NFL Thanksgiving picks, predictions against spread: Lions mash Bears; Cowboys, Packers dish up big home wins | Sporting News United Kingdom

The NFL is lucky to have such a great feast of games for another Thanksgiving in 2024. The Lions, the NFC’s best team, will kick it off. The Cowboys and Packers will follow up as hosts during the tripleheader to add to the marquee.

Those are the favored home teams, but the respective road underdogs also know the holiday helpings can often lead to upsets. The Bears, Giants, and Dolphins also will put their proud franchise traditions to the test.

Here’s how Sporting News sees all three Turkey Day specials playing out to begin a critical Week 13:

(Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook)

MORE NFL:

Week 13 NFL picks, predictions for Thanksgiving

• Bears at Lions (-10.5, 48.5 o/u)

Thursday 12:30 p.m. ET, CBS

The Lions are a relentless team, and remember that they lost at home to the Packers last Thanksgiving. The Bears lost an overtime thriller to the Vikings at home and will be road-weary on a short week. Chicago’s defense has fallen apart for Matt Eberflus, while Detroit’s defense keeps on flexing for Aaron Glenn. The home team says “no thanks’ and shows no mercy on the holiday.

Pick: Lions win 34-13 and cover the spread.

MORE BEARS: Jonathan Owens pays tribute to Simone Biles with celebration | Bears fans boo injured chain-gang member

• Giants at Cowboys (-4, 38 o/u)

Thursday 4:30 p.m. ET, Fox

The Giants are a mess and struggled to move the ball without Daniel Jones with Brian Daboll on a scorching seat. The Cowboys pulled off a major division upset vs. the Commanders on the road. That would say Dallas rips New York on a short week, but it’s a decent matchup for the Giants because the Cowboys can’t exploit their key defensive weaknesses as much. In the end, home field and a more seasoned backup QB lets the home team win on a Brandon Aubrey field goal.

Pick: Cowboys win 20-17 but fail to cover the spread.

MORE COWBOYS: Cowboys playoff outlook after win vs. Commanders | Highlights from Commanders-Cowboys wild ending

MORE GIANTS: Is Brian Daboll on hot seat ahead of Cowboys game?

• Dolphins at Packers (-3, 47.5 o/u)

Thursday 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock

Tua Tagovailoa has the new-look Miami offense rolling with efficient, short-to-intermediate passing playing off the run. The Dolphins have taken full advantage of bad defenses in favorable weather, but going to Lambeau against a dangerous defense is a different story. The compressed passing game becomes more exploitable by a Packers team that can rev up pressure to force Tua turnovers.

Pick: Packers win 24-20 and cover the spread.

MORE: Dolphins’ playoff outlook after win vs. Patriots