NFL Week 12 Picks 2025 (Thursday 20th November-Monday 24th November)

The end of November is fast approaching and this is the time when people will begin to wonder which of the fourteen NFL teams are going to work their way into the Playoffs.

It really does feel like six of those teams will be playing in the West Divisions- both AFC and NFC- while the NFC North has set the table for three of the teams to be also be playing in the post-season.

Some big teams could still be missing when it is all said and done in early January and some are worrying about the Kansas City Chiefs- this feels like a big week for them against the Indianapolis Colts, while injuries have been really impacting teams all around the League at a much higher rate than is usually the case.

However, that has also kept the door open for some teams to challenge for Playoff spots and the Baltimore Ravens are proof of that with just a game separating them and the AFC North lead, while having big games against the Pittsburgh Steelers to be played.

The NFL have made a good decision to put plenty of Divisional games on the second half of the regular season schedule and that will keep players motivated.

It has been a difficult opening eleven weeks of the NFL season and the Picks are running just under 0.500, which is a real disappointment.

Special Teams have been having a big impact with the new kick off rules, and those have landed in the wrong way more often than not, but that should be something that reverts to the mean.

Once you reach Thanksgiving Day, it does feel like the regular season is on the turn towards home and that means there is some pressure to get the Picks moving with some momentum and consistency.

New York Jets @ Baltimore Ravens Pick: They won, and that matters, but the Baltimore Ravens (5-5) will be aware that they need a stronger performance from Lamar Jackson at Quarter Back if they are going to have the kind of season hoped. He looked a little wary in the win over the Cleveland Browns and made some mistakes, but the Ravens have managed to remain hot on the heels of the AFC North leading Pittsburgh Steelers and they still have to face this rival twice in the final weeks of the regular season.

The Ravens are scheduled to play on Thanksgiving Day and will have a mini-Bye ahead of the first game with the Steelers, but Baltimore have been playing catch up after a slow start to the season and cannot afford any slips against teams they are expected to beat.

In Week 12 they are hosting the New York Jets (2-8) who had won two in a row before losing on Thursday Night Football against the AFC East leading New England Patriots.

This defeat has been seen as an opportunity to make a change at Quarter Back, which does feel harsh on Justin Fields.

Tyrod Taylor was scheduled to come in as starter during the opening run of losses, but the Jets backup was injured and Justin Fields helped put together a couple of wins. This has only delayed the move, but it will be asking a lot of the veteran to help the Jets find an Offensive spark they feel has been missing.

He started his career with the Baltimore Ravens, but Tyrod Taylor has bounced around the League as a backup since then and this is going to be a tough test against an improving Ravens Defensive unit.

The hope for the Jets is that they can hand the ball to Breece Hall and look for him to attack a Baltimore Defensive Line that is looking better, but which does give up some big runs when losing a bit of focus. The Quarter Back is capable of moving the pocket with his legs and looking to escape down the field where he can, which will also help, although you have to feel the Baltimore Ravens will know more than most how to handle someone behind Center who can make as many plays with his legs as he does with his arm.

New York will not want to have to rely on Tyrod Taylor and an inexperienced group of Receivers to have to step up and so it is very important to not lose touch with Baltimore on the scoreboard.

Lamar Jackson was clearly dealing with something in the win over Cleveland, but the Ravens are trying to downplay any injury being more than 'wear and tear' that comes with playing Football.

It was the lack of plays with his legs that caught the eye, but the Baltimore Ravens may be comfortable using Derrick Henry in the main to pound the rock against a Jets Defensive Line that have lost some key players in recent weeks. It has resulted in a decline in the numbers against the ground attack and the Ravens should keep Jackson and company in third and manageable spots.

The Sacks piled up last week against the Ravens, but it should be more comfortable for the team if they are running the ball as they should be able to do against the Jets.

This should mean Lamar Jackson does not have to hold onto the ball for too long and there is likely to be a lot more consistency from the home team when it comes to keeping drives moving up and down the field.

A distraction of playing on a short week against a Divisional rival is a concern, but Lamar Jackson has an 11-5-1 record against the spread when set as a double digit favourite in regular season games. After the poor overall performance in the Week 11 win, Baltimore can be much stronger all around in this one and rattle the veteran Tyrod Taylor into a mistake or two, which should see the Ravens pull away.

New York Giants @ Detroit Lions Pick: It has not been a good season for the two New York teams in the NFL and the Giants (2-9) are right there with the Jets in the fight for the Number 1 Pick in the Draft.

They have already fired the Head Coach, but the team have been decimated by injury and are going to be without rookie Quarter Back Jaxson Dart again. He was a part of the old regime so you do have to wonder if the Giants will think about taking a Quarter Back in the next Draft if they finish with the top Pick, so it is important for Dart to get back in the lineup and show what he can do as soon as possible.

It will be Jameis Winston again in Week 12 and the veteran did help the New York Giants to a competitive loss against the Green Bay Packers last week.

However, it was another defeat and that was at home, while this time they are travelling to face a NFC North team on the road and one that is looking to bounce back from a disappointing defeat.

The Detroit Lions (6-4) made too many mistakes and were unable to reach double digits in terms of points in the defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles. They are home this time and Detroit have regularly bounced back from setbacks, even in a season where they have suffered double the number of regular season defeats compared with 2024 and with seven games yet to play.

There is also the potential distraction of playing the early kick off on Thanksgiving Day, but the Lions are 3-1 against the spread in the last four years before that big game.

This season they are also facing an important game against Divisional rivals Green Bay Packers who are above the Lions in the standings, but Head Coach Dan Campbell will want to see a positive response from his team after the below par performance against the Eagles.

We should see a pretty comfortable game plan from the Detroit Lions when they have the ball- the Giants have struggled to stop the run and that is something that the Lions are going to exploit.

Jared Goff had some issues with his timing in the loss to the Eagles, but he should have more time with the team in front of the chains and the Quarter Back can also bounce back with the Lions looking to show off their teeth before the big rematch with the Packers.

Overall it is going to be a much more testing experience for the New York Giants when they have the ball.

Jameis Winston offered up some leadership to a young and banged up crew, but he is likely going to have to make some plays out of third and long spots on the field. The Giants have been operating well enough behind this Offensive Line, but running the ball against the Detroit Defensive Line is never easy and the Giants could soon become one-dimensional with the play-calling as they look to keep themselves in the game.

Despite the injuries in the Secondary, the Detroit Lions have continued to play the pass effectively- they are helped out by the fact that the team can generate a solid pass rush to put the pressure onto Quarter Backs, and that has aided the backup players coming in to plug holes.

This is where the Lions could take control of this game and they are facing a New York Giants team that have not been as effective on the road as they have been at home.

Over the last two and a half years, the Giants are 8-15 against the spread when playing on the road and Dan Campbell's record after a loss suggests the Lions will have too much for the visiting team in Week 12.

New England Patriots @ Cincinnati Bengals Pick: The trade for Joe Flacco looked a decent decision for the Cincinnati Bengals (3-7) when they beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. They would have been hoping that the veteran could keep them on track, while waiting for Joe Burrow to return, but the Bengals have lost three in a row.

This is a team that has been competitive in those games, but ultimately they needed to get over the line a couple of times.

Joe Burrow has been back in practice, but a decision has been made to not take any risks with the franchise Quarter Back and he has been ruled out for this Week 12 game. The Bengals do play against Divisional rivals Baltimore on Thanksgiving Day, which is a game that Burrow may be targeting, and that is a potential distraction knowing Ja'Marr Chase is also missing this week.

The Bengals are hosting the AFC East leading New England Patriots (9-2) who have been the big surprise package in the 2025 season and who will be looking to extend the lead over the Buffalo Bills.

Right now the Patriots look good to finish with the top Seed in the AFC and they have won eight in a row, while also having had a mini-Bye ahead of this game after beating the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football.

Drake Maye has really been growing into the Quarter Back position and he will be encouraged by some of the life being shown by the Offensive Line when it comes to run blocking. The more carries being picked up TreVeyon Henderson, the better the Patriots are becoming, and they can punish this Bengals team on the ground and just make things very comfortable for the Quarter Back.

