We’ve been blessed once again with a full slate of Thanksgiving football games coming up a week from now. Just because you’re celebrating Thanksgiving Day with your friends and family, doesn’t mean you can’t pocket a little extra cash. Or, failing that, fall asleep for that post-dinner nap to the dulcet tones of Troy Aikman and Joe Buck. Who is playing on Thanksgiving Day? Let’s take an early look at the games and the lines.
12:30 p.m. EST
Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions (+3.5)
Back in the preseason, this game looked as exciting as the potential call from Buck and Aikman. Your tryptophan-induced nap would have been epic, but now the Bears (6-3) have screwed it all up by actually being good. Chicago currently sits atop the NFC North, but not by much. The Minnesota Vikings (5-3-1) are right on their heels and the two meet up Sunday with the Bears being a 2.5-point favorite at home.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J-OgPIC1Ik
Related: NFL Betting Guide | Week 11 Opening Odds
Chicago Bears -4 -210 ov 45½
Detroit Lions +4 +180 un 45½
Odds Provided by BetDSI.eu
If Chicago drops that game, this contest against the Lions becomes a must-win to keep a half-game lead over Minnesota in the division race. If they beat the Vikings on Sunday, it won’t have the same urgency, but as a division game, it could still come into play with tiebreakers down the road.
The Lions (3-6) are still a dangerous team, with a couple of signature wins over the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers already this year. Detroit has won four of its last five Thanksgiving football games, with the Vikings knocking them off, 30-23, last year to snap a four-game winning streak.
4:30 p.m. EST
Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys (-4.5)
Like the Lions, the Dallas Cowboys (4-5) are a Thanksgiving Day staple and the Redskins (6-3) have been a regular holiday guest since they started this Turkey Day tradition. Two years ago, these two squads met with the Cowboys winning 31-26. It was Dallas’ first Thanksgiving victory in two years as this game has really been a showcase for teams to beat the Cowboys in front of a national audience since 2010. Dallas is 3-5 since ending a four-game Thanksgiving win steak in 2010.
Washington currently holds the top spot in the NFC East with a two-game lead over these same Cowboys. The Redskins face off against the Houston Texans (-3) on Sunday. The Cowboys are road dogs too (-3.5) against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Depending on how both those games fall, this could be a contest for control of the NFC East.
Washington Redskins +7 (+100) +290 ov 41
Dallas Cowboys -7 (-120) -350 un 41
Odds Provided by BetDSI.eu
8:20 p.m. EST
Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints (-10)
Speaking of the Falcons (4-5), that is a notable spread for a team with their offensive capabilities. While the Saints (8-1) have earned all their accolades, especially with their offense, I have to feel this line is a well-deserved smack in the face for Atlanta after dropping an embarrassing, 28-16, game to the Gregg Williams-coached Cleveland Browns last week.
As mentioned above, the Falcons are a favorite over the Cowboys this week and the Saints have the chance to pretty much knock the Philadelphia Eagles (4-5) out of the playoff picture.
Drew Brees is angling for his first (if you can believe it) NFL MVP award and, with the head-to-head tie breaker over the Rams, can’t afford to slip up at all in winnable games. Atlanta, over the last two years, has been a second-half team, but that loss to the Browns may have been a season-killer with what’s left on their schedule.
