NFL Week 12 Preview: Key Matchups, Betting Odds, and Fantasy Insights

As the NFL enters Week 12, the schedule is packed with intriguing matchups that could significantly impact the playoff picture. One of the highlight games is the Sunday night showdown between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Los Angeles Rams. The Eagles are favored by 3 points, according to the latest betting odds, as they look to maintain their strong season against a Rams team that bounced back with a 28-point performance against the Patriots in Week 11.

The Denver Broncos, who have been on a roll with rookie quarterback Bo Nix, are set to face the Las Vegas Raiders. Despite having lost eight of their last nine games against the Raiders, the Broncos are favored by 5.5 points. Nix has been impressive, throwing nine touchdowns to only one interception since Week 8, and the Broncos’ defense has been stellar, allowing just 16.6 points per game, which ranks third in the NFL.

Another significant matchup is the Monday Night Football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Los Angeles Chargers. The Ravens are three-point favorites on the road, marking one of the slimmest betting lines of the week. This game features a showdown between quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Justin Herbert, both of whom are crucial to their teams’ playoff hopes.

Fantasy football players are also keenly watching several key matchups. Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers returns from a hamstring injury and is expected to have a strong outing against the New York Giants, a team that has struggled defensively. Evans needs to average 95 yards per game over the final seven games to extend his 10-year streak of gaining 1,000 receiving yards per season.

The SportsLine advanced computer model, which has been on a 20-8 betting hot streak on top-rated NFL picks this year, has simulated every Week 12 game 10,000 times. The model predicts several road teams to win outright, including the Kansas City Chiefs against the Carolina Panthers and the Washington Commanders against the Dallas Cowboys. Road favorites have a 70.3% win rate outright this season, which could influence betting strategies.

In terms of offensive efficiency, the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Rams are among the offenses trending up. The Broncos have improved significantly in expected points added (EPA) per play over their last two games, while the Rams bounced back from a poor performance in Week 10 with a strong showing against the Patriots).