Injuries on the entire Defensive unit has held the Bengals back and the Secondary have been struggling, which is going to be exposed if the New England Patriots are in third and manageable spots on the field. A confidence has been growing in the chemistry between Drake Maye and his Receivers and the Patriots should be able to keep drives moving with some real consistency.

This is unlikely to be a blowout immediately with the Bengals Offensive Line and Chase Brown showing life in recent outings, while they will have noted some of the issues the Patriots have had in stopping the run. However, the absence of Ja'Marr Chase makes it so much easier to find a game plan to deal with Cincinnati and that could mean focusing on clamping down on the run and asking Quarter Back Joe Flacco to beat them with the Receivers that are available.

Throwing against this Patriots Secondary would have been challenging even with a full complement of Receivers, and Joe Flacco will have to be careful after a back-breaking Interception in what had been a close game against Pittsburgh beforehand.

You cannot dismiss the spread and it being a touch high.

However, the feeling is that the Bengals could be gearing up to give Baltimore all they can handle on Thursday night and that may see them lose a bit of focus for what has been a very good New England team.

MY PICKS: Baltimore Ravens - 13.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Detroit Lions - 12.5 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

New England Patriots - 7.5 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Minnesota Vikings + 6.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Philadelphia Eagles - 3 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Los Angeles Rams - 6.5 Points @ 1.83 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Week 11: 2-4, - 2.23 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37.17% Yield)

Week 10: 3-3, - 0.34 Units (6 Units Staked, - 5.67% Yield)

Week 9: 2-2, - 0.18 Units (4 Units Staked, - 4.50% Yield)

Week 8: 4-3, + 0.52 Units (7 Units Staked, + 7.43% Yield)

Week 7: 3-2, + 0.69 Units (5 Units Staked, + 13.80% Yield)

Week 6: 3-4, - 1.09 Units (7 Units Staked, - 15.57% Yield)

Week 5: 3-3, - 0.33 Units (6 Units Staked, - 5.50% Yield)

Week 4: 2-3, - 1.14 Units (5 Units Staked, - 22.80% Yield)

Week 3: 5-3, + 1.56 Units (8 Units Staked, + 19.50% Yield)

Week 2: 3-2, + 0.67 Units (5 Units Staked, + 13.40% Yield)

Week 1: 0-2, - 2 Units (2 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)

2025 Season: 30-31, - 3.87 Units (61 Units Staked, - 6.34% Yield)

College Football Week 12 Picks 2025 (Saturday 15th November)

Three weeks remain in the College Football season and so the jockeying for high Rankings to earn a place in the Playoffs begins to really heat up.

There are some big games left on the schedules, which will begin to separate out the top of the Rankings, while the Playoff Committee are potentially going to have some big decisions to make.

Some are even suggesting there could be a path towards not including the ACC Champion, which would be a huge blow to a Conference that had an unbeaten Champion miss out on the four team Playoff just two years ago. However, the top of that Conference has been littered with teams who have some poor losses on the resume and the likes of Georgia Tech and Miami are struggling to even make the Championship Game as the two highest Ranked teams in the Conference.

That could pave the way for two of the non-Power 4 Conference Champions to be included at the expense of the ACC, while the SEC and Big Ten are expected to make up the majority of the teams in the twelve team bracket.

However, games in Week 12 through Week 14 will separate those within the Conference and upsets could shake up the whole Ranking debate next week.

Week 11 was another poor one for the College Football Picks and a bounce back is needed with the six selections made ahead of the next round of games.

There will be no Friday selection in Week 12 with the opening selections coming from the Midday Eastern Time slot and being played throughout Saturday.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ Pittsburgh Panthers Pick: The latest Rankings released by the Playoff Committee have maintained Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-2) in the top ten and they have a clear path to earn another spot in the twelve team post-season party. Last year the Fighting Irish were beaten in the National Championship Game and there was a real concern that losses in the first two games of 2025 would have ended the Playoff bid before it really got started.

Seven wins in a row have clearly kept the Fighting Irish involved, but they can also be grateful that one of the losses was to the unbeaten Texas A&M Aggies who are very well respected by the Playoff Committee. That defeat was by a single point and so the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have to feel confident that winning out will earn them a spot in the post-season, which would have been the minimum ambition in South Bend when the campaign got underway.

This looks to be the most difficult game left on the schedule for Notre Dame against a Pittsburgh Panthers (7-2) team that have their own ambitions of making the Playoff.

They are currently just outside of the top two places in the ACC, but Pittsburgh share a 5-1 Conference record with four teams in the Conference, while the Duke Blue Devils are 4-1 in ACC play. Only two will be able to make the Conference Championship and only one of those is likely to move forward into the Playoff and so you could kind of understand what Head Coach Pat Narduzzi meant when stating that he would 'gladly' see his team blown out in Week 12 if it meant Pittsburgh win out and earn a spot in the Conference Championship Game.

Pat Narduzzi was trying to make the point that this game does not impact the ACC standings, but it has not gone down very well with the Pittsburgh fans.

His team have won five in a row and you have to imagine they are not so concerned with what was being said to the media and instead will have been working hard to keep the momentum going.

Games against Georgia Tech and Miami remain on deck for the Panthers, but they are coming out of a Bye Week and Pittsburgh are 14-7 against the spread when plauying with rest under Pat Narduzzi. This record is 6-1 against the spread when Pittsburgh are playing at home and so the spread looks a little wide, even if the Head Coach has suggested focus could be on the two remaining ACC games instead.

The Line of Scrimmage will be the key battle when the Fighting Irish have the ball- Notre Dame have a solid duo at Running Back who can pound the rock very effectively behind this Offensive Line, but the Pittsburgh Defensive Line is the strength of the team on this side of the ball and it is going to determine so much about how this game is played out.

If the Fighting Irish win up front, they will feel they can move the ball all day.

However, CJ Carr could be facing some pressure at Quarter Back if the Panthers are able to force the road team into third and long spots on the field. The Pittsburgh Secondary have been able to step in front of passes and make big plays, even if they are a unit that can be exposed by Quarter Backs, and turnovers could really give the home team an opportunity to keep this one competitive.

The expectation is that the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will find a way to win, but the Panthers are at home and should be well prepared to keep this one close on the scoreboard.

They will be relying on the Defensive unit to make plays with the likelihood being that Pittsburgh are going to be inconsistent at best when they do have the ball in their own hands.

It feels much clearer that the Panthers are going to struggle to establish the run and that is going to be a problem for Mason Heintschel at Quarter Back, despite his personal numbers being very impressive. For starters being in third and long would put pressure on the Offensive Line to keep the pocket clean against this strong Notre Dame pass rush, while Heintschel has been guilty of throwing Interceptions when that pressure has been in his face.

The feeling is that Notre Dame may edge the turnover battle with that in mind and they can get the better of this contest, even if it means beating the spread against a rested Pittsburgh team that have been very good when given additional preparation time.

Notre Dame should have a bit more consistency with the ball and they are 8-4 against the spread as the road favourite.

Pat Narduzzi is still below 0.500 against the spread when overseeing a game as an underdog with the Pittsburgh Panthers and the team could soon begin to turn their attention to the next two weeks if they fall behind in this one. The Panthers may end up seeing a couple of turnovers give the Fighting Irish the short fields from which they can pull away for a big win and just give the Playoff Committee further reason to strengthen the Notre Dame place in the top twelve of the Rankings.

Wisconsin Badgers @ Indiana Hoosiers Pick: There is not going to be too many teams who are able to progress through the entire regular season schedule and not face a couple of sticky moments.

The Indiana Hoosiers (10-0) had to battle to get past the Penn State Nittany Lions in Week 11 in the second of back to back road games, but they did find a way to earn the victory and remain unbeaten in 2025.

Despite that, the Hoosiers are the Number 2 Ranked team in College Football with the Number 1 being the defending Champions Ohio State Buckeyes and both teams are set to meet in the Big Ten Championship Game. All eyes may already be turning towards that game in early December, but the Hoosiers have been given a real reminder that they will have to focus on the two remaining teams to play before the end of this month.

