Cleveland Browns Vs. Las Vegas Raiders Betting Predictions & Week 12 NFL Picks and Parlays 

Tank Bowl 2025: Shedeur's Time to Shine in Vegas

This Sunday’s clash between the Cleveland Browns and the Las Vegas Raiders is the definition of a "sickos game," featuring two 2-8 teams fighting for absolutely nothing but draft positioning and dignity. But the script flipped on Wednesday when Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed the news everyone’s been waiting for: rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders is officially QB1 for Week 12.

With Dillon Gabriel still stuck in concussion protocol after that brutal hit against Baltimore, the keys to the offense finally belong to Deion’s kid. Sanders had a rough relief appearance last week—going 4-for-16 is ugly no matter how you spin it—but getting a full week of first-team reps changes the math. He’s not looking over his shoulder at Joe Flacco or Kenny Pickett anymore. The kid has swagger, and honestly, the Browns offense can't get much worse. They need a spark, and Shedeur’s ability to extend plays might be the only thing that saves him behind an offensive line that’s been letting defenders tee off all season.

On the other side, you’ve got the Raiders, who are actively spiraling. They’ve lost four straight, the stadium is half-empty, and Maxx Crosby looks like the only guy who still wants to be there. Crosby vs. the Browns' rookie right tackle is the matchup that should terrify Cleveland fans. If Shedeur holds onto the ball too long trying to make a highlight reel play, Crosby is going to eat him alive. But if the Raiders' secondary continues its impersonation of Swiss cheese, Sanders might actually put up some numbers. It’s a battle of incompetence vs. inexperience, and it’s going to be fascinatingly bad.

Rolling the Dice in Sin City

The oddsmakers have installed the Raiders as 4-point favorites, mostly because home-field advantage still theoretically exists and Cleveland is historically allergic to winning on the road. The total is a rock-bottom 36 points, the lowest on the Week 12 board, which tells you exactly what Vegas thinks of these offenses.

Prediction: It’s hard to trust a rookie in his first start, especially on the road against an elite pass rusher like Crosby. However, the Raiders have quit. Shedeur flashes just enough "Prime Time" magic to keep it interesting, but a late turnover seals it. Raiders win ugly, 17-13, and the under hits with ease.