Green Bay Packers vs Detroit Lions

For the first time since 2016, the Detroit Lions (8-2 SU, 7-3 ATS) are favored to win their annual Thanksgiving Day game as they prepare to host the Green Bay Packers (4-7, 5-5) to open Week 12 NFL action.

The Lions are off to their best start ever during the Super Bowl era, but they will be looking to break a six-game losing streak on Thanksgiving, with their last win coming the last time they were favored, defeating the Minnesota Vikings 16-13 as two-point favorites seven years ago. Detroit is 37-44-2 SU all-time on Thanksgiving.

Latest Betting Notes: Packers

Green Bay is coming off a 23-20 upset win over the Los Angeles Chargers last Sunday at Lambeau Field as three-point home underdogs, earning their second victory there in as many games.

The Packers saw quarterback Jordan Love turn in the best effort of his young career, as the first-year starter completed 27-of-40 passes for 322 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Love has gone two home games now without throwing a pick, and he will have more pressure on him to lead the offense with running back Aaron Jones going down with a knee injury last week.

The good news is that Jones reportedly did not tear his ACL, although fellow running back Emmanuel Wilson also suffered a shoulder injury, so AJ Dillon is the only healthy player at the position on the roster.

Latest Betting Notes: Lions

Detroit was fortunate to escape Week 11 with a 31-26 victory against the Chicago Bears last Sunday, falling short of covering the spread as an eight-point home favorite. The Lions trailed the Bears 26-14 with 4:15 remaining in the fourth quarter and scored 17 unanswered points in the final 2:59 to pull off the miraculous win.

It really should not be too surprising that Chicago ended up losing after the team also blew a 28-7 lead to the Denver Broncos en route to a 31-28 setback in Week 5, but the team became the first ever to do so after holding a plus-three turnover margin and over 40 minutes in time of possession.

Other teams were 48-0 under that same scenario previously before that epic collapse from the Bears. Three of the turnovers were interceptions by Detroit quarterback Jared Goff, who redeemed himself a bit by leading the two late touchdown drives.

The Keys to Victory: Packers

Love has played better lately with five touchdowns and two interceptions in the last three games after having four scores through the air and seven picks during Green Bay’s four-game losing streak. He is the main key for the Packers in this tough spot away from home, as another poor performance here will likely lead to a double-digit blowout by the hosts.

If Love plays well and avoids turnovers, he can keep this one close and help them cover.

The Keys to Victory: Lions

Detroit’s defense has been among the worst in the NFL recently despite the team winning three games in a row and seven of eight. The Lions have given up an average of 29 points in their last four games, outscoring their past two opponents 72-64 in a pair of high-scoring affairs.

Fortunately, Detroit has played lights-out D in the last two meetings versus Green Bay, holding this opponent to 25 points total in two wins, with the total going UNDER easily both times. The Lions are certainly capable of winning again in similar fashion.