Indiana are going to be big favourites to win those remaining games considering the opponents have a combined 1-12 record in the Big Ten through eleven weeks of the season.

First up is the Wisconsin Badgers (3-6) who won for the first time in the Conference last week and who can still become Bowl eligible by winning out.

This is the Hoosiers last home game of the season, at least in the regular season, and Head Coach Curt Cignetti will likely have taken note of the fact that the Alabama Crimson Tide and Ohio State Buckeyes have blown out Wisconsin this season. Both of those teams are Ranked in and around the Hoosiers and so this may be seen as a chance for Indiana to just cement their current placing, especially with a Bye Week coming up to reset.

Indiana will have to respect the recent performances of the Wisconsin Defensive unit- they are able to play the run pretty well and that has helped the Secondary.

The challenge for the Hoosiers is trying to establish the run, which is always an important part of the game plan, and they will be confident in the Offensive Line. If they can battle up front and rip off some big gains, the day should be a comfortable one for the Indiana Hoosiers who can move the ball pretty efficiently, especially with Quarter Back Fernando Mendoza looking to show a bit more of a convincing performance after a tough day against the Nittany Lions.

No one will ignore the fact that this is a huge spread, but that is very much down to the Offensive issues the Badgers have had all season.

While the Hoosiers will feel they can find a way to pound the rock with some success and have a real belief in the Quarter Back, the Wisconsin Badgers have been a pretty miserable Offensive unit.

They have not been able to run the ball very well, while the Badgers are going to have to go with an inexperienced Quarter Back again this week. Both Carter Smith and Hunter Simmons had playing time from the position in the win over the Washington Huskies, but neither really had any success and now they are playing an Indiana Secondary who will be keen on turning the ball over.

Wisconsin are averaging just over 12 points per game this season- they failed to score against the Buckeyes and Iowa Hawkeyes, while the Badgers scored just 7 points against Oregon.

All of that adds up to whether Indiana can score enough points to cover- the Ducks struggled against the Badgers, but both Iowa and Ohio State had much more success and Indiana are likely going to be highly motivated to go out on a high at home.

The Hoosiers are averaging around 52 points per game at home and they may need to get to just shy of 40 points in this one to secure a cover.

Oklahoma Sooners @ Alabama Crimson Tide Pick: There is a chance that the Alabama Crimson Tide (8-1) can secure their place in the SEC Championship Game at the end of Week 12, but they will need to maintain the unbeaten record in the Conference.

No one will be taking anything for granted, even after putting together an eight game winning run, and especially as it has not been forgotten how the Crimson Tide were crushed in Norman twelve months ago.

Alabama are on course to return to the College Football Playoff and were Number 4 in the latest Rankings released, but the Oklahoma Sooners (7-2) are still hoping they can do enough to impress the Committee and earn a spot of their own. They came out of the latest Rankings at Number 11, but the Sooners know that they will need to be inside the top ten come the end of the season if they are going to be involved in the twelve team post-season picture.

This is the key game for the Sooners, who finish off the season against the Missouri Tigers and LSU Tigers in home games.

They kept themselves alive by beating the Tennessee Volunteers on the road in Week 10 and Oklahoma are coming out of a Bye Week. Any team in that position at this stage of the regular season could be very dangerous and the Oklahoma Sooners will have studied tape from the win over Alabama in 2024 and look for the little creases that could turn this game in their favour.

Both teams are going to have some challenges to move the ball with some consistency.

The Sooners will be looking for the Offensive Line to try and win at the Line of Scrimmage against what has been another tough Alabama Defensive Line. Performances going into the Bye Week would have offered Oklahoma encouragement in the way the Offensive Line was playing, but over the course of the season it has been tough for them up front and that has shifted the pressure onto Quarter Back John Mateer.

Big expectations have been carried by John Mateer since arriving from the Washington State Cougars, and he does offer a dual-threat from the Quarter Back position. However, he has not really reached the same level produced in 2024 in a tougher Conference and schedule and Mateer may have issues if he is being forced to throw out of third and long spots on the field.

If running the ball is going to be a challenge for the Wisconsin Badgers, it is going to be doubly difficult for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

All season the Crimson Tide have not been able to do enough on the ground and that remains a concern for them and their chances to win another National Championship. They are not expected to get much joy in this one against the strength of the Badgers Defensive unit, but Alabama will still believe they can do enough Offensively to win the game.

Much of that confidence comes from having Ty Simpson at Quarter Back who is close to 2500 passing yards and who has thrown 21 Touchdown passes with a single Interception this season.

As much as the Sooners have impressed with their ability to play the run, the Secondary had been struggling before the Bye Week and allowing an average of almost 300 passing yards per game in the last three SEC games played. Head Coach Brent Venables will have had his Coaches working to improve on those numbers, especially when facing Simpson and company in Tuscaloosa, but it is an area that the home team can find the edge needed.

Brent Venables has struggled to get his team going when they are facing an opponent playing with revenge and the Sooners are just 5-9 against the spread in that spot.

Oklahoma are only 5-4 against the spread as the road underdog during this Head Coach's tenure and the suggestion is that the Alabama Crimson Tide can just show enough consistency in the passing game to edge to the cover of this spread.

NC State Wolfpack @ Miami Hurricanes Pick: The Power 4 Conferences always expect their Champions to be involved in the College Football Playoff, but there is a real chance that the ACC might miss out this season with the way things have played out.

Two seasons ago, the Florida State Seminoles were not invited into the four team Playoff, despite an unbeaten record, and the ACC have to be concerned that the Champion could be left out again if teams continue to suffer disappointing losses.

With the Seminoles kicking off the season with an upset over the Alabama Crimson Tide and big expectations carried by the Clemson Tigers and Miami Hurricanes (7-2), this is something that the ACC could not have envisioned.

Even now, the Hurricanes are Ranked as the best team in the Conference, but they are 3-2 in the Conference and will need to win out and hope for a number of permutations to land their way if they are to even make the Championship Game. Winning out might give the Playoff Committee something to think about anyway, but it is unlikely to be enough to earn a spot in the twelve team Playoff.

For now the only part the Hurricanes can control is winning out and they need to find some consistency having lost two of the last four games played.

This is the last home game of the season and Miami do still have to play the Pittsburgh Panthers, which could be a pivotal game.

Overlooking the NC State Wolfpack (5-4) would be a mistake- the record may not leap off the page and the Wolfpack are only 2-3 in the ACC, but they are playing after a Bye Week and ended the Georgia Tech unbeaten record in Week 10. This is a team who also produced the only Conference loss the Virginia Cavaliers have had this season and the Wolfpack are potential spoilers even if both of those wins have been at home.

The Wolfpack are 17-9 against the spread when playing after a rest, although that record is built on being at home following the Bye. You still have to have a huge amount of respect for a team that is still in need of one more win to become Bowl eligible and NC State will be very happy to play spoiler.

It is the battle on the Line of Scrimmage that is a feature of yet another game- the Wolfpack Offensive Line have opened up big running lanes, but the Miami Defensive Line is very strong against the run. The Hurricanes will want to clamp down up front and force CJ Bailey to try and have to beat them with his arm, although the Quarter Back will be confident form having thrown over 550 yards and 5 Touchdown passes in his last two starts.

This is a tough Secondary to compete against and one that is capable of turning the ball over, which is the challenge for CJ Bailey considering what happened when the Wolfpack faced Notre Dame Fighting Irish last month.

Miami will also be expecting to be tested when it comes to establishing the run, but the difference is that they have found a consistent pass rush to rattle Quarter Backs when stuck in third and long spots. This has not been the case for the NC State Wolfpack and that extra time for Carson Beck could make all of the difference in the outcome of this game.

Unlike the Hurricanes Secondary, the Wolfpack have allowed teams to pile up the numbers through the air in recent games and Miami's experienced signal-caller is going to be able to do the same. This should give the home team the consistency to move the ball that may be lacking for the Wolfpack and Miami can push clear of the handicap mark to give the Playoff Committee evidence of their strengths.

The Hurricanes are just 1-3 against the spread in the last four games, but the NC State Wolfpack have been set as the road underdog three times this season and all have ended in straight up and against the spread defeats.

