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NFL

Sunday Blitz – Week 12

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
7 minute read
GAMES TO WATCH

Seahawks at Panthers (-3 ½, 46 ½) – 1:00 PM EST

If there is one team that is thrilled to be returning home, it’s Carolina. The Panthers (6-4 SU, 5-5 ATS) can all but forget about the NFC South title with the Saints picking up their 10th straight win on Thursday against the Falcons. However, Carolina looks to improve on a 5-0 record at Bank of America Stadium following consecutive losses the last two weeks on the road. After the Panthers were roasted by the Steelers in Week 10, Carolina couldn’t convert a go-ahead two-point conversion in the final minute of last week’s 20-19 setback at Detroit as four-point favorites.

The Seahawks (5-5 SU, 5-3-2 ATS) travel to the Eastern Time Zone for the second time this season as Seattle is fresh off a comeback victory over Green Bay in Week 11 at home. Russell Wilson rallied the Seahawks back from a 14-3 deficit in a 27-24 win against the Packers to bring Seattle back to the .500 mark and in the mix for a Wild Card berth. The Seahawks have covered in three consecutive games away from CenturyLink Field, while cashing in their last three opportunities in the underdog role.

Carolina has brought home the money in four of five wins at Bank of America Stadium, while scoring at least 31 points in each of its past four home triumphs. Since Wilson was drafted by the Seahawks in 2012, he has seen plenty of success against the Panthers by posting a 5-2 record, including three victories in Charlotte.

Best Bet: Seahawks 24, Panthers 20

Giants at Eagles (-5 ½, 47) – 1:00 PM EST

After Philadelphia drubbed New York at Met Life Stadium, 34-13 in Week 6, it seemed like things were turning around for the struggling Eagles (4-6 SU, 3-7 ATS). However, the defending champions have lost three of four since that rout, including an embarrassing 48-7 rout at the hands of New Orleans last Sunday. To make matters worse, the Eagles haven’t covered a game at home since Week 1, compiling an 0-4 ATS at Lincoln Financial Field the last four opportunities after posting a 7-3 ATS home mark in 2017.

The Giants (3-7 SU, 4-5-1 ATS) have woken up of late by winning each of their last two games following a 1-7 start. Granted, New York held off San Francisco and Tampa Bay, who own a combined 5-15 record heading into Sunday’s action. However, the Giants won their first home game since Week 17 of last season as rookie running back Saquon Barkley racked up 142 yards and two touchdowns. New York is riding its first two-game winning streak since December 2016, while topping the 31-point mark for only the second time in 2018.

The Eagles have captured four straight meetings with the Giants since 2016, while the last six matchups have sailed OVER the total. The Giants last won at Lincoln Financial Field in 2013 as 5 ½-point underdogs, 15-7, as Big Blue owns a 1-3 ATS mark in its past four visits to the City of Brotherly Love.

Best Bet: Eagles 20, Giants 19

Steelers (-3, 46 ½) at Broncos – 4:25 PM EST

Pittsburgh (7-2-1 SU, 6-3-1 ATS) dodged a major bullet in last Sunday’s come-from-behind victory at Jacksonville to pick up its sixth consecutive win. The Steelers overcame a late 16-0 deficit, capped off by a Ben Roethlisberger one-yard touchdown plunge to avenge a pair of losses to the Jaguars from last season in a 20-16 triumph. Pittsburgh opened up as 5 ½-point favorites, but late money on Jacksonville dropped the line to four, resulting in a push for Steelers’ backers who took them on Sunday. In spite of Roethlisberger getting intercepted three times, he led Pittsburgh on the late three touchdown drives, including scoring connections with Antonio Brown and Vance McDonald.

The Broncos (4-6 SU, 4-5-1 ATS) have not been a strong road team under Vance Joseph, but Denver picked up only its third win in 13 tries away from Colorado last Sunday at Los Angeles. The Chargers jumped out to a 19-7 third quarter lead, but the Broncos scored on back-to-back rushing touchdowns from Royce Freeman and Phillip Lindsay to take a 20-19 advantage. Following a Los Angeles field goal, the Broncos would drive down the field and Brandon McManus drilled a 34-yard field goal to give Denver a thrilling 23-22 victory and a cover as seven-point underdogs.

Now, the Broncos return home where they have lost three straight games since starting 2-0. Granted, the three defeats have come by a total of nine points to the Chiefs, Rams, and Texans, three teams leading their respective divisions. The Broncos have won three consecutive home matchups with the Steelers dating back to the 2011 Wild Card thriller, while Pittsburgh enters Sunday’s contest at 1-3-1 ATS in its last four chances in the role of a road favorite.

Best Bet: Steelers 23, Broncos 21

SUPERCONTEST PICKS

Kevin Rogers (3-2 last week, 27-26-2 on season)
49ers +3 ½
Jets +9 ½
Seahawks +3 ½
Dolphins +7 ½
Broncos +3

Chris David (4-1 last week, 35-19-1 on season)
Ravens -10 ½
Giants +6
Seahawks +3 ½
Steelers -3
Texans -6 ½

BEST TOTAL PLAY (1-0 last week, 6-5 on season)

UNDER 47 ½ - Patriots at Jets

New York will start Josh McCown at quarterback once again for the injured Sam Darnold as the Jets try to rebound from an ugly 41-10 home drubbing to the Bills two weeks ago. The Patriots are also coming off a blowout loss prior to the bye in a 34-10 setback at Tennessee. Three of the last four meetings at Met Life Stadium has finished UNDER the total, as the lone OVER in 2015 came thanks to a Jets’ touchdown in overtime of a 26-20 win to barely nip the total of 45 ½.

TRAP OF THE WEEK

The battle of Ohio takes place on Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium as the Bengals and Browns hook up for the first time this season. Both these squads have lost four of their last five games, but Cleveland is coming off a home underdog victory over Atlanta prior to its bye week. The Bengals have won seven straight meetings in the series, as Cleveland seeks its first road victory of the season in five tries. During this seven-game skid against Cincinnati, Cleveland has not covered one time, but this is only the second time during this span that the Browns are listed as an underdog of three points or fewer.

BIGGEST LINE MOVE

The Chargers opened as 11 ½-point favorites against the Cardinals last Sunday when lines were released at the Westgate Superbook. Los Angeles has moved to a 13-point favorite at many books as the Chargers try to avoid consecutive losses for the first time this season following last Sunday’s one-point defeat to Denver. The Cardinals have fared better in the underdog role of late by covering against the 49ers in a home win and barely cashing as 16 ½-point ‘dogs in a 26-14 setback at Kansas City. However, in two opportunities as a home favorite of 7 ½ or more this season, the Lightning Bolts have failed to cash.

BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW

The Bills are listed at their lowest underdog spread of the season as they welcome in the Jaguars in a playoff rematch. Yes, that is very weird to say that Jacksonville and Buffalo, who are each 3-7 on the season, met in the Wild Card round last season. Buffalo has not been listed as a ‘dog of less than six points through its first 10 games, while owning a 1-3 ATS mark in the role of a home underdog. The Jaguars haven’t covered a game since a Week 4 blowout of the Jets, while their last road ATS win came in the season opener against the Giants.

Want FREE picks for Week 12 in the NFL? Check them out here for the top three games of the weekend along with other insider selections.

You can reach Kevin Rogers via e-mail at rogers@vegasinsider.com

Kevin Rogers can be followed on Twitter at virogers.

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