Ready to feast on great NFL action on Thanksgiving, day and night to open Week 13? Let’s give thanks to the league for giving us three marquee matchups with playoff implications from lunchtime through second dinner time.
Here’s breaking down the menu with a special Turkey Day fearless forecast feast of more Jugo Mobile professional pigskin prognostications:
(Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook)
POWER RANKINGS: Rams take over at top as Eagles, Bills, Steelers drop; Bears, Cowboys rise for Week 13
NFL picks, predictions for Thanksgiving
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Packers at Lions (-3, 49 o/u)
Thursday 1 p.m. ET, Fox
The Lions’ offense got stifled in Lambeau Field in Week 1. Detroit can take back control of its division and wild-card fate with a Ford Field feat. Look for a heaping helping of Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montomgery and the running game to take pressure off Jared Goff by keeping Micah Parsons at bay.
Jordan Love is short on the needed weapons to keep up with enough big plays in the passing game to match what Dan Campbell calls for Goff. The Lions will ensure just desserts by containing the run and winning the turnover battle.
Pick: Lions win 30-24 and cover the spread.
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Chiefs (-3.5, 51.1 o/u) at Cowboys
Thursday 4:30 p.m. ET, CBS/Paramount+
The Chiefs’ offense will welcome this get-well road game as Patrick Mahomes should love the matchups for his wide receivers and Travis Kelce downfield. Kansas City should also be able to run the ball effectively with balance to faciliate the explosiveness.
The Cowboys typically gorge with a cornucopia of yards and points with Dak Prescott locked in at home, but he’ll see some pressure in some face and see his key receivers mashed a little more by tough coverage than Mahomes will. The Chiefs’ desperation will lead to better execution, serving the final blow to the Cowboys’ faint playoff chances.
Pick: Chiefs win 30-24 and cover the spread.
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Bengals at Ravens (-7.5, 51.5 o/u)
Thursday 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock
The Bengals have a spark from the week’s return of Joe Burrow, who has a history of ripping the Ravens’ defense in some bigger matchups. The problem is, Lamar Jackson will return the favor for a big game along with Derrick Henry and all of his offensive skill support vs. a Cincinnati defense that has been in a tryptophan stupor all season long.
Baltimore will continue floating over another weak opponent at home to parade right back into good AFC playoff position.
Pick: Ravens win 31-24 but fail to cover the spread.
