Guest Column: Against the Spread Picks Week 12 by William Jones

Many thanks to Frank for covering the picks last week for me. I only wish he had done a better job (just kidding).

Green Bay (-3.5) @ Detroit - It's all about turnovers and while both teams are at +5 takeaway/giveaway (TA/GA) this season, Detroit has coughed up the ball NINE times in the past two weeks! Ouch! Green Bay has been winning with a stifling Defense and no running game. Detroit is really gonna miss Dre Bly this week. Favre gives his wife a Thanksgiving treat with at least 4 TD passes as GB wins big. Take the Packers and give up the 3.5

New England (-22) vs. Philadelphia - Not only is the Pats' Offense unstoppable, not only do they have a +17 TA/GA advantage, the D out thinks everyone. Coach BB goes for it on 4th and 1 at the opposing 7 with a four TD lead. Now McNabb is out, too? Wow...this one should get ugly quick. Is-22 too big a deficit for ANYONE to overcome? Not this crew. Take the Pats and give up the 22

Upset Special of the Week!Cleveland (-3.5) vs. Houston - Cleveland can put up a lot of points against marginal teams but Houston showed up with it's two big weapons in Schaub and Johnson returning last week. Look for this to be a high scoring game but I see the Houston defense coming up with some key stops and turnovers to make the difference. The Texans will win the thing outright, +3.5

Happy Turkey Day!