It looks like Thanksgiving and Black Friday are here, which means it's time for the NFL to put its best foot forward. I'll be making some educated guesses on who will win straight up and cover the spread in Week 13. Keep an eye out as well for teams that might pull off a stunning upset based on the numbers.
Packers at Lions (-3): It seems like the Lions have struggled against top-notch defenses, so this matchup is a tough one to predict. The Packers' sixth-ranked rush defense will certainly make things harder for Jared Goff and the Lions' offense. With starting center Graham Glasgow and left guard Christian Mahogany out of commission, the odds are not in their favor.
Chiefs (-3) at Cowboys: When teams are facing elimination, that's when they really come alive. The Chiefs had to dig deep and pull off an upset against the Colts last week, boosting their playoff chances. They won't be caught off guard by the Cowboys this time around, as Steve Spagnuolo has proven himself adept at adapting his strategy. This should result in a more even contest than many people might anticipate.
Bengals at Ravens (-7): The Bengals, with quarterback Joe Burrow back on the field, are still struggling to find their footing after the loss of Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Lamar Jackson has taken the reins for the Ravens, who have made significant strides in the second half of the season. It's likely that the Ravens will be able to pull away from this game.
Bears at Eagles (-7): The Bears' offense looks strong with quarterback Caleb Williams behind a solid line and playmaking wide receivers Rome Odunze, DJ Moore, and Luther Burden. However, they have struggled defensively against opposing offenses, particularly when it comes to generating pressure on the quarterback. Meanwhile, the Eagles will be facing their own defensive test from this Bears' offense.
In general, all four of these matchups are going to be tough ones for the pickers. You'll need to do your research and trust your gut to get the job done.
Picks against the spread: Packers (+3), Chiefs (-3), Bears (+7).
Here's my final take on how many games I think each team will win, as well as their chances of making it to the playoffs, as well as ATS record for each team.
Packers at Lions (-3): It seems like the Lions have struggled against top-notch defenses, so this matchup is a tough one to predict. The Packers' sixth-ranked rush defense will certainly make things harder for Jared Goff and the Lions' offense. With starting center Graham Glasgow and left guard Christian Mahogany out of commission, the odds are not in their favor.
Chiefs (-3) at Cowboys: When teams are facing elimination, that's when they really come alive. The Chiefs had to dig deep and pull off an upset against the Colts last week, boosting their playoff chances. They won't be caught off guard by the Cowboys this time around, as Steve Spagnuolo has proven himself adept at adapting his strategy. This should result in a more even contest than many people might anticipate.
Bengals at Ravens (-7): The Bengals, with quarterback Joe Burrow back on the field, are still struggling to find their footing after the loss of Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Lamar Jackson has taken the reins for the Ravens, who have made significant strides in the second half of the season. It's likely that the Ravens will be able to pull away from this game.
Bears at Eagles (-7): The Bears' offense looks strong with quarterback Caleb Williams behind a solid line and playmaking wide receivers Rome Odunze, DJ Moore, and Luther Burden. However, they have struggled defensively against opposing offenses, particularly when it comes to generating pressure on the quarterback. Meanwhile, the Eagles will be facing their own defensive test from this Bears' offense.
In general, all four of these matchups are going to be tough ones for the pickers. You'll need to do your research and trust your gut to get the job done.
Picks against the spread: Packers (+3), Chiefs (-3), Bears (+7).
Here's my final take on how many games I think each team will win, as well as their chances of making it to the playoffs, as well as ATS record for each team.