NFL Supercontest, Week 12

Thanksgiving weekend.  You know what that means.  Desperate teams.  Divisional matchups.  In short, football that matters.  This is the time of year we all wait for, and really, weekends like these are what make the NFL fun to bet on.  Many teams have only minimal hope of making the playoffs, but with non-guaranteed contracts, short careers, and very few games in which to make an impression, the average NFL player is far from playing out the string.  "Any given Sunday" is a cliche, but cliches don't become cliches without being mostly true.  So, don't be surprised if you see performances that challenge your preconceived notions (see: Justin Blackmon's breakout last week), and enjoy the regular season stretch run of the world's greatest league.

Steelers (-1) over BROWNS

Picking a team starting Charlie Batch laying points on the road seems like suicide, but at this point, I feel like the Steelers could beat the Browns in their sleep.  This is anything but a letdown game for Pittsburgh, which needs all the wins it can get just to make the playoffs.

COLTS (-3) over Bills

Give me Andrew Luck getting fewer than seven points at home every time, especially coming off a bad loss.  It's only a matter of time before Luck becomes a force in the NFL, so you might as well enjoy (and laugh at) lines like these while you still can. 

JAGUARS (+3) over Titans

I went from having absolutely zero confidence in the Jaguars (because of the putrid Blaine Gabbert) to absolutely backing them as a crappy team that can cover spreads regularly for the last six weeks (because of the relatively competent Chad Henne).

Falcons (-1) over BUCCANEERS

It seems that Atlanta has gotten the crappy games out of its system the past couple weeks, so why is Vegas so in love with the Buccaneers here?  Josh Freeman is on fire, but the Falcons will counterpunch with their potent passing attack.

Packers (+3) over GIANTS

I'm just as nervous about this game as your average Packer fan, but come on; you don't think Aaron Rodgers notices he's a three point dog on a nationally televised game?  Getting three and a half points going into undefeated Houston is one thing, but three points for Big Blue here just looks like excessive East Coast bias.

Last Week's Record:  4 - 1

Season Record: 31 - 24 

Games That I Didn't Pick:

BENGALS (-8) vs. Raiders

Broncos (-10) vs. CHIEFS

Vikings vs. BEARS - NO LINE

Seahawks (-3) vs. DOLPHINS

Ravens (-1) vs. CHARGERS

49ers (-1.5) vs. SAINTS

CARDINALS (-2.5) vs. Rams

Panthers (-2.5) vs. EAGLES