Utah Utes @ Baylor Bears Pick: There is still a healthy amount of respect being given to the Utah Utes (7-2) who are Number 13 in the latest Playoff Rankings, but the route into the post-season remains very difficult.

Barring some big upsets in the last three weeks of the season, Utah will likely know that multiple Big 12 teams are not expected to be selected for the twelve team Playoff.

Instead it will the Conference Champions who can only really feel confident that they will be involved in the First Round and Utah have a lot of work to do if they are going to be even involved in that Championship Game.

They are 4-2 in the Big 12 this season, but the Utes have lost to both Texas Tech and BYU who are both at 5-1.

Utah will have to finish strong and then hope a number of results go their way, but the only concentration for the team in Week 12 is getting the better of the Baylor Bears (5-4).

One more win is needed to become Bowl eligible, but this has been a disappointing season for the Bears who are 3-3 in the Big 12.

The Bears have piled up some solid Offensive numbers and they are at home this weekend as they prepare to move into spoiler mode, but this is a Defensive unit that will pose a significant test. Running the ball is going to be tough and that will shift a lot of pressure onto Sawyer Robertson who has been operating behind a shaky Offensive Line.

Any time Robertson is in third and long spots, the Utah pass rush is going to get after him and this is a Utes Secondary that have continued to impress. Throwing the ball with consistent success is not going to be easy for Baylor and you can begin to understand why they have been set as a big home underdog.

The Offensive unit have needed to pile up the points to aid what has been a pretty disastrous Defensive season for Baylor.

The Bears have had a Bye Week to try and figure things out, but the Defensive Line have struggled in recent games and now have to take on this powerful Utah Offensive Line that have loved establishing the run. They have done more than that recently by helping the team rip off some huge gains on the ground and Utah are expected to be playing in third and short spots for much of the afternoon.

Devon Dampier returned at Quarter Back in the impressive win over the Cincinnati Bearcats and he will be pretty comfortable with the spots in which Utah choose to have him throw. Recent passing numbers against the Bears Secondary have not been that eye-catching, but that is also partly down to the successes teams have had pounding the rock and not needing to pick up huge chunks through the air to keep the chains moving.

It is likely to be the game plan for Utah and this is a team looking to add some style to the victories being produced.

The Utes are 3-1 against the spread as the road favourite this season and have beaten Baylor in each of the last two seasons- they look capable of doing that again and likely make some big Defensive plays to push clear of this spread.

Texas Longhorns @ Georgia Bulldogs Pick: 'Only' three SEC teams were selected to make up the twelve team College Football Playoff last season, but the Conference is set for a bounce back year in 2025.

This is the Conference that has long prided itself in being the best in College Football, but it was the Big Ten who had more participants last season. Some have suggested that is partly down to the greater depth in the SEC and teams playing in this Conference have received plenty of respect from the College Football Playoff Committee this time around.

If the season was to end today and the current Rankings were all that matters to the final Playoff shake-up, the SEC would have six teams inside the top 12 Rankings. However, the Conference is likely going to thin out the field over the last three weeks of the regular season and this game in Athens, Georgia is going to be a pivotal one to how the final Rankings come out.

The Georgia Bulldogs (8-1) were one of the three SEC teams that played in the Playoff in 2024, but they were upset as the Number 2 Seed in the Quarter Final.

This season they are currently Number 5 in the Rankings, but the Bulldogs need to win out to maintain that spot, especially as they only have one SEC game left. Even winning that last game may not be enough to take part in the Championship Game, but the focus is to put another solid win on the board and the Bulldogs are unlikely to be overlooked if they have an 11-1 record at the end of the regular season.

In Week 12 they are hosting the Texas Longhorns (7-2) who are back in the top 10 of the Rankings, but who are under pressure to finish the season as strongly as possible. There is still a chance that the Longhorns can push their way into the SEC Championship Game, but that will mean needing to upset the odds here and also beaten currently unbeaten Texas A&M Aggies in Week 14.

To say it is challenging is an understatement, but Texas had won four in a row heading into the Bye Week and finally showed the Offensive output that many had expected this season in beating the Mississippi State Bulldogs and Vanderbilt Commodores.

Winning games is impressive, but the Longhorns have to know that this Defensive unit is going to offer a lot more resistance than Mississippi State and Vanderbilt.

Arch Manning is almost certainly going to spend another year in College Football before heading off to the NFL and his last two performances have shown the talent this Quarter Back has. He also carries big expectations with that surname and the Longhorns will go as far as Arch Manning can throw them in this big game.

There will not be a great expectation of receiving a lot of support from the ground attack against this Georgia Defensive Line and that will give Manning some problems. Unlike the last two opponents, this is a Secondary that have made things very difficult for opponents, even with a limited pass rush, and Georgia will believe they can offer enough looks to stall drives and perhaps even force the Quarter Back into a mistake.

The Bulldogs will also be relying on the Quarter Back to throw the ball to move the chains- the Offensive Line are not going to find it easy to open running lanes against this tough Longhorns Defensive Line.

However, Gunner Stockton will be confident in his ability to keep Georgia ticking having thrown for over 2000 passing yards with 15 Touchdown passes and just 2 Interceptions.

Most importantly, Stockton is going to be throwing into a Texas Secondary that have really been struggling to deal with the pass in recent games and that could be a real difference maker with the two Quarter Backs on display.

In the last three games, Texas have allowed well over 300 passing yards per game.

The key is whether the strong Longhorns pass rush can find a way to get to Gunner Stockton, who has been well protected of late- if the Quarter Back gets any time, he should be able to exploit the spaces he sees down the field and Stockton's care with the ball gives Georgia every chance of pushing towards the Playoff and perhaps ending the Texas Longhorns hopes.

Georgia did beat Texas twice in 2024, which will give the Longhorns the motivational edge, but the Bulldogs have been far less erratic than Texas this season.

The Longhorns have lost half of the four road games played this season and barely got the better of the Kentucky Wildcats in the other and so the edge is with Georgia to make enough big passing plays to win and cover.

MY PICKS: Notre Dame Fighting Irish - 12.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Indiana Hoosiers - 29.5 Points @ 1.95 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Alabama Crimson Tide - 6 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Miami Hurricanes - 15.5 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Utah Utes - 8.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Georgia Bulldogs - 6 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Week 11: 1-5, - 4.09 Units (6 Units Staked, - 68.17% Yield)

Week 10: 3-3, - 0.33 Units (6 Units Staked, - 5.50% Yield)

Week 9: 3-3, - 0.19 Units (6 Units Staked, - 3.17% Yield)

Week 8: 2-3, - 1.18 Units (5 Units Staked, - 23.60% Yield)

Week 7: 4-1, + 2.62 Units (5 Units Staked, + 52.40% Yield)

Week 6: 2-4, - 2.22 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37% Yield)

Week 5: 1-5, - 4.20 Units (6 Units Staked, - 70% Yield)

Week 4: 2-4, - 2.14 Units (6 Units Staked, - 35.67% Yield)

Week 3: 4-4, - 0.36 (8 Units Staked, - 4.50% Yield)

Week 1: 1-4, - 3.14 Units (5 Units Staked, - 62.80% Yield)

Week 0: 2-1, + 0.75 Units (3 Units Staked, + 25% Yield)

NFL Week 12 Picks 2024 (Thursday 21st November-Monday 25th November)

There are still some teams waiting to head into their Bye Week, but Thanksgiving Weekend is usually a time when most feel the Playoffs really come looming over the horizon.

It is the same feeling in 2024 with the holidays a few days away and teams are beginning to separate out in both Conferences.

Schedule makers for the NFL have been encouraged to load the back end of the schedules with a lot of Divisional games and that is certainly the case in Week 12, beginning with the AFC North game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns. There are plenty of others to come, including in the NFC East and North and in the AFC West and we will begin to see the Wild Card Race take shape too.

After a strong run for the NFL Picks, Week 11 meant back to back losing weeks, although not nearly as poorly as the Week 10 results.

Bouncing back has to be the ambition in Week 12 ahead of the Thanksgiving Day games, and to make sure the numbers are moving back in a positive direction for the overall season.

Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Commanders Pick: 2024 has proven to be a productive season for the Washington Commanders (7-4) and they are certainly going to be challenging for a Playoff spot. However, it should be noted that they have been a team that have yet to really prove themselves against one of the top teams in the NFL after going down to a defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday Night Football last time out.

That has dropped the Commanders behind the Eagles in the NFC East, but the three games to be played before Washington meet their rivals again gives the team an opportunity to bounce back. It will have felt like a mini-Bye for the Commanders and the players, which should offer an opportunity for some to feel a little healthier, while a full Bye is coming up shortly that will really put the Commanders in a position to focus towards the end of the regular season.

If the Coaching staff were looking at the schedule back in August, this would have looked another challenging Divisional game for Washington, but it has been a season of disappointment for the Dallas Cowboys (3-7). There is an inevitability to big changes being made in the off-season with Head Coach Mike McCarthy almost certainly playing out his contract over the next several weeks.

He has not been helped by the injury picked up by Quarter Back Dak Prescott, although that cannot be an excuse with the Cowboys struggling before he went down. Cooper Rush proved himself to be a capable backup when playing in that role before, but he has not been able to turn the tide on the season and the Cowboys will be heading out on the road having been blown out at home on Monday Night Football by the Houston Texans.

A short week and with a number of banged up players really does not bode well for the Cowboys, who are also playing on Thanksgiving Day as is tradition in a few days time.

The key for the Cowboys will be to keep this game competitive and try and lean on the Offensive Line to open up some running lanes for the team. Unfortunately the Line is banged up and the Running Backs used have not really lived up to their reputation, which may mean it is far from easy for Dallas to have success on the ground like others have managed against the Washington Defensive Line.

Playing closer to the Line of Scrimmage and daring Cooper Rush to beat them with his arm will be the plan for Head Coach Dan Quinn, who earned the Washington top Coaching role thanks to his performance as the Cowboys Defensive Co-Ordinator in recent years. Dan Quinn will be well aware of the strengths and weaknesses of Quarter Back Cooper Rush, as well as a number of the other players on the Dallas roster and that should certainly mean the Commanders are well prepared.

Playing against this Dallas Defensive unit should also help Jayden Daniels and the Commanders Offensive unit get back on track after a couple of inconsistent efforts against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles. The Quarter Back has been a little banged up, which has perhaps lessened his enthusiasm for running the ball, but having a bit more time to prepare should help Daniels.

He also has both Running Backs available after Brian Robinson Jr returned against the Eagles and the Commanders Offensive Line could get back on track by opening up rushing lanes.

Jayden Daniels has not been at his best since taking a hard shot to the ribs, but it will help so much if he is playing in front of the chains as expected in this game. This makes completions that much easier to come by and the Cowboys have been worn down in games with the team struggling to extend drives and having the Defensive players out on the field for far too long.

In recent seasons Dallas have had the better of this Divisional rival, but the roles look reversed now and Dan Quinn is not expected to show much mercy if his Washington team are in control. Instead he may want his team to just show what the Cowboys have been missing and the Commanders may end up pulling away to become the latest team to crush Dallas.

Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears Pick: It looked like the Chicago Bears (4-6) were going to snap their three game losing run and get the 2024 season back on track when driving down the field and lining up for the game-winning Field Goal against the Green Bay Packers. However, it sums up the recent era in Chicago that the Field Goal was blocked and the Bears fell to a fourth defeat in a row, a run that started with the ridiculous Hail Mary given up to the Washington Commanders.

Head Coach Matt Eberflus has heard the disappointment coming out of the stands and his time in charge in Chicago is almost certainly coming to a close.

He is trying to remain focused, but that was a hard defeat to take in Week 11 and the Chicago Bears will do well to recover from the setback. To make matters tougher, they are facing another NFC North rival in the Minnesota Vikings (8-2) who have won three in a row and very much looking like a team that will continue to push the Detroit Lions and exceed all pre-season expectations.

So many believed this would be a transitional season for the Vikings with Sam Darnold at Quarter Back, but it has been a career best year for a player who has bounced around the NFL.

Interceptions have been a little troubling for Sam Darnold during this three game winning run, and he would certainly be given much more help if the Offensive Line can go back to helping the Vikings run the ball as effectively as they had been earlier in the season. There is an opportunity to get back on track against this Bears Defensive Line, which has been the weakness on this side of the ball, and keeping Darnold in third and manageable would make a huge difference for the Quarter Back.

The Bears have not really been generating a fierce pass rush so being in strong positions on the field should allow Sam Darnold to have the time to target some of his big time playmakers down the field. The Chicago Secondary deserves plenty of respect, but shutting down the likes of Justin Jefferson completely is always a tough challenge and the Vikings should have a decent day when they have the ball in hand.

Steering clear of turnovers is important for Minnesota, but doing so will give the Defensive unit every chance of rattling Caleb Williams.

The rookie Quarter Back had a decent game against the Green Bay Packers, but this Minnesota Defense is going to offer plenty of unfamiliar looks which can confuse even those players with a lot of experience behind them. Caleb Williams has not seen a Brian Flores Defensive unit before and he is still operating behind an Offensive Line that has struggled when it comes to pass protection.

Running the ball against the Vikings is not going to be easily achieved and that means Caleb Williams needs time for routes to develop down the field. It will give Brian Flores the opportunity to dial up some fierce pass rushes and those are likely to get home, which in turn could lead to a couple of errant throws from Williams.

Picking those off would really give Minnesota the edge and they might take advantage of the scheduling spot.

Chicago are playing in the early kick off on Thanksgiving Day and it could be tough for the players to recover before that game at the Detroit Lions after losing in the manner they did against the Green Bay Packers. With the Vikings going about their business without much fanfare, Minnesota may make the big Defensive plays to ensure they can win and cover and continue their march towards the Playoffs with a solid win at Soldier Field.

New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins Pick: The Buffalo Bills look like a genuine contender to win the Super Bowl, but the rest of the AFC East have been a big disappointment this season.

There were some serious expectations with the New York Jets and the same applies for the Miami Dolphins (4-6), although injuries have been a big factor for the latter and the record they currently hold. Tua Tagovailoa is back at Quarter Back and that has sparked the Dolphins to back to back wins, which have kept them interested in making a run to the post-season as long as they can maintain momentum.

They may only be slightly behind Miami in terms of the record, but that path looks much tougher for the New England Patriots (3-7) who would have been expecting some inconsistencies with a rookie Quarter Back likely taking over from veteran Jacoby Brissett at some point.

Drake Maye has not played badly at all since coming into the lineup, but the Patriots have to expect some ups and downs. They have won two of their last four games, but one or two poor throws have led to Interceptions and that is part and parcel of having a rookie come into what was expected to be a team that struggles again.

Playing against Miami has been tough for the Patriots in recent years after Tom Brady departed, but even with the future Hall of Fame player at Quarter Back, visits to South Florida have been challenging. This will be a tough test for Drake Maye, but he may be able to lean on the Offensive Line to at least help establish the run and put him in the best position to have some success.

Being in front of the chains will give Drake Maye a real opportunity to attack this Dolphins Secondary, although the Quarter Back will have to be aware of the tendencies the Defensive Backs have in turning the ball over.

Running the ball will also give Maye a bit more time to survey the field before making his throws and the Patriots may have some success moving the ball, which could also mean a potential upset is on the cards.

That looks unlikely on the last couple of outings from the Miami Offensive unit, but Tua Tagovailoa will have to respect the levels being produced by the Patriots. The Miami Offensive Line have not been as consistent in helping the team run the ball in recent games as they would have hoped and the Dolphins will have some issues trying to establish the ground game against New England.

If the Dolphins are not able to find much consistency on the ground, Tua Tagovailoa may have a slightly more difficult afternoon throwing the ball than many would expect. The record is not the best, but the Patriots have been competitive on the Defensive side of the ball and recent games have seen the Secondary play well with help from the pass rush up front.

Slowing down the Miami passing game is never going to be easy, but forcing the Quarter Back to play out of third and long will help New England. They can certainly stall a few drives and that may give the Patriots an opportunity to keep this Divisional game competitive and make use of the points being given to them.

