Some fascinating clashes are set to dominate week 12 of the NFL season.
BetDeluxe looks at four of the key clashes to find where the smart money is headed.
Minnesota vs. New England
25th November 12:20pm
There has been an underlying belief that Minnesota’s excellent run of late was misleading. That belief didn’t dissipate when Dallas thrashed them last week.
An insipid defence and a jittery offence meant the Vikings never looked a chance against the Cowboys. The challenge now is to put that aside as an aberration and instil belief in the players who have been so dominant for the Vikings this season. Watch for Justin Jefferson to get plenty of the ball early as Kirk Cousins looks to find his rhythm again.
After one of the most remarkable victories in recent memory, turning a punt return in the dying seconds of the match to be the game’s first touchdown, it’s hard to read much into the Patriots’ win.
The positives came from their defense, and in-form linebacker Matt Judon will play a key role in shutting down the likes of Cousins and Dalvin Cook.
Suggested Bet – Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: M. Judon 1+ sack
Leg 2: D. Cook under 79.5 rushing yards
Leg 3: J. Jefferson score any time
Leg 4: Vikings win
Total: $9.50
Tennessee vs. Cincinatti
28th November 5:00am
This is quite possibly the game of the week, with two of the AFC contenders going head-to-head.
Much of this result will hinge on the running backs for both teams, with Derrick Henry quiet in recent times for the Titans. But that could only mean his next breakout performance isn’t too far away. Cincinnati conceded way too many points and yards in their win over Cleveland last week, and Henry will be set on a big one, not just with the run but also throwing, where he threw twice for one touchdown.
Joe Mixon is unlikely to suit up for the Bengals due to a concussion, but Samaje Perine is more than up to replacing him, posting three touchdowns last week. Look for him to be more of a go-to here and to continue his scoring ways.
Cincinnati has a bit of work to catch up after a poor start to the season, but with a resurgent Joe Burrow at Quarterback, they should be set for a win here.
Suggested Bet: Bengals -1.5 at $1.74
Philadelphia vs. Green Bay
28th November 12:20pm
Aaron Rodgers may show the odd glimpse of what he once was, but his consistency, confidence and body language tell another story. The Packers star has battled this year and won’t have things at all easy against a tenacious Eagles team.
Rodgers has discovered a new weapon in recent weeks, with Christian Watson getting more and more touches and making a difference on the scoreboard. Expect the ball to be directed to him more and more as Rodgers searches for his groove.
Philadelphia has been a little off in the past couple of weeks after winning its first eight games and was lucky in a sense to beat Indianapolis, who ran them down to the wire.
With a few tweaks to their defense, the Eagles haven’t been shy to address some shortcomings. Brandon Graham poses as one of their biggest defensive threats and will be looking to get to Rodgers early on.
Slow starts in recent weeks have been the Eagles’ problem, so Green Bay may have them on that count, but like all good teams, Philly finds a way to win and will do again here.
Suggested Bet: Packers to win first quarter at $2.60
Indianapolis vs. Pittsburgh
29th November 12:15pm
While this match is unlikely to have much bearing on the playoffs at the end of the season, it does loom as a fascinating contest between two teams that can play above themselves on any given week.
Pittsburgh has had an underwhelming season, with an offence still trying to figure each other out.
The QB-WR combination of Kenny Pickett and George Pickens shows some potential, and they have developed some rhythm without dominating. At the same time, on the other side of the ball, their defence looks much more potent since T.J. Watt’s return from injury.
Watt will be a significant factor against an Indianapolis offence that has looked brittle at times this season, and you can expect him to trouble them unless Jonathan Taylor can set the tone early.
The Colts’ defence took it right up to the top of the table Philadelphia last week and is playing with structure and composure. Look for Yannick Ngakoue to lead the way for them again, with a rare win likely for Indianapolis.
Suggested Bet: Colts – 1.5 at $1.89
