Bears vs Lions NFL Week 12 Odds & Pick for Thanksgiving

The rivalry between the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions dates all the way back to 1930, when the Lions were called the Portsmouth (Ohio) Spartans. They have been in the same division since 1933, which is why they have played 177 times. The Bears have won 98 of those meetings, including the most recent one, back on November 11, when Chicago rolled to a 34-22 victory. The Bears are riding high on a resurgent defense led by Khalil Mack and enjoying the maturation of second-year quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Check out our NFL betting preview for this NFC North matchup that begins a trio of Thanksgiving Day matchups.

Bears vs Lions NFL Week 12 Odds & Pick for Thanksgiving

Saw these same guys not too long ago… 3️⃣ key matchups to keep an eye on during #CHIvsDET. 📰: https://t.co/32DuHJjl4n pic.twitter.com/TkI2kdqhKl

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) November 20, 2018

When: Thursday, November 22, 2018, 12:30pm ET Where: Ford Field, Detroit TV: CBS Radio: Westwood One Live Stream: NFL Live NFL Week 12 Odds: Chicago -4, O/U 45.5

Why should you bet on the Bears?

Chicago heads to Detroit with the momentum of a four-game winning streak, most recently having taken down the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday by a 25-20 score. Trubisky has a lot to do with the terrific season the Bears are having, with 2,469 yards through the air and a 20:9 TD:INT ratio. He has thrown at least two scoring passes in five of the Bears’ last seven contests. Tailback Jordan Howard is pacing the running game with 523 yards and five scores. The real story for Chicago is the improvement on their defense, which is permitting under 20 points per game, thanks in part to Khalil Mack’s eight sacks and Kyle Fuller’s four picks. The Bears have covered in six of their last seven games against NFC foes and in each of their last four contests overall. They have also covered in three of their last five games in Detroit — although playing in Detroit has been less favorable, as they have only covered twice in their lst eight games up in Michigan. If you like the Bears, you see their momentum on defense limiting Matthew Stafford’s passing game and taking over the rhythm of the contest.

Why should you put your money on the Lions?

The Lions have lost three of six and need to get on a streak, especially in a divisional game, to have any chance of the postseason. They have won three of their last four games at Ford Field, and Stafford has been heating up lately, with at least three scoring passes in seven of their last nine games, and he has a 17:8 TD:INT ratio. Kerryon Johnson has played well in the running game, leading the team with 641 yards and three scores. On defense, the Lions allow more than 26 points per game, which means that their offense often finds itself working from behind or scrambling to stay ahead. Detroit has historically played well on Thursdays, covering in five of their last seven midweek matchups. They have also covered in five of their last seven games at home and in nine of their last 13 games in November. If you like the Lions, you might think the Bears will come in somewhat overconfident after beating the Vikings, or that the Lions will find the same sort of defensive starch that helped them shut down the New England Patriots back in Week 2.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

The Chicago Bears have been a terrific story this season, and it looks like the first-round draft choices they had to surrender in order to pry Khalil Mack away from the Oakland Raiders have proven to be a wise one, at least at this point. Detroit suffers from the same problems that have traditionally kept them from contending — a lack of a consistent defense and a lack of a proven running game. The superior balance that the Bears show should prove conclusive in a Chicago win. I predict a final score of Bears 27, Lions 20.