Miami should win, but covering becomes harder when you think they have a Thanksgiving Day date with the Green Bay Packers in just four days time. They may not have their very best effort for the Patriots, but instead look to do just enough to win and New England are certainly playing well enough Defensively to avoid any blowout defeat here.

Denver Broncos @ Las Vegas Raiders Pick: They snapped an eight game losing run to the Las Vegas Raiders (2-8) earlier this season and the Denver Broncos (6-5) will be looking to back up their very strong victory in Week 11 against the Atlanta Falcons. There is still a hope that the Broncos will surprisingly earn a spot in the Playoffs in Sean Payton's second season as Head Coach in Denver and they are certainly facing the Raiders at a good time.

The loss in Miami last time out means Las Vegas have lost six in a row and the team have been struggling with injury and players being out of form.

While they will be motivated in trying to avoid a sweep at the hands of a Divisional rival, this is not an ideal spot for the Raiders who will be playing on Black Friday at the home of the Kansas City Chiefs. Head Coach Antonio Pierce has to be feeling some pressure during this losing run, especially with new voices like Tom Brady likely to be having an input in future decisions made by the franchise.

Gardner Minshew and Aidan O'Connell have both had playing time at Quarter Back, but neither has really played well enough for the Raiders and this is a team that is likely going to be looking for a new player to come in when the NFL Draft comes around. Neither has been helped by the issues that the Raiders have had when it comes to running the ball and they are not expected to find much room up front against this Denver Defensive Line.

Struggles to run the ball has put a lot of pressure on the Raiders Offensive Line and they have not offered a lot of protection or time for the Quarter Back. This is likely going to be the case against the Denver pass rush and the pressure up front will make it tough to throw the ball against the Broncos Secondary.

Brock Bowers is likely going to step up and offer Gardner Minshew someone to target, but the Quarter Back has been inconsistent and there is every chance he makes one or two poor decisions that ultimately offers Denver some extra possessions.

Unlike the Raiders, the Denver Broncos should be able to have some success on the ground and that is likely going to give Bo Nix an opportunity to build on recent solid performances in his rookie season.

Sean Payton's Offensive mind has certainly helped Bo Nix and he should be able to expose some of the issues the Raiders have had in the Secondary. Avoiding mistakes is one of the big tests for any rookie Quarter Back and in recent games Nix has been able to do that very effectively.

He should be able to make enough plays to keep the chains moving and this could lead to another solid win for the Broncos against this Divisional rival. The spread looks considerable on the road, but Las Vegas look like a team that is struggling to compete and the focus may soon shift to trying to put their best foot forward when facing the Kansas City Chiefs in a few days time.

Denver's Defensive unit can make a couple of big plays for the team to swing things in their favour and the Broncos may just keep their Playoff hopes on track with a solid victory on the road here.

San Francisco 49ers @ Green Bay Packers Pick: Revenge will be on the minds of the Green Bay Packers (7-3) after narrowly being beaten by the San Francisco 49ers (5-5) in the NFL Playoffs at the end of the 2023 season. They looked to be in control of that game before the late defeat, but that game was played at the home of San Francisco and this time Green Bay have home advantage.

A late blocked Field Goal helped the Packers continue their dominance of NFC North rivals Chicago Bears, but they are still looking up at the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings despite a healthy seven wins on the board. Winning the Division will be challenging considering what we have seen from the Lions, but the Green Bay Packers are firmly on the march towards a post-season spot.

They can really begin to knock off some of their rivals if Green Bay are able to get the better of the 49ers, especially after San Francisco dropped back to 0.500 after a surprising home loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Adding to the disappointment during the week was the news that Nick Bosa has been ruled out for this Week 12 game having finished the game last week watching on from the sidelines. Even worse, San Francisco have announced that starting Quarter Back Brock Purdy will be missing on Sunday and that means Brandon Allen will be getting the call.

There is no doubting that Allen will be familiar with the San Francisco system having been the third-string backup for the 49ers last season. However, the Quarter Back has not started a game in the NFL since 2021, while a 2-7 record as a starter is not exactly going to inspire a lot of confidence.

Brandon Allen does benefit from playing with Christian McCaffrey and this San Francisco Offensive Line and there is every chance that the 49ers will at least establish the run and keep their backup Quarter Back in front of the chains. Earlier in the season there were signs that the Packers would be better at dealing with the run, but they are still giving up healthy yardage on the ground and McCaffrey should have a decent game.

Of course, the Packers may not have as much respect for the passing game as they would if Brock Purdy was playing behind Center. It may mean creeping up to the Line of Scrimmage to make a real effort to stop the run and force Brandon Allen to beat them through the air, although San Francisco are likely to counter with some eye candy distractions behind the Offensive Line to see if they can establish the run in other ways.

The Quarter Back is not expected to hold onto the ball for too long and there are some solid playmakers around him, which should give the 49ers a chance to keep the chains moving. Staying with the Packers is key though as no one would really want to put the burden of play on the shoulders of Brandon Allen.

And the 49ers do have a Defensive unit that can at least step up and help their backup Quarter Back by putting the clamps down on the powerful Green Bay Offense run by Jordan Love.

Much of the Packers successes have come behind the Offensive Line and having Josh Jacobs churn out some big yards on the ground, although stopping the run has been something that the 49ers have long prided themselves on. It is strength versus strength along the Line of Scrimmage in this Week 12 game, but Green Bay will not shy away from handing the ball off and making sure they are playing out of third and manageable situations at the very least.

In their Playoff meeting, the Packers did have success with Aaron Jones when it came to running the ball so they have to believe that Josh Jacobs can do the same.

The Offensive Line have enjoyed run blocking, but have also been effective at giving Jordan Love time to make his plays down the field. Without Nick Bosa, San Francisco may not be able to rattle the Quarter Back and the improving play of the Secondary may be exploited if there is time to make the throws against them.

Green Bay are still hoping that one or two players can really come out of the pack in the Receiving corps and really offer Jordan Love a consistent threat through the remainder of the regular season and Playoffs. Christian Watson was back in the thick of things last week, but has to show more consistency if he is going to become the main threat in the passing game, while Jordan Love will be keen to just clear up some of his own Interceptions.

Doing that should give Jordan Love an opportunity to get one over on the San Francisco 49ers, especially with Brandon Allen at Quarter Back for the road team. Some teams have been able to step up and rally around their backup, but the Packers look strong enough Offensively to force Allen to have to play some big plays and that could see things unravel.

The Packers do play on Thanksgiving Day, which could be a potential distraction in some circumstances- however, there has been a real rivalry with the 49ers in recent season with plenty of Playoff games between the teams and that should mean the home team are focused and looking for a big win that could serve as an important tie-breaker when the Wild Card positions are confirmed later this season.

Arizona Cardinals @ Seattle Seahawks Pick: The Arizona Cardinals (6-4) may have enjoyed their Bye Week as they return in Week 12 with their lead in the NFC West still in place. They can thank rivals Seattle Seahawks (5-5) for that having upset the San Francisco 49ers to drop the three teams behind the Cardinals to the same record.

Where the Arizona Cardinals have a real edge over their rivals within the NFC West is that they are 2-0 in Divisional games, while both Seattle and San Francisco have losing records in those games. The Los Angeles Rams are 2-1, but a win here for the Arizona Cardinals could be a huge step towards the post-season in what has been a surprising year for the team.

Four straight wins have given the team the lead in the NFC West, but also bolstered confidence and there is a lot to like about this Arizona team.

Patience with Head Coach Jonathan Gannon has been key after the 4-13 record last season, but even more important has been the return to full health of Quarter Back Kyler Murray. He is on course for his most starts in a single season since 2021 and Murray would have been under some pressure at the start of the 2024 season having compiled a 6-13 record in his previous nineteen starts.

Kyler Murray has matched those wins over the previous two seasons through just ten games in 2024 and the Offensive unit are rolling.

Running the ball with someone like Murray at Quarter Back will always be an important part of the game plan and James Connor deserves a lot of respect for the level he has been producing in Arizona. The Seahawks did play the run pretty well against San Francisco last week, but overall it has been a struggle for them and the dual-threat from Kyler Murray has been complemented by the power of Connor at Running Back.

