We’re still more than two weeks away from the Thanksgiving Day slate of NFL games, but it’s not too early to start thinking about sports betting opportunities now. The Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys always host games, which have included some amazing moments. The Lions saw the Chicago Bears take a kickoff back to the house to start overtime on Thanksgiving Day in 1980, and the Dallas Cowboys played the Miami Dolphins in the snow on Thanksgiving Day in 1993. The Dolphins lined up for a go-ahead field goal in the waning seconds, but the Cowboys blocked it. Dallas lineman Leon Lett ran toward the ball, which was ahead of the line of scrimmage, despite the fact that his teammates were waving him to get away from the dead ball. He fell on it but knocked it forward, and Miami recovered the newly live ball and then kicked the game-winner, putting Lett in Thanksgiving infamy. What will happen this year?
Take a look at these NFL betting previews.
NFL News: Early Preview for Thanksgiving Games
Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions (12:30 pm ET, FOX)
This is the second matchup of the season between these NFC North rivals. The Bears won in Chicago, 24-14, in Week 4 but since have dropped four out of their last five, including four in a row. The transition to Justin Field as quarterback seems to be going well as the team put up 22 points against San Francisco and then 27 against Pittsburgh on Monday night, but the Bears’ defense has turned shoddy since a 20-9 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5. The Bears will need to get more pressure on the quarterback and commit fewer penalties as a defense if they want to win this game.
Detroit is still looking for its first win of the season, as they took an 0-8 record into the bye. Their last game was a 44-6 beating at the hands of Philadelphia at home. While Jared Goff looked somewhat at home in the early weeks running the Lions’ offense, breakdowns in protection and the erosion of the running game has put way too much pressure on Goff. So for now, I’m taking the Bears to win on the road.
Bears to Win on the Road : Bet the Game Today
Las Vegas Raiders at Dallas Cowboys (4:30 pm ET, CBS)
The Raiders came out of their bye and laid an egg in East Rutherford, losing by seven to a Giants team that has some emphatic losses — as well as a win in New Orleans, and now a win over the AFC West leaders. When Derek Carr is on, he is difficult to stop, and the Dallas passing defense has shown that it will give up big plays.
When Dallas’ offense is clicking, there are few defenses that can keep up with it. What did we learn from the Cowboys’ loss to Denver? Teams that can run the ball will sustain drives, and the Raiders have a pair of tailbacks who can pound the ball. Teams that want to throw the ball down the field against Dallas can do so. To frustrate Dallas’ offense, keep your own offense on the field; when the Cowboys have it, drop seven or eight into coverage and dare the Cowboys’ O-line to open up enough holes to make them pay. For now, I’m liking the Raiders to cover.
Raiders Will Cover : Bet the Game Today
Buffalo Bills at New Orleans Saints (8:20 pm ET, NBC)
New Orleans has struggled with consistency in the aftermath of Drew Brees’ retirement. Jameis Winston has looked All-Pro at times and average at others. This is a team that took down Tampa Bay at home two games ago…and then lost to Atalnta at home last week. The defense is stout, loading up against the run but tending to be vulnerable against the pass, and that is the sort of opportunity that Buffalo can take advantage of.
The best thing to say after Buffalo’s loss in Jacksonville last week was that every team hits a bump in the schedule, and that the Bills will not try to be as flashy with big plays, instead using what they are given to move in a workmanlike way — and stack up the points. I like Buffalo to win this game by a touchdown.
Bills Win by a Touchdown : Bet the Game Today
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