Thanksgiving Day best bets: Lions trending over at home
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Week 11 of the NFL season starts Thursday with a three-game Thanksgiving Day slate. Whether you're fixated on the television already or just need some action to avoid talking to family members, here are the best bets to consider.
Houston Texans @ Detroit Lions (+2.5, 51.5), 12:30 p.m. ETThere's no better Thanksgiving tradition than flipping the coffee pot on, basting the turkey, and locking in the early-morning over. Joking aside, there should be plenty of points when the Texans travel on a short week to take on the Lions. After all, Detroit's flown over the total in 10 of the last 11 at home.
Houston's finally hitting its stride offensively as the schedule lightens up. Take out the Week 10 weather game at Cleveland and the Texans have averaged 28 points per game in their last five. The team should continue having success against a Lions side that's No. 25 in the NFL in DVOA defense.
If Houston gets going early, the over's in good shape: Detroit runs its offense at the second-fastest tempo when trailing by seven or more points this season.
The Texans have gone over the total in four of the last five as a road favorite, while the Lions have cashed seven of the last eight as a home 'dog.
Let's start the holiday off with a barn burner. And if it's 10-3 at the end of the third quarter, you're allowed to kick your family out. Those are the rules.
Pick: Over 51.5
Washington Football Team @ Dallas Cowboys (-3, 47), 4:30 p.m.If you want to sneak in a nap on Thursday, this might be your best window. Alex Smith vs. Andy Dalton would have been an unbelievable matchup back in, say, 2013; now, the two are just trying to keep their respective clubs out of the NFC East basement.
The Washington Football Team controlled the clock and scored a 25-3 win over the Cowboys last month, with the offense posting a season-best 5.3 yards per rush while possessing the ball for nearly 37 minutes.
Could Dallas give Washington a taste of its own medicine in Round 2? The Cowboys finally got going on the ground in last week's upset win over the Vikings, logging 5.8 yards per carry.
Neither signal-caller should intimidate the opposing defense. Expect both teams to play ball control and keep the clock moving, ultimately resulting in an easy under.
Pick: Under 47
(Odds source: theScore Bet)
Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.
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