NFL Week 12 Predictions & Tips: Side with Steelers & back 13/1 Sunday acca

• Chiefs set for bounce back

• Packers picked to pip old rivals San Francisco

• Back 13/114.00 NFL handicap acca on Sunday

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They're all big weeks from here on in as the NFL starts to really build up to crunch time - but last week was huge with the Kansas City Chiefs losing for the first time this season and Pittsburgh emerging as genuine contenders after beating Baltimore.

Oh, and the red-hot Detroit Lions are now 7/24.50 outright favourites to win the Super Bowl after hanging a 50-burger on Jacksonville while the Bills beat the Chiefs.

Coaching jobs are on the line and play-off places up for grabs in another stellar slate of games - headline by a couple of heavyweight NFC clashes between the 49ers and Packers and the Rams and Eagles.

A so-so 9-5 record for last week's picks but with a nice bet landed in Thursday night's Eagles game, while the Browns and Jets let us down - yet again!

Let's see how we go this week....

NFL Week 12 Schedule

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Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns

Match Odds: 8/151.53 | 8/52.60
Spread: Steelers -3.5
Total Points: 36.5

There's an obvious gulf in class here but Pittsbugh having to play on the road on a short week in another divisional game levels the playing field somewhat. Cleveland will continue to play tough and could likely hang around in this one if Russell Wilson doesn't play much better than last week, so we could get a large dose of Chris Boswell's boot again.

These AFC North battles are always tough, but defence travels and Pittsburgh have only allowed over 17 points twice this season - so even with Jameis Winston swinging for the fences it's hard to back against the Steelers. Back Pittsburgh to grind this one out for a sixth straight win.

Pick: Steelers

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San Francisco 49ers @ Green Bay Packers

Match Odds: 6/52.20 | 4/61.67
Spread: Packers -2.5
Total Points: 47.5

It's getting a bit dicey for the 49ers now after throwing one away against Seattle last week, and they head to old rivals Green Bay with doubts over Brock Purdy and Nick Bosa - if neither of them play then go all in on the Packers but even with them it will be tough if they don't get their act in order offensively.

The Packers have had problems too though having lost to Detroit either side of last-play field goal drama to beat both Jacksonville and Chicago - allowing a ton of yardage and plenty of points to two struggling offences in the process. And this could be a more scratchy game than we'd like to continue the theme of close meetings between coaching best mates Kyle Shanahan and Matt LaFleur.

Pick: Packers

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Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears

Match Odds: 8/151.53 | 6/42.50
Spread: Vikings -3.5
Total Points: 39.5

A third straight road game for Minnesota and a third straight home game for Chicago doesn't sound fair in a divisional clash, but while the Vikings have won three in a row the Bears are mired in a four-game losing slump. Caleb Williams looked better with a new offensive coordinator but the Vikings defence is third with 25 sacks this season and is one of the tougher units to decipher for a rookie QB.

The Vikings have allowed just 11 points a game over the last three and should win this as long as Sam Darnold limits the mistakes. A Vikings win and under 39.5 total points at 2/13.00 is the bet here.

Pick: Vikings

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Sunday's handicap accumulator

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Detroit Lions @ Indianapolis Colts

Match Odds: 2/71.29 | 5/23.50
Spread: Lions -7.5
Total Points: 50.5

Anthony Richardson was great as the Colts beat the Jets last week - so maybe he is turning things around. But the Lions aren't the Jets, and Richardson could have a great game again and still lose to Dan Campbell's juggernaut of a side on their best start since 1934.

Detroit's defence is second in interceptions (14) and we know all about Richardson's accuracy issues. But the real x-factor here will be the Lions' third-best run game against one of the worst run-stopping defences in the league in Indy - so David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs should dominate and both should find the end zone.

Detroit have scored a rushing TD in an NFL record 24 straight games and should have no problem extending that here.

Pick: Lions

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New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins

Match Odds: 5/23.50 | 2/71.29
Spread: Dolphins -7
Total Points: 45.5

Miami have got their act together since Tua Tagovailoa returned, but their defence has also stepped up big time in their back-to-back wins, and that unit could be the difference here. Drake Maye has been a pleasant surprise and if he slings it about he can help keep this one close, but he's also likely to make a mistake as well. Throw in far more attacking weapons for the hosts and I'll back Miami to beat New England at home for the fifth straight time.

