NFL Week 12 ATS Best Bets: 3 Favorite Picks Against the Spread

Here’s what we like in Week 12 in Broncos vs. Raiders, Bucs vs. Giants and Cardinals vs. Seahawks.

All kickoff times below are ET.

Broncos vs. Raiders – 4:05 p.m. (CBS)

The Broncos have been exceptional defensively all year, and Bo Nix and this offense are coming off their best performance of the season in last Sunday’s 38-6 win over the Falcons.

The Raiders, who lost their last two games 41-24 to the Bengals and 34-19 to the Dolphins, have struggled on defense in each of the last three weeks. Offensively, rookie TE Brock Bowers has been a bright spot for the Raiders, but that’s about all this unit has to offer.

The Broncos are good enough at D to not only win, but also cover, although their offense struggles in this game. And if the offense can build on what it was able to do against Atlanta, this one could get ugly.

This week’s Thursday Night Football game was a reminder of how risky it is to take favorites on the road to beat their division rivals, regardless of the records of the teams involved. Still, we’re all over Denver to win big against a Raiders team they beat 34-18 in Week 5.

Best bet: Broncos -5.5 (-110 at bet365) 1 unit

Buccaneers vs. Giants – 1:00 p.m. (CBS)

We’re backing another heavy favorite to take care of business in Bucs vs. Giants. Tampa Bay has lost five of its last six games since a 3-1 start, but the Bucs are better than their record might suggest. Quarterback Baker Mayfield’s team has lost one close game after another in recent weeks, including overtime losses to the Falcons and Chiefs, as well as competitive battles against the Ravens and 49ers.

The Giants, meanwhile, are coming off a bye week, but before the break they lost five straight games to the Bengals, Eagles, Steelers, Commanders and Panthers. In case you haven’t heard, the Giants are starting Tommy DeVito in this game after benching Daniel Jones and then cutting the former first-round pick late in the week.

DeVito had his moments in seven appearances last year, including three wins as a starter. It’s hard to see DeVito leading this year’s Giants offense — which scored 20 or more points just twice — with much success, especially against Tampa’s aggressive defense under head coach Todd Bowles.

The other big reason to like Tampa is that Mike Evans will likely be back for this game, and the return of this team’s best receiver should spark an offense that isn’t the same when he’s not on the ground.

Best bet: Buccaneers -6 (-110 at DraftKings) 1 unit

Cardinals vs. Seahawks – 4:25 p.m. (FOX)

Based on the names on this list, it’s understandable why Arizona doesn’t get any respect from bettors. The Cardinals, however, are not only 6-4, going 5-1 in their last six games, but they have also been tested after beating the 49ers in Week 5 and the Chargers in Week 7.

Arizona is one of the best teams in the league when it comes to running the football, and quarterback Kyler Murray is enjoying a massive bounce-back season. The Cards are averaging 5.2 yards per carry, and Murray has thrown 12 touchdowns and just three picks while averaging an impressive 7.5 yards per attempt.

Faced with a fragile Seahawks defense, the Cardinals should be able to move the football, especially on the ground. It also helps the case of Arizona coming off a bye week, while Seattle is coming off a grueling 20-17 win over division rival San Francisco.

We’ve been as guilty as anyone of neglecting Murray and the Cardinals so far this season, but we like this team’s chances of beating Seattle, especially since the Seahawks have turned the ball over six times in their last three games.

Best bet: Moneyline of the Cardinals (-108 at DraftKings) 1 unit

Newsweek may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up through the links in this article. Check the sportsbook operator’s terms and conditions for important details. Sports betting operators have no influence on media coverage.