NFL odds: Thanksgiving games, AFC West highlight Week 12
The Detroit Lions (6-4) and the Dallas Cowboys (9-1) have been American staples playing on Thanksgiving Day for years, and both division leaders are listed as favorites for their annual holiday home games.
The Lions kick off Thursday’s action as 2.5-point favorites on the NFL lines versus the Minnesota Vikings (6-4) at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com in a matchup that will decide who takes sole possession of first place in the NFC North.
Detroit has not fared well though over its past dozen Turkey Day games, going 3-9 straight up. But the Lions have gone 4-0 against the spread in the last four, with the over cashing in each of the previous four as well for totals bettors.
The Vikings have gone 3-1 ATS in the previous four meetings with Detroit but lost 22-16 in overtime as five-point home favorites in Week 9 as part of a four-game skid.
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The Cowboys improved to 9-0-1 ATS with a 27-17 win over the Baltimore Ravens last week, rallying from an early deficit to cover as seven-point home favorites. Dallas is listed as a seven-point favorite hosting Washington (6-3-1), who are 14-6 ATS in the previous 20 meetings. The Cowboys have lost three of their last four on Thanksgiving.
The Indianapolis Colts (5-5) are the lone home team that is an underdog on Thursday, giving three points to the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers (5-5).
The Colts have won two in a row and still have hopes of taking the AFC South title back from the Houston Texans. The Steelers just snapped a four-game skid and have won 13 of the past 15 meetings. However, Indy has thrived as a home underdog, going 10-2 SU and 11-1 ATS in its last 12 such outings.
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On Sunday, the biggest early game involves the Atlanta Falcons hosting the Arizona Cardinals as four-point favorites at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons are 2-8 ATS in their previous 10 home games and 1-6 SU in their past seven games as home favorites.
Later Sunday, two more divisional matchups of interest will take place with the New England Patriots (8-2) visiting the New York Jets (3-7) and the Denver Broncos (7-3) hosting the Kansas City Chiefs (7-3).
The Patriots are eight-point favorites but have gone 0-5-1 ATS in the previous six meetings with the Jets, according to the OddsShark NFL Database. The Chiefs are 3.5-point underdogs and have lost seven of eight to the Broncos, although they have won seven straight against AFC West opponents.
Denver is 1-4 ATS in its last five games versus AFC West foes overall and 1-3 ATS in its previous four divisional home games.
