If last year’s Thanksgiving weekend was anything to go by, then we will have a lot to be thankful about in this year’s version of the iconic football weekend in America. As per the league’s calendar, the 2016 Thanksgiving weekend will come in Week 12, featuring a three-game slate on the Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 24), a 12-game marathon on Sunday, November 27, and an enticing MNF fixture between Green Bay and Washington to close the weekend. Ahead of all that action-packed weekend, let’s take an early look at these sure ATS winners we’ve analyzed and prepared for you.
Both Andrew Luck and Ben Roethlisberger are talented starting quarterbacks, which is a guarantee as good as any that we will be treated to a scintillating encounter in this Thanksgiving Day matchup. That said, Big Ben is surrounded with better weapons both offensively and defensively, something that is likely to give him the edge here. Plus, the Pittsburgh Steelers have won 13 of their last 15 overall games against Indy, including the last two trips to Indianapolis, an affirmation about their dominance over the Colts. Winning this clash should therefore be business as usual for the visiting Steelers.
There are several questions regarding how the Bills will perform in 2016, but none of these questions are as important as the status of their starting QB. Ahead of the team’s training camp, QB Tyrod Taylor is reportedly still unhappy with his yet-to-be-finalized contract issues, raising several questions about his motivation ahead of the new season or even if he will indeed sign a new deal with the team. Buffalo’s defense played well enough in 2015 and the Bills’ league-best running game played a crucial role in Buffalo’s improved play in 2015, but Taylor was just as important to the team, as he went 8-6 as a starter, throwing over 3000 yards and 20 TDs against just 6 interceptions while also rushing for 500-plus yards plus a couple more touchdowns. If Taylor is the QB for Buffalo, then the home-playing Bills should be in safe hands against Jacksonville, irrespective of how Blake Bortles and his Jaguars plan to sink their teeth in this clash. But in the absence of Taylor, it’s hard to pick Buffalo, given the remaining QBs don’t orient that much confidence. I mean, E.J. Manuel went 0-2 as a starter when Taylor was injured while rookie Cardale Jones is too raw to be trusted against the ever-improving Bortles, who is sure to benefit from entering his third year in the league. So, simply put, take Buffalo for the win and points upon confirmation of Taylor as a starter in 2016. If it’s someone else at QB for Buffalo, then take the Jags for the points.
Despite the Pats’ well-known dominance of the AFC East division, their trips to New York have been far from easy. In their last three games at New York, for example, the Pats have lost twice, with the lone win being an oh-so-close 17-16 win in 2014. With or without Ryan Fitzpatrick at QB, you should therefore be very cautious about picking against the Jets in this clash. Nonetheless, the Jets are having a disarrayed offseason and without a dependable QB to matchup the mercurial Tom Brady, not even the gods of New York will be able to save the Jets from losing this crucial divisional encounter.
You don’t have to look beyond the history of these two teams to know what to expect from this game. For all the talent and momentum the Eagles had in their very respectable 10-6 season in 2014, they were manhandled to a 53-20 beatdown by the Packers, a victory that improved Green Bay’s record to 4-1 in the last five overall meetings against Philadelphia. With Green Bay coming into 2016 with an arguably better squad than in 2014 while Philly comes with a definitely less-talented squad than in 2014, GB should be due for another solid performance, roasting the Birds in a highly-likely one-sided Thanksgiving affair.
Early Week 12 NFL Picks Against the Spread You Can Bet Now2
Pittsburgh Steelers (-1.5) at Indianapolis Colts
Week 12 NFL ATS Pick: Steelers (-1.5)Both Andrew Luck and Ben Roethlisberger are talented starting quarterbacks, which is a guarantee as good as any that we will be treated to a scintillating encounter in this Thanksgiving Day matchup. That said, Big Ben is surrounded with better weapons both offensively and defensively, something that is likely to give him the edge here. Plus, the Pittsburgh Steelers have won 13 of their last 15 overall games against Indy, including the last two trips to Indianapolis, an affirmation about their dominance over the Colts. Winning this clash should therefore be business as usual for the visiting Steelers.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Buffalo Bills (-5)
Week 12 NFL ATS Pick: Bills (-5) ***There are several questions regarding how the Bills will perform in 2016, but none of these questions are as important as the status of their starting QB. Ahead of the team’s training camp, QB Tyrod Taylor is reportedly still unhappy with his yet-to-be-finalized contract issues, raising several questions about his motivation ahead of the new season or even if he will indeed sign a new deal with the team. Buffalo’s defense played well enough in 2015 and the Bills’ league-best running game played a crucial role in Buffalo’s improved play in 2015, but Taylor was just as important to the team, as he went 8-6 as a starter, throwing over 3000 yards and 20 TDs against just 6 interceptions while also rushing for 500-plus yards plus a couple more touchdowns. If Taylor is the QB for Buffalo, then the home-playing Bills should be in safe hands against Jacksonville, irrespective of how Blake Bortles and his Jaguars plan to sink their teeth in this clash. But in the absence of Taylor, it’s hard to pick Buffalo, given the remaining QBs don’t orient that much confidence. I mean, E.J. Manuel went 0-2 as a starter when Taylor was injured while rookie Cardale Jones is too raw to be trusted against the ever-improving Bortles, who is sure to benefit from entering his third year in the league. So, simply put, take Buffalo for the win and points upon confirmation of Taylor as a starter in 2016. If it’s someone else at QB for Buffalo, then take the Jags for the points.
New England Patriots (-2.5) at New York Jets
Week 12 NFL ATS Pick: Patriots (-2.5)Despite the Pats’ well-known dominance of the AFC East division, their trips to New York have been far from easy. In their last three games at New York, for example, the Pats have lost twice, with the lone win being an oh-so-close 17-16 win in 2014. With or without Ryan Fitzpatrick at QB, you should therefore be very cautious about picking against the Jets in this clash. Nonetheless, the Jets are having a disarrayed offseason and without a dependable QB to matchup the mercurial Tom Brady, not even the gods of New York will be able to save the Jets from losing this crucial divisional encounter.
Green Bay Packers (-3.5) at Philadelphia Eagles
Week 12 NFL ATS Pick: Packers (-3.5)You don’t have to look beyond the history of these two teams to know what to expect from this game. For all the talent and momentum the Eagles had in their very respectable 10-6 season in 2014, they were manhandled to a 53-20 beatdown by the Packers, a victory that improved Green Bay’s record to 4-1 in the last five overall meetings against Philadelphia. With Green Bay coming into 2016 with an arguably better squad than in 2014 while Philly comes with a definitely less-talented squad than in 2014, GB should be due for another solid performance, roasting the Birds in a highly-likely one-sided Thanksgiving affair.
