Here at Fantasy Life, we support scratching your NFL itch in whatever way possible. For some people, that might be betting on spreads. However, that’s not everyone’s cup of tea.

Instead, some people might enjoy picking games without the spread. Pick’em contests—where you simply pick the winner of each game each week—remain a popular way to compete against your friends without having to dive headfirst into the world of sports betting.

Each week, Geoff Ulrich and myself are going to walk you through our favorite ways to approach these contests. Which games should you eat the chalk, where should you look for leverage, and which trendy upsets should you avoid?

Let’s dive into all 13 games for Week 12.

Steelers at Browns

LaMarca: Browns (2/10 confidence). I really like this Steelers squad, which has an excellent defense and a better offense than you might think. However, this is a spot where they’ve historically struggled. They’re on the road vs. the Browns, and they’re coming off an emotional win vs. the Ravens in Week 11. It’s a potential letdown spot, and while I prefer the Browns on the spread, I don’t mind hunting for an upset in pick‘em pools either.

Geoff: Steelers (7/10). I don’t know what LaMarca is on this week. Jameis Winston throwing the ball in a windy stadium against this Pittsburgh defense sounds like a terrible idea. The Steelers are built for games like this while the Browns are just playing out the string at this point. 

Chiefs at Panthers

LaMarca: Chiefs (9/10). We should have a few absolute laughers this week, and this one is chief among them (pun intended). It’s hard to imagine Patrick Mahomes losing two games in a row, especially to a team as bad as Carolina.

Geoff: Chiefs (9/10). The Panthers will trot out Bryce Young, which makes this an easy pick (it would have been if Dalton was starting as well). KC got some key players back at practice, and the loss vs. Buffalo should be a great wake-up call. 

Vikings at Bears

LaMarca: Vikings (6/10). The Bears showed some fight last week vs. the Packers, but this team still has some major issues. Sam Darnold also played significantly better last week, so the talk of his demise might be a bit premature.

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Oct 20, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) runs the ball against the Detroit Lions during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Geoff: Bears (2/10). I think the Bears' defense will give Sam Darnold problems this week. Chicago isn’t great at stopping the run, but they have a decent pass rush and a solid secondary. Darnold hasn’t been that great of late, and the Vikings' secondary got burned for multiple big plays by Will Levis. The poor weather may also help make this a close game, and the Bears are due to close one of those out. 

Cowboys at Commanders

LaMarca: Commanders (10/10). The Commanders have had some tough games recently, but they should roll in a glorified bye week vs. the Cowboys.

Geoff: Commanders (9/10). The Cowboys have short rest coming in off Monday Night Football, while the Commanders have extra rest, having last played on TNF. Add in Cooper Rush vs. Jayden Daniels, and a poor Cowboys rush defense, and you have the makings for a blowout. 

Patriots at Dolphins

LaMarca: Patriots (1/10). Not every big favorite is going to win this week, and the Dolphins seem like one of the more vulnerable units. They struggled to beat the Raiders last week before ultimately pulling away late, while the Patriots have been competitive since switching to Drake Maye at quarterback.

Geoff: Dolphins (8/10). The Patriots do nothing for me. They have a failing rush defense and an O-line that will face a Miami rush that has averaged 2.7 sacks over their last three games. The Dolphins have played better since getting Tagovailoa back under center, and they should be pumped to get their third win in a row and get back in the playoff race this week. 

Titans at Texans

LaMarca: Texans (8/10). This Texans team has some flaws, but they shouldn’t be particularly visible vs. the Titans. 

Geoff: Texans (4/10). I want to pick against the Texans badly, as they aren’t destroying weaker teams like the Titans this season the way they should be. Alas, even if the Titans keep this close, they will likely blow it because they are, in fact, the Titans. 

Lions at Colts

LaMarca: Lions (10/10). Is anyone picking against the Lions at this point? I’m certainly not. They’re a wagon, and I don’t see why the Colts would be the team to slow them down.

Geoff: Lions (4/10). I think this game will be closer than expected. The Colts are a perfect 4-0 ATS at home this season with Anthony Richardson under center, and their defense has improved since DeForest Buckner came back. The Lions also lost LB Alex Anzalone last week. 

Buccaneers at Giants

LaMarca: Buccaneers (4/10). If Daniel Jones were starting this game for the Giants, I’d be interested in backing them for an upset. I think they have a chance to cover the six-point spread even with Tommy DeVito. That said, the most likely outcome is a close Bucs win.

Geoff: Buccaneers (4/10). I do see Tommy DeVito as an upgrade, but the Buccaneers will still have a decided edge at QB. Ultimately, I’m just not sure if the Giants are that interested in winning games at this point, while the Buccaneers are in the hunt for the division title again after Atlanta’s loss in Week 11. 

Broncos at Raiders

LaMarca: Broncos (8/10). I’m a believer in this Broncos squad. Their defense is legit, and Bo Nix has made some major strides in recent weeks. They should be able to get past a Raiders team with nothing to play for.

Geoff: Broncos (8/10). You don’t have to say much to convince me to pick against the Raiders at this point. The Broncos' defense may score enough points to win this game on their own. 

49ers at Packers

LaMarca: 49ers (2/10). Call me a sucker, but I just can’t quit this 49ers team. They’ve been unlucky both offensively and defensively from a scoring perspective, largely due to their trouble in the red zone. Maybe this is just a lost season for them, but I’m holding out hope that they flip the switch for at least one more week.

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Nov 17, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) rushes the ball against the Seattle Seahawks in the second quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images

Geoff: Packers (3/10). We’ve yet to see the Packers team that steamrolled opponents at the end of last season—which is both troubling and encouraging at the same time. The 49ers just keep losing big names and this week it’s Nick Bosa, who looks unlikely to play. The Packers can get revenge from last year’s divisional-round loss and potentially keep the 49ers out of this year’s playoffs with a win. It’s a big game and I think the Packers prevail. 

Cardinals at Seahawks

LaMarca: Cardinals (3/10). This is one of the few toss-up games of the week. The Seahawks are at home, but I think the Cardinals are the better team. Kyler Murray is playing some of the best football of his career, and they’re coming off a bye in Week 11. The Seahawks could also be a little flat after upsetting the 49ers.

Geoff: Cardinals (4/10). I’m not super high on the Cardinals, but I do think they are being underrated compared to some of their peers in the NFC West. It’s also a tough ask for the Seahawks, who are just a middling team, to grab two wins in a row against tough divisional opponents.  

Eagles at Rams

LaMarca: Eagles (6/10). The Eagles have absolutely rolled since returning from their early-season bye. Their offense has been phenomenal, with Saquon Barkley emerging as the Offensive Player of the Year frontrunner, while their defense has been one of the best in football. This team is back to being an NFC powerhouse, and I like their chances of beating the Rams.

Geoff: Rams (1/10). I can’t quit the Rams even though it’s the Eagles who are the team on the rise. Matthew Stafford and Co. need this game, and I think with their backs against the wall in prime time they will find a way to pull this one out. 

Ravens at Chargers

LaMarca: Chargers (3/10). The Chargers got the job done in primetime vs. one AFC North foe, and the Ravens are eerily similar to the Bengals on paper. They have a better record, but they have been far from unbeatable. Their defense is one of the worst in football, so if the Chargers can slow down Lamar Jackson just a bit, I think LA can pull off the upset.

Geoff: Chargers (3/10). We were far apart on the TNF game but in full agreement on MNF. The Chargers' rush defense is legit and may produce a second slow game from Lamar Jackson. With Justin Herbert up against a poor secondary, it’s not hard to see the Chargers pulling out a close one—much like the Steelers did last week.