Pick: Dolphins

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New York Giants

Match Odds: 2/51.40 | 15/82.88
Spread: Bucs -5.5
Total Points: 41.5

The Giants ditched Daniel Jones for Tommy DeVito but it'll take more than that to lift a team that's 0-5 at home and averaging just 10.6 points a game. And while the Bucs may have lost four straight, that's been against good teams, Baker Mayfield has largely been excellent and they're getting healthier coming off the bye.

Tampa Bay need a leg up in the play-off hunt and they'll get a start here in what should be a relatively convincing win by a touchdown at least.

Pick: Bucs

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Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Commanders

Match Odds: 7/24.50 | 1/51.20
Spread: Commanders -10.5
Total Points: 44.5

Dallas are falling apart, just like their stadium it seems, and they're huge underdogs here coming in on a short week after five straight defeats, while Washington have had extra rest to get over back-to-back losses. They were against play-off certainties though while the Cowboys have a shot at next year's No.1 draft pick.

Jayden Daniels can have a nice get-right game here and it looks a blowout candidate on paper, but the Dallas defence is good enough to at least keep things interesting for a while before the class of the hosts will tell.

Pick: Commanders

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Kansas City Chiefs @ Carolina Panthers

Match Odds: 1/61.17 | 4/15.00
Spread: Chiefs -10.5
Total Points: 43.5

The Panthers have won two in a row then had a bye week off so if ever they were going to challenge the Chiefs then it's now, with the champs losing their unbeaten streak in Buffalo last week. That said, KC will be angry after that loss so expect them to come roaring back against a team they're clearly miles better than.

Patrick Mahomes and the offence has been sluggish so I'd be a touch wary of a spread this big with a team that's scored 30 points just once this season (and needed overtime to do it) - but the Panthers rank dead last in allowing 30 points a game on average and also have the worst rush defence in the NFL so all in a all about as friendly a match-up as you could wish for a get-right game.

Pick: Chiefs

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Tennessee Titans @ Houston Texans

Match Odds: 11/43.75 | 1/41.25
Spread: Texans -7.5
Total Points: 41.5

Houston are on a short week but they looked pretty good against Dallas. They're also 4-1 at home and while five of their wins this season have come by an aggregate of just 18 points, winning close games is a good sign - and a better one is that visiting Tennessee have lost four of their last five by at least 10 points.

Pick: Texans

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Denver Broncos @ Las Vegas Raiders

Match Odds: 2/51.40 | 15/82.88
Spread: Broncos -5.5
Total Points: 41.5

The Broncos made short work of the Raiders 34-18 in Week 5 behind a super showing from rookie Bo Nix - and the bad news for Vegas is that Nix has been playing even better of late. He's got six TDs and no picks in his last two and more importantly he's still got this tough Denver defence on his side so doing the double over the Raiders shoiuld be no problem.

Pick: Broncos

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Arizona Cardinals @ Seattle Seahawks

Match Odds: 9/10 | 9/10
Spread: Cardinals -1.5
Total Points: 47.5

Seattle pulled an epic win out of the bag in San Francisco to blow the NFC West wide open last week. Arizona have been on a bye after four straight wins and that consistency can just give Kyler Murray and company the edge in what should be a thriller with plenty of points. Cardinals and over 47.5 points at 5/23.50 is the bet.

Pick: Cardinals

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Philadelphia Eagles @ Los Angeles Rams

Match Odds: 4/61.67 | 6/52.20
Spread: Eagles -2.5
Total Points: 48.5

A belter for Sunday Night Football where Matthew Stafford will have his work cut out for him even with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua back and firing - as Philly's league-leading rushing attack starring Saquon Barkley helps the in-form Eagles control the ball and the clock.

Pick: Eagles

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Baltimore Ravens @ Los Angeles Chargers

Match Odds: 4/61.67 | 6/52.20
Spread: Ravens -3
Total Points: 50.5

The Harbaugh Bowl part three! And this time just before Thanksgiving too to spoil the family gathering. The Steelers managed to blunt Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry and the Chargers have a similarly mean defence, albeit one Joe Burrow managed to dice up despite losing last week. Justin Herbert will get some joy as Baltimore's defence gives up the most yards in the entire league and I've just got a feeling Jim Harbaugh will have his side so fired up that the Chargers can just pinch it and finally get one over on brother John's Ravens.

Pick: Chargers

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