They’re 3-1 ATS as a chalk this season.
Next Up: Home vs. Panthers (-1)
8: Cleveland Browns (6-4 ATS, 4-6 SU) (LW: 11) If Cleveland had any chance of qualifying for the playoffs, it faced a must-win game in Buffalo last Monday night, and came away with the dramatic 29-27 victory. The win broke a two-game skid both SU and ATS, and the Brownies have a chance to get on a winning streak with the lowly Texans coming to town next.
Next Up: Home vs. Texans (-3)
9: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-4 ATS, 7-3 SU) (LW: 14) It’s probably because they’re consistently winning games in ugly fashion, but does anyone realize that the Bucs are 7-3 and only a game out in the NFC South? They snapped their three game ATS skid against the Vikes last weekend by winning 19-13 in typical Bucs fashion, and now head to the Motor City to try to keep the Lions winless on the year.
Next Up: Away @ Lions (+9)
10: New Orleans Saints (6-4 ATS, 5-5 SU) (LW: 16) It was touch and go for awhile, but New Orleans finished off Kansas City 30-20 last week, narrowly covering the six-point spread. This week is a season-defining game if the Saints hope to march into the playoffs, as a loss to Green Bay would be devastating.
Next Up: Home vs. Packers (-3)
11: Carolina Panthers (5-4-1 ATS, 8-2 SU) (LW: 7) QB Jake Delhomme hasn’t cracked 100 yards passing in the last two weeks, but his Panthers are 2-0 SU and 1-1 ATS during that stretch. They beat up on the lowly Lions 31-22, but never found themselves in front of the 14-point spread. Their upcoming trip to Atlanta once looked like a cupcake on the schedule, but now could be a real pain with the Falcons fighting for their playoff lives.
Next Up: Away @ Falcons (+1)
12: Philadelphia Eagles (6-4 ATS, 5-4-1 SU) (LW: 8 ) So let’s get this straight… We’ve seen Donovan McNabb puke on a football and now claim that he had no clue that there were ties in the NFL. Football bettors are supposed to bet on this joker? This vicious Ravens ‘D’ may be able to knock some sense into him. Be careful with the Eagles, as they’re just 1-3-1 SU on the road this season with that win coming in San Francisco.
Next Up: Away @ Ravens (+1)
13: Miami Dolphins (5-5 ATS, 6-4 SU) (LW: 9) It’s never a good sign when it takes a game-winning drive to beat the Raiders, and Miami bettors had to rip up their ticket even though the Fish took out the silver and black by two on a late field goal by K Dan Carpenter. The Pats come to town in a huge AFC East game next week, and though the Fins will look to extend their four-game winning streak, their bettors will hope that their two-game coverless streak will come to an end.
Next Up: Home vs. Patriots (-1)
14: New England Patriots (5-5 ATS, 6-4 SU) (LW: 10) About the only person who made money wearing a Patriots uniform last Thursday night was QB Matt Cassel, who became the first player in NFL history to throw for 400 yards and rush for 60. The Pats couldn’t beat the football betting odds against the Jets, and now face the harsh reality that a loss to the Dolphins could effectively end their hopes of repeating as AFC East champs after opening up the season as 8-1 favorites to win the division.
Next Up: Away @ Dolphins (+1)
15: Kansas City Chiefs (5-5 ATS, 1-9 SU) (LW: 13) The three-game cover streak for the Chiefs is over courtesy of a 30-20 loss against the Saints last weekend. They’ve still only won one game since the middle of last season, and HC Herm Edwards stock is falling faster than General Motors’. Don’t look for much more success this week, as KC is just 2-6 ATS in its L/8 against Buffalo.
Next Up: Home vs. Bills (+3)
16: San Diego Chargers (4-5-1 ATS, 4-6 SU) (LW: 22) The Chargers get the nod for a huge jump this week in spite of the fact that they probably shouldn’t have covered the spread against the Steelers thanks to a bonehead play at the end of the game that should’ve been ruled a touchdown. One would like to think if the Bolts have any chance of making the playoffs, these next three home games are all must-wins.
Next Up: Home vs. Colts (-3)
17: Washington Redskins (5-5 ATS, 6-4 SU) (LW: 15) It looks like Washington is going to have to take the long road to the Super Bowl this year after losing to the Cowboys 14-10 on SNF. They’re three games behind the Giants for the NFC East lead with four road games left on the slate. The good news is that they’re 3-0 ATS away from our nation’s capitol since losing on the opening night of the season.
Next Up: Away @ Seahawks (-3.5)
18: Dallas Cowboys (4-6 ATS, 6-4 SU) (LW: 23) The equation is simple for Cowboys bettors. They’re 3-3 ATS with Tony Romo under center and just 1-3 ATS without him. For the fourth time this season, Dallas is favored by more than a touchdown, a role which has plagued its bettors this year, going 0-3 ATS.
Next Up: Home vs. 49ers (-10.5)
19: Pittsburgh Steelers (4-6 ATS, 7-3 SU) (LW: 20) Like it or lump it, Steelers bettors caught a horrific break when the refs simply botched the final play of the game that cost them a ridiculous backdoor cover. It’s hard to penalize the black and gold after such a strong effort at the end of the game. They’ve lost four straight betting decisions at Heinz Field now, but have already pummeled Cincy 38-10 this season.
