The Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers will all be playing at home in Week 12 with each team almost assuredly looking to either boost or keep their playoff hopes alive. With the 2019 NFL regular season just weeks away from getting started, let’s get an early jump on the new season by looking at the top three must bet games on the Week 12 docket.
2019 NFL Week 12 Must-Bet Games
Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans
- When: Thursday, November 21, 2019 at 8:20 PM ET
- Where: NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
- TV: FOX/NFL
- NFL Week 12 Odds: Houston -2
I could get into a lot of statistics for this matchup between two teams that both recorded double-digit victories last season while reaching the postseason, but I won’t. Why? Because revenge will be the name of this Week 12 AFC South division matchup as the Texans seek to extract some revenge after seeing their season come to a crashing halt in their wild card playoff loss at home against Indy.
While Houston will visit Indianapolis in Week 7, they will undoubtedly be looking to take care of bushiness against the Colts when they host Andrew Luck and company in this Week 12 matchup. These two rivals split their regular season meetings with each team winning at home. This time around, I’m going with both playoff contenders holding it down at home as part of a regular season split.
Pick: Houston -2
Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints
- When: Sunday, November 24, 2019 at 1:00 PM ET
- Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans
- TV: FOX
- NFL Week 12 Odds: New Orleans -9
Despite the fact that Carolina underachieved in going 7-9 last season, I believe Cam Newton and company could bounce back in a big way in 2019. I know the Panthers finished last season ranked a modest 14th in scoring (23.5 ppg) and 19th in points allowed (23.9 ppg), but the NFC South playoff hopefuls made some nice moves in the offseason and they have alternated losing and winning seasons in each of the last six seasons, so history is on their side.
While Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints are my top pick to reach Super Bowl 54 after they got absolutely robbed out of an appearance in last season’s big dance, I don’t think New Orleans is going to run roughshod over the Panthers in this Week 12 matchup.
These two longtime rivals split their regular season meetings a year ago with each team winning at home. While I’m not picking the Panthers to get the outright road win, I do believe they are going to cover the chalk as nearly double-digit road dogs. Carolina has gone 4-1 ATS in their last five road games as an underdog of 8.5 or 9 points and I like the Panthers to improve on that mark in this contest.
Pick: Carolina +9
Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers
- When: Sunday, November 24, 2019 at 4:25 PM ET
- Where: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
- TV: FOX
- NFL Week 12 Odds: PK
San Francisco might be playing at home in this Week 12 matchup, but Green Bay is the only team in this Week 12 affair with a Hall of Fame-caliber superstar at quarterback. Yes, the Packers have problems they need to address like their 22nd ranked run defense and identically 22nd ranked scoring defense. Yes, they are playing for a first-time head coach in Matt LaFleur and yes, they have issues with a lackluster rushing attack.
Still, I like Green Bay to get it done against a Niners team that is still hoping quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is the franchise quarterback they hope he can be, seeing as how Jimmy G still has just 10 career starts to his name. The Niners were absolutely abysmal defensively last season in allowing a generous 27.2 points per game (28th) and although they made some nice additions to that side of the ball in the offseason, I’m not expecting Frisco to suddenly become one of the league’s top defensive units. After going an awful 1-7 on the road a year ago, Rodgers and company get a much-needed home win in Week 12 as they seek a return to the playoffs after a two-year absence.
Pick: Green Bay as a Pick ‘Em
