There are so many different ways to make your picks for Week 12 of the NFL season on DraftKings and DraftKings Sportsbook. The DraftKings Pick ‘Em Pools are one of the best ways to get in on the action.
DraftKings has huge NFL Pick ‘Em Pools for Week 12. You can enter the $5 NFL Week 12 Spreads Pool with $5,000+ in prizes here. You can also enter the $100 NFL Week 12 Spreads Pool with $4,000+ in prizes here.
NFL Pick ‘Em Pools
These pools are effortless to use and allow you to have action for the entire NFL season with just one entry fee. For the season-long pools, each week you will go back to the pool and pick five games on the slate against the spread. Each correct selection is worth one point. You will also be given one “skip week” during the season, where you don’t need to make picks if you don’t have a good feel for that slate. That way, even if you have one bad week, you are still in contention in the contest. You can also play the weekly pools, where you pick every featured game against the spread.
Every week of the regular season, I will be giving out my five favorite selections, along with my leans for every other game on the slate.
Week 12 Picks
Patriots -8.5 @ Bengals — The Patriots have been one of the best teams in the NFL this season. The criticism of their schedule has been fair, but they can only play the teams ahead of them. When the Patriots next play a tough team, it might be time to fade them. However, this week, it is another easy opponent for New England. Not only are the Bengals an easy opponent, but they are an ideal matchup for the Patriots.
The way to beat the Patriots is through the air, as they lead the NFL in rushing yards per game allowed. The Bengals are without Ja’Marr Chase for this game as he serves a suspension, so this passing attack will not look the same. On the other side of the ball, the Bengals rank dead last in the NFL in defensive EPA/dropback. The Patriots’ offense is built on the Drake Maye deep ball, and they should be able to hit that with ease against Cincinnati. The Bengals have allowed 37 20+ yard passes this season, the third-most in the NFL. Maye should hit explosive plays, and the Patriots’ defense should do well enough to make this a double-digit win for New England.
Jaguars -2.5 @ Cardinals — The Jaguars are back in contention in the AFC South after last week’s dominant win over the Chargers. It looked like the Colts might run away with the division, but they have cooled off, while Jacksonville has found life. The Colts have a tough road game against the Chiefs this week, so Jacksonville could get within a game of the Colts with a win and a Colts loss this weekend. That makes this a massive game for the Jaguars, who have some key edges over the Cardinals.
The Jaguars rank third in the NFL in offensive EPA/rush and rushing success rate. Meanwhile, the Cardinals rank 25th in the NFL in defensive rushing success rate. Between Trevor Lawrence’s legs and the great duo of Travis Etienne and Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville should consistently pick up big chunks on the ground when it needs them. Arizona’s defense is falling apart, giving up 40+ points each of the past two weeks. Jacksonville also ranks third in the NFL in defensive rushing success rate. The Cardinals are already struggling with the running game due to injuries, so the Jaguars should make them completely one-dimensional as an offense. Marvin Harrison Jr. will be out for this game, which makes it much harder for them to be a pass-first offense. The Jaguars should go on the road and win this one, covering the short spread.
Texans +6.5 vs. Bills — This is a great Thursday night game between one of the league’s best defenses and one of the league’s best offenses. On a short week, I will back the league’s best defense, playing at home, to be the most prepared unit in this game. Houston leads the NFL in defensive EPA/play and is elite against both the pass and the run. DeMeco Ryans and Sean McDermott have faced off once before, last season in Houston. The Texans won that game 23-20, coming up with a great game plan to slow down Josh Allen. Allen went 9-30 for 131 yards in that game, one of the worst performances of his career. DeMeco Ryans should come through with another great plan to slow down Josh Allen and the Bills’ offense.
While C.J. Stroud is set to miss another game, the Texans have been fine with Davis Mills at quarterback. Mills is an experienced player in this offense and has a good connection with Nico Collins. Collins has been on fire, averaging 101 yards per game in the three games that Mills has featured in. Woody Marks has also established himself as a decent threat on the ground for Houston, something it has been missing all season. Marks could be in for a big game against the Bills, who rank 30th in defensive EPA/rush. The Texans’ defense should come to play, and the offense will score enough to keep this within a touchdown.
49ers -6.5 vs. Panthers — The 49ers bounced back from a tough loss to the Rams with a blowout win over the Cardinals. There was a lot of discussion over whether or not Brock Purdy was a real upgrade over Mac Jones. However, Purdy showed last week that this offense hits another level with him under center. The 49ers have a chance to put a nice run of wins together, starting with last week’s victory over Arizona. Their next three games come against the Panthers, Browns and Titans. Winning all of those games would put them at 10-4 with a real chance to compete for the division.
Whenever facing the Panthers, it’s nice to be at home. Bryce Young’s home/road splits throughout his career are significant. Despite getting a couple of nice road wins this season, Young still only won 19% of his career road games. In addition to the bad road numbers, Young is awful outside of the 1 o’clock EST timeslot. In games that kick off in the late afternoon or night window, Young is 0-8 in his career. The 49ers should put up a big number in this game with their offense that ranks ninth in the NFL in EPA/play. Bryce Young will not be able to keep up and that should make this another comfortable win for the 49ers.
Buccaneers +6.5 @ Rams — The Buccaneers were one of the hottest teams in football to start the season, but have cooled off, losing three of their past four games. Those losses have come against a tough schedule, however, against the Bills, Patriots and Lions. This will be another tough game for the Buccaneers against one of the league’s best teams, but they should be able to keep it close. The Buccaneeers only lost by five points against the Patriots, and were within one score of the Bills the entire game until Josh Allen’s late touchdown to pull away. That was with a depleted offense that could finally be getting reinforcements back. Chris Godwin and Bucky Iriving are both ramping up in practice this week and could provide a massive spark if either of them is able to play this week.
Meanwhile, the Rams are coming off back-to-back emotional divisional wins over the 49ers and Seahawks. Los Angeles could be physically and emotionally spent after those two games, making this a let-down spot against Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers should shut down the run game, as they always do, and make the Rams a one-dimensional offense. If Tampa Bay can prevent broken plays from Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, this game should be tight on Sunday night.
Week 12 Leans
Lions -10.5 vs. Giants
Jets +13.5 @ Ravens
Titans +13.5 vs. Seahawks
Chiefs -3.5 vs. Colts
Vikings +6.5 @ Packers
Steelers +3.5 @ Bears
Raiders -2.5 vs. Browns
Cowboys +3.5 vs. Eagles
Saints -1.5 vs. Falcons