Any time a team can play out of third and manageable situations is going to be a huge boost and the Cardinals have been doing that very often during their four game winning run. Kyler Murray has been given some serious weapons in the passing game, which he has used very effectively thanks to the play-action opening things up down the field.

Everything begins from the run for the Arizona Cardinals, but that has been an issue for the Seattle Seahawks in recent games. They are not being helped by injuries on the Offensive Line and with a sudden retirement of Connor Williams at Center, but the Seahawks are facing an Arizona Defensive Line that is not always the best at stopping the run.

Helping the Cardinals is the fact that they are playing with a scoreboard lead and so teams have to step back and throw the ball, although Geno Smith has shown he can produce under pressure when leading the Seahawks to a win last week at San Francisco. The Quarter Back is expected to have some success with the quality of Receivers that he is targeting, but Smith will just have to look out for the players stepping in front of passes.

While the Cardinals have only picked off five passes this season, it should be noted that they have only allowed eleven Touchdown passes so this is going to be a significant test for Seattle out of an upset. Being at home is certainly going to help, but the team are just 2-4 here this season and there is every chance that the Arizona Cardinals can come out of their Bye Week and secure an important victory.

Both teams will have some successes, but the balance of the Arizona Offensive unit may just help them come out on top and maintain their unbeaten record within the NFC West. With the 49ers playing a tough game on the road and the Los Angeles Rams hosting the Philadelphia Eagles, this could be a big week for the Cardinals and they may just come out on top in a back and forth game.

MY PICKS: Washington Commanders - 10 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Minnesota Vikings - 3.5 Points @ 2.00 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

New England Patriots + 7.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Denver Broncos - 5.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Green Bay Packers - 5.5 Points @ 1.92 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Arizona Cardinals - 1 Point @ 1.95 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Week 11: 2-3, - 1.23 Units (5 Units Staked, - 24.60% Yield)

Week 10: 1-6, - 5.05 Units (7 Units Staked, - 72.14% Yield)

Week 9: 3-2, + 0.73 Units (5 Units Staked, + 14.60% Yield)

Week 8: 4-2, + 1.72 Units (6 Units Staked, + 28.67% Yield)

Week 7: 4-3, + 0.73 Units (7 Units Staked, + 10.43% Yield)

Week 6: 4-2, + 1.67 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.83% Yield)

Week 5: 4-2, + 1.64 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.33% Yield)

Week 4: 6-2, + 3.45 Units (8 Units Staked, + 43.13% Yield)

Week 3: 3-3, - 0.23 Units (6 Units Staked, - 3.83% Yield)

Week 2: 4-2, + 1.62 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27% Yield)

Week 1: 5-2, + 2.67 Units (7 Units Staked, + 38.14% Yield)

College Football Week 12 Picks 2024 (Saturday 16th November)

The last couple of weeks have been rough to say the least.

A poor run with plenty of poor Picks have disappointed, but there is still some time to turn things back around.

The same thing will be thought by players and teams that are underperforming, although the margin for error is beginning to fade for those that have suffered two losses. One of those teams is the Georgia Bulldogs, but they have still been given enough respect by the Playoff Committee to believe they can force their way into the top twelve by bouncing back and winning out.

It would help if some of the top Big Ten teams lose games in the next couple of weeks, but teams have to focus towards the end from here and that means winning games and not worrying about how the final Rankings will come out.

Week 12 has a number of big games set to be played and the scene can change very quickly in College Football with an upset or two and so there will be drama, as there is every time games are played through the nation.

Texas Longhorns @ Arkansas Razorbacks Pick: We are getting closer and closer to the end of the regular season and there are still some big things to achieve for the Texas Longhorns (8-1). They have bounced back from the home loss to the Georgia Bulldogs and Texas looked strong out of their Bye Week when crushing the Florida Gators to move to 4-1 within the SEC.

Winning out will put the Texas Longhorns into the SEC Championship Game and they are 3rd in the latest College Football Playoff Rankings already. Reaching the Final with an 11-1 record would see the Longhorns almost certainly playing to reach the National Championship, even if they were to lose the SEC Championship Game.

Two of the remaining three games in the SEC are on the road, but the Longhorns will be strong favourites over the next two weeks before taking on upstart Texas A&M Aggies over Thanksgiving Weekend to round out the season.

Overlooking the Arkansas Razorbacks (5-4) would be a mistake with the team holding a 3-3 record in the SEC and who have already upset the Tennessee Volunteers at home. The Razorbacks have been blown out in home defeats to the LSU Tigers and Mississippi Rebels since upsetting the Volunteers and so the Bye Week will have given them a chance to reset and to prepare really well for this game.

Motivation will be easy for the home fans with Arkansas and Texas holding a historic rivalry that has been put aside in recent years as they have played in different Conferences. That is not the case now, while it has only been a little over three years since Arkansas crushed Texas at home as a relatively big underdog.

This has not been forgotten by the Longhorns either, but this Texas team is stronger than the one that last visited Arkansas and the Defensive unit look like they could be capable of making the plays to contain the home team.

Having the Bye Week last week means the Razorbacks could have both Quarter Back Taylen Green and Running Back Ja'Quinden Jackson in the lineup. Both are going to be very important for Arkansas in any upset bid they think they can put together, but running the ball against this Texas Defensive Line has been challenging for most teams this season.

Taylen Green had been putting up some decent numbers of late, but again the challenge is facing a Longhorns Defense that is playing at a high level and with a place in the College Football Playoff in their sights. He may have a bit more time in the pocket than he has been used to in recent games, although the Longhorns will always cause problems in the backfield if a team is playing from third and long against them.

Arkansas have struggled for consistency against the better teams faced on this side of the ball, while the pressure will ramp up on the Razorbacks Defensive unit to produce better than they did against the Tigers and Rebels. Unfortunately, the Razorbacks are facing a Texas team that have plenty of playmakers on the Offensive side of the ball and it is going to be a huge test for them, even out of a Bye Week.

One area where Arkansas have played well is containing the run and they may have some success doing that in this game too, although the Secondary have really had major problems when facing the pass. Now they have to deal with Quinn Ewers, who had five Touchdown passes and well over 300 passing yards in the win over Florida in Week 11.

Quinn Ewers is expected to have his way with this Razorbacks Secondary, although it is never easy playing on the road in College Football.

However, the Longhorns have a long winning run in true road games and it does feel like Texas will be able to fight through a potential shoot out and eventually pull away like the Rebels did against Arkansas.

Rivalry games can produce plenty of upsets so you have to be aware of the potential of the Arkansas Razorbacks... But with a College Football Playoff place to be earned, Texas can push through some rough moments and eventually produce the kind of statement win that will give the Committee plenty of reason to keep the Longhorns Ranked very high in the Playoff places.

Utah Utes @ Colorado Buffaloes Pick: Both of these teams moved to the Big 12 from the Pac-12 at the end of last season and there was always a feeling that one of them would potentially challenge for a spot in the Championship Game and eventually the College Football Playoff.

In saying that, most would have expected that to be the Utah Utes (4-5) rather than the Colorado Buffaloes (7-2), although injuries have decimated the hopes of the former.

Take nothing away from Colorado and the performances they have been able to put together as they go into Week 12 as the Number 17 Ranked team in the latest College Football Playoff picture. The margin for error is pretty slim and you would think the Buffaloes need to win out to take their place in the Big 12 Championship Game, while Colorado will likely need to win that to earn a place in the top twelve when the regular season is concluded.

It means there is still some pressurised football for Colorado to play, but the performances will have built the confidence of an already confident team.

Three straight wins have given the Buffaloes momentum, but it has been a really different story for Utah who were incredibly upset with the late flag that led to a very narrow loss to the BYU Cougars last time out. They looked certain to end a four game losing run, but the Utes were downed by a single point in Week 11 and you do have to wonder how much they have left having invested so much to down a rival.

It is the injury to Quarter Back Cam Rising which has begun the slide, but the Utes may actually be down to a third string player in the position this weekend. Brandon Rose will have to take the call if Isaac Wilson is ruled out and this is an incredibly tough spot to be in considering the vastly improved Colorado Defensive unit that will be in front of them.

