NFL Betting Trends – Week 12

Like that scrappy team that just won’t go away, Unders made another big statement once again in Week 11, going 10-4 which now has them cashing at a 60.7% clip on the season. While I keep expecting some sort of regression for these NFL betting trends — as I mention in this article week after week — they just keep coming back stronger, but is the tide finally set to turn in Week 12?

This week’s NFL odds feature some rock-bottom totals including Patriots vs. Giants at 33.5, Steelers vs. Bengals at 34, Browns vs. Broncos at 35, and Panthers vs. Titans at 36.5.

Low totals are still going Under though, so don’t be scared off if your numbers support backing the Under in these games. Over the last three weeks, 14 games have had a total lower than 40, and nine of them still went Under. With plenty of backups and backups to backups filling in a quarterback for a handful of teams, this is the state of the NFL these days.

Something else that caught my eye that’s lending itself to more Unders this season is poor execution in the red zone. So far, 12 offenses have a red zone touchdown conversion percentage of less than 50%. Last season, seven teams finished lower than 50% and the season before that, it was only four teams. 

It will be interesting to see how low oddsmakers can go with these totals as it’s rare to see totals south of 35, but it might be more commonplace during the stretch run of the season when the weather starts to have more of an impact on NFL picks. 

On to the good stuff — here’s my favorite nugget for every game this week! And, oh yeah, Happy Thanksgiving!

Best NFL Week 12 betting trends

Packers vs Lions

The trend: 12 of the Lions’ last 15 home games have seen the teams combine for 51 or more points

Fireworks in Detroit have become the norm with Ford Field playing host to lots of shootouts recently, including three games this season that saw 57 or more combined points. These teams were involved in a high-scoring affair in Week 4 that saw the Detroit Lions win 34-20. The total for Thursday’s game is 47.5.

See all Packers vs Lions trends for Week 12.

Commanders vs Cowboys

The trend: Dallas has gone Over its team total in all four of its home games

Short trend here, but a trend needs to start somewhere and the Dallas Cowboys appear to be in a good spot to keep pace with the 40 points per game that they’re averaging at home. Their team total for this game is 30.5 which is a number the Washington Commanders have allowed more than in the few times where they’ve faced decent offenses this season, including the Bills scoring 37, the Eagles scoring 34 and 38, the Broncos scoring 33… and Tommy Devito and the Giants scoring 31 last week.

See all Commanders vs Cowboys trends for Week 12.

49ers vs Seahawks

The trend: The 49ers are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 divisional games

The San Francisco 49ers have been cleaning up against its NFC West rivals. The only loss in this trend was earlier in the season when Sean McVay and the Rams opted to kick a meaningless field goal with time expiring at the end of the game. As far as head-to-heads with the Seattle Seahawks go, they’ve beaten them by 18, 20, and eight in the last three meetings. The 49ers are favored by 6.5.

See all 49ers vs Seahawks trends for Week 12.

Dolphins vs Jets

The trend: 13 of the Jets’ last 15 games have failed to cross 40 points

Right back to the well on this one after it hit again in Week 11. It just so has it that the first-ever Black Friday game has a total of 41 and with a man named Tim Boyle stepping in to play QB for a New York Jets’ offense that’s averaging 0.9 touchdowns per game, a low score looks likely again. The Jets’ defense is still a top unit, ranking fourth in yards allowed per play, while the Miami Dolphins defense is starting to come together with just 34 points allowed in its last three games.

See all Dolphins vs Jets trends for Week 12.

Saints vs Falcons

The trend: The Falcons are 2-8 ATS in the first half this season

Despite playing a light schedule this season, the Atlanta Falcons have had some awful starts thanks primarily to averaging just 7.4 first-half points. This trend includes going 0-5 ATS at home, but have no fear because Desmond Ridder is back starting at quarterback! (insert eye roll here). The New Orleans Saints are favored on the first-half spread at -0.5.

See all Saints vs Falcons trends for Week 12.

Jaguars vs Texans

The trend: The Jaguars are 3-14 SU in their last 17 divisional road games

For full context, they have won three straight on the road vs other AFC South teams, but they’ve otherwise been horrible in this spot vs. divisional opponents who haven’t exactly been top-tier teams over the past few seasons. The Houston Texans are a small moneyline underdog at +100 and will look to continue another trend that’s seen them win 10 of their last 11 games against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

See all Jaguars vs Texans trends for Week 12.

Panthers vs Titans

The trend: The Panthers are 8-2 ATS in the first quarter this season

They get progressively worse as the game goes on, but they consistently get off to respectable starts thanks to ranking fifth in first-quarter points allowed. This could mesh well against a Tennessee Titans offense that ranks 25th in first-quarter scoring. The Carolina Panthers spread for the opening quarter is +0.5 at a juicy -142. Don’t be surprised if the teams are tied at 0 end the end of the first quarter. 

See all Panthers vs Titans trends for Week 12.

Patriots vs Giants

The trend: These teams are a combined 15-6 to the Under this season

My favorite stat of the season is that the New York Giants are somehow averaging 6.8 points per game at home. That, quite simply, is pathetic. The New England Patriots, meanwhile, are averaging 11.6 points on the road. That too, is quite simply pathetic. This game has the lowest total of the week at 33.5 and that still might be too high. For what it’s worth, in the game after their bye last season, New England won 10-3 against the Jets.

See all Patriots vs Giants trends for Week 12.

Steelers vs Bengals

The trend: The Steelers are 16-4 SU in their last 20 games in Cincinnati

Sure, Joe Burrow wasn’t the quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals for most of these games, but he also won’t be their quarterback on Sunday after going down for the season with an unfortunate injury. The Pittsburgh Steelers are also on a nice run since last season that’s seen them go 15-5 SU, which is good enough for a profit of almost 12 units. Pittsburgh’s moneyline is in the -118 range for this game.

See all Steelers vs Bengals trends for Week 12.

Buccaneers vs Colts

The trend: The Colts are 13-4-1 ATS in their last 18 games after a bye