Next Up: Home vs. Bengals (-10.5)
20: Chicago Bears (4-5-1 ATS, 5-5 SU) (LW: 17) Maybe Kyle Orton’s return wasn’t the answer for the Bears’ woes. They lost 37-3 in Green Bay, and play the second of their three-game roadie at the Edward Jones Dome this weekend where they will meet the wildly inconsistent Rams.
Next Up: Away @ Rams (-9)
21: Detroit Lions (4-6 ATS, 0-10 SU) (LW: 26) The Lions are becoming a real thorn in the side for football bettors that can’t resist betting against a winless squad. QB Daunte Culpepper looked much more comfortable under center last week in their 31-22 loss in Carolina, and the “Motor City” squad could be primed for an upset in one of their next three games at home.
Next Up: Home vs. Buccaneers (+9)
22: Indianapolis Colts (4-6 ATS, 6-4 SU) (LW: 18) Indianapolis bettors looked like they had no chance of covering the Texans on Sunday, only to find themselves narrowly ahead of the spread for a short while until getting backdoored at the very end in a 33-27 win. The Colts are just 1-4 ATS in their new home, but are a solid 3-2 ATS on the road this year, where they will play their next two games.
Next Up: Away @ Chargers (+3)
23: San Francisco 49ers (4-6 ATS, 3-7 SU) (LW: 25) In arguably the most meaningless Week 11 game in the history of football, the Niners crushed the Rams 35-16 to take a commanding one-game lead on Seattle and St. Louis for the 2nd spot in the NFC West. The joke’s on the Niners though, as there’s no way they’re making the playoffs, and the victories are only costing them draft position in the Spring.
Next Up: Away @ Cowboys (+10.5)
24: Buffalo Bills (4-6 ATS, 5-5 SU) (LW: 19) Speaking of stocks falling, does anyone’s stock look worse than Buffalo’s right now? After opening up 5-1, the Bills have lost four straight games both SU and ATS and may have to win out to make the playoffs. The schedule isn’t brutal down the stretch, but one would think that a loss in Arrowhead this weekend will seal Buffalo’s fate.
Next Up: Away @ Chiefs (+3)
25: Seattle Seahawks (4-6 ATS, 2-8 SU) (LW: 21) Seattle fans, it’s okay to go to Qwest Field wearing bags over your heads now. On Sunday, the Seahawks dropped to a putrid 2-8 by losing to the Cards 26-20. Washington comes to town this week with revenge on its mind from last year’s 35-14 playoff loss in Seattle.
Next Up: Home vs. Redskins (+3.5)
26: Cincinnati Bengals (4-6 ATS, 1-8-1 SU) (LW: 29) Ryan Fitzpatrick and Donovan McNabb don’t have much in common, but they were the two quarterbacks in Sunday’s miserable 13-13 tie in Cincinnati. As a Harvard graduate, at least the Bengals signal-caller knew there were ties in the NFL, something that Philadelphia’s couldn’t say until Week 11… Hopefully Bengals bettors are smart enough to stay away from this weekend’s contest with Pittsburgh, as the Steelers have covered four straight against Cincy.
Next Up: Away @ Steelers (+10.5)
27: Oakland Raiders (4-6 ATS, 2-8 SU) (LW: 30) Perhaps the most pathetic stat in the NFL is that the Raiders would only have either the 4th, 5th, or 6th pick in the NFL draft if the season stopped today. They lost 17-15 in Miami last weekend, but getting away from Oakland stopped their three game slides both SU and ATS.
Next Up: Away @ Broncos (+10)
28: St. Louis Rams (3-7 ATS, 2-8 SU) (LW: 24) Very impressive, St. Louis! The Rams have been outscored in the first halves of their L/2 games by a total of 75-3, a feat that even Washington State can be proud of. Keep in mind that this is still the same team that upset Dallas 34-14 at home a month ago, and is capable putting a damper on Chicago’s playoff hopes this weekend.
Next Up: Home vs. Bears (+9)
29: Denver Broncos (3-6-1 ATS, 6-4 SU) (LW: 31) The Broncos have covered back-to-back games for the first time this season following Sunday’s 24-20 upset victory in Atlanta. They opened up a two-game cushion over San Diego for the AFC West lead, and with games in the near future against Oakland and Kansas City, it’s going to be hard to see how the Chargers can run them down with just six weeks left in the regular season.
Next Up: Home vs. Raiders (-10)
30: Minnesota Vikings (3-7 ATS, 5-5 SU) (LW: 28) The USS Minnesota is falling quickly, and Vikes bettors have been getting pummeled of late, losing four of their L/5 NFL betting decisions. They took it on the chin with a 19-13 loss in Tampa Bay, and will hope to snap their Florida woes next week in Jacksonville.
Next Up: Away @ Jaguars (+1)
31: Houston Texans (3-7 ATS, 3-7 SU) (LW: 31) The Texans were all set to beat the Colts until Sage Rosenfels happened again. While on the comeback trail behind 33-27, Rosenfels sealed Houston’s fate by throwing a pass in the general direction of four Colts and no Texans. It seems like the only thing left to root for in Houston is the fact that Wrestlemania is on its way.
Next Up: Away @ Browns (+3)
32: Jacksonville Jaguars (3-7 ATS, 4-6 SU) (LW: 27) Are the Jags finished? At 4-6, even winning out probably won’t be enough to get in the playoffs. They’re 0-5 ATS at home this season, and have another outing at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium this Sunday against Minnesota.
Next Up: Home vs. Vikings (-1)
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