Running the ball against the Buffaloes Defensive Line has been a tough task for teams and it will be that much harder for the Utah Utes if Colorado do not respect the Quarter Back they are facing. There is faith in the ability of the Buffaloes Secondary, who have restricted teams to under 200 passing yards per game during their three game winning run, while the pass rush has found a way to get home.

After putting in such an effort to beat the Cougars, the Utah Utes may struggle for any kind of consistency when they have the ball in their hands and that could allow the surprising Buffaloes to pull clear for an impressive win.

Head Coach Deion Sanders deserves a lot of credit for the work done in his short time with Colorado and some believe it is an inevitability that he will move into a role in the NFL sooner rather than later. He has some very talented players on the roster, who are expected to be First Round Draft Picks and high ones at that, although Sanders has a huge amount of respect for the Coaching that is being done in Utah and how tough that could make things for his team.

Like the Utes, it may not be easy for the Buffaloes to have a lot of consistent success on the ground which means the onus will be on Quarter Back Shedeur Sanders to try and make plays against a tough Utah Secondary. His numbers during this winning run have been impressive, but Colorado will know only too well how touch Utah can make things with seven defeats in a row to this opponent.

The last time they met in Boulder, Utah crushed Colorado by 42 points, although you can imagine that scoreline has been spoken about a lot this week to just remind the home players to redeem themselves. Shedeur Sanders did not face Utah himself though and he will feel he can use the quality playmakers around him to make the plays needed to win this game.

This is a big spread, but it is an easy argument to make that 24 points could be all that Colorado need to cover, especially if the Defensive unit can just bamboozle a potentially inexperienced Quarter Back heading out for Utah. Deion Sanders will point out how well Kyle Whittingham Coaches with the fact that Utah have not really been blown out during this five game losing run, but the team have not scored a lot of points in those games and Colorado have reached at least 28 points in seven straight games.

Virginia Cavaliers @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish Pick: Being an Independent means the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-1) will not have a Conference Championship to show the College Football Playoff Committee and earn a spot in the final twelve team Rankings. However, they are being given plenty of respect already with teams falling to two losses around them and the Fighting Irish are Number 8 in the last Rankings released.

The schedule has not really been one that could help the Fighting Irish, although they are set to face the unbeaten Army Black Knights in Week 13, which could be a huge game for both teams.

First up is a home game with the Virginia Cavaliers (5-4) who upset the Pittsburgh Panthers last weekend after an injury to the young Pittsburgh Quarter Back. One more win is still needed to earn Bowl eligibility, but the upset will give the Cavaliers a real boost in confidence ahead of a tough end to the season.

Producing enough consistency on the Offensive side of the ball will be the challenge for the Virginia Cavaliers, who have been struggling to run the ball in recent games. They are now facing a Fighting Irish Defensive Line that have really been very strong at the Line of Scrimmage and who will be looking to make Virginia as one-dimensional as possible as they continue to not only look to win games, but to win impressively.

One of the key Notre Dame Linemen will be missing on Saturday, but there is still every chance that the Fighting Irish can give this Virginia Offensive Line fits. Protecting Anthony Colandrea is the key for the Cavaliers, but that has been a hard task to achieve of late and Notre Dame have a Secondary that will not allow anything to be converted easily.

It should mean the Fighting Irish avoid another big upset having suffered one earlier in the season, but covering the spread will not be easy.

The Fighting Irish will want to run the ball and use that to open things up for Quarter Back Riley Leonard and there is a balance to this Offensive unit that Notre Dame will want to maintain. You have to credit the Virginia Defensive Line in the way they have played the run, although they will not have faced too many Offensive Lines like the one that Notre Dame are going to be running out onto the field.

For much of the season, Notre Dame have worn opponents down on the ground and this has allowed Leonard to show off some of his talents when it comes to throwing the ball down the field. The Quarter Back has an ability to tuck the ball and run for First Downs on his own, and he will have time in the pocket to expose the Virginia Secondary which has had issues stopping the pass.

Picking up turnovers is where Virginia could make things interesting, but the Fighting Irish have momentum and the strength at the Line of Scrimmage on both sides of the ball cannot be ignored.

Three seasons ago, Notre Dame won by 25 points on the road against Virginia and the feeling is that they match that margin in South Bend in Week 12 of the 2024 season and just keep themselves firmly in the mind of the Playoff Committee.

Oregon Ducks @ Wisconsin Badgers Pick: The current top four teams in the Big Ten Conference have all been given top five Rankings in the latest College Football Playoff picture and there is a real scenario where the two teams missing out on the Championship Game are going to be feel incredibly hard done by.

Out of the four teams, the Oregon Ducks (10-0) look to be in the best position.

They are not just unbeaten, but the Ducks finish this season with two teams that have a combined 10-9 record and they will have two weeks to prepare for the game with the Washington Huskies.

Despite that, Oregon dare not lose focus in the last road game at the Wisconsin Badgers (5-4) who are chasing one more win to become Bowl eligible. Being at home will always bring motivation to the table, while the Badgers are playing after a Bye Week as they look to snap a two game losing run.

The crushing loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes two weeks ago really stung, and it is never easy for a team that were expected to be getting veteran play out of the Quarter Back position only to have to deal with injuries which means an inexperienced player is being used instead. Braedyn Locke has thrown for 1400 yards, but he has 8 Touchdown passes along with 8 Interceptions and avoiding mistakes to hand over extra possessions is the key to this game.

It is going to be a tough day for the Badgers Offense and that is because they may not have a lot of success when it comes to running the ball, which in turn places a lot more pressure on Braedyn Locke at Quarter Back. The sophomore will be tasked with finding spaces to exploit against an Oregon Secondary that has found a way to step in front of passes and who have restricted the abilities of opponents to move the chains with any great efficiency through the air.

Throwing the ball might not be that much easier for Dillon Gabriel and the Oregon Ducks, but they will benefit from being able to churn out some big yards by running behind this Offensive Line. Dillon Gabriel broke the College Football record for career Touchdowns that had been held by Case Keenum, so there is no doubt he can have success if plays are dialled up for him to throw the ball.

However, the Oregon Offensive Line have really thrived in pounding the ball on the ground and stopping the run has been a weakness of Wisconsin in recent games. The Quarter Back can be used in designed runs and being in third and manageable should mean Dillon Gabriel and the Oregon Ducks can have their way Offensively as they move another step closer towards the Big Ten Championship Game and eventually the Playoff.

It should be noted that Wisconsin have struggled to remain competitive when they have been beaten in 2024 and it may be tough for the Badgers to avoid being blown out in this one. The Ducks just have to win to keep the Playoff Committee on their side, but there will be a pride in wanting to match the big wins that others have had over Wisconsin and Oregon can pull away by turning the ball over from a young Wisconsin Quarter Back.

MY PICKS: Texas Longhorns - 12 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Colorado Buffaloes - 13.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish - 22 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Oregon Ducks - 13.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Louisville Cardinals - 20.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Penn State Nittany Lions - 29.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

USC Trojans - 7.5 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Kansas State Wildcats - 7.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Tennessee Volunteers + 9.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Week 11: 1-5, - 4.15 Units (6 Units Staked, - 69.17% Yield)

Week 10: 1-6, - 4.05 Units (7 Units Staked, - 57.86% Yield)

Week 9: 4-2, + 1.82 Units (6 Units Staked, + 30.33% Yield)

Week 8: 2-4, - 2.23 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37.17% Yield)

Week 7: 6-3, + 2.55 Units (9 Units Staked, + 28.33% Yield)

Week 6: 3-2, + 0.82 Units (5 Units Staked, + 16.4% Yield)

Week 5: 0-5, - 5 Units (5 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)

Week 4: 3-2, + 0.73 Units (5 Units Staked, + 14.60% Yield)

Week 3: 3-5, - 2.35 Units (8 Units Staked, - 29.38% Yield)

Week 2: 2-4, - 2.26 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37.67% Yield)

Week 1: 4-2, + 1.64 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.33% Yield)