NFL Thanksgiving Picks: Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions

Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions
Thursday, 11/27/14, 12:30 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Detroit -7
Current Betting Line: Detroit -7
Opening Total: 46.5
Current Total: 47
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Lions Redskins NFL Preview — The Detroit Lions are 2-0 SUATS versus NFC North opponents this year

Chicago has won back-to-back 21-13 home contests against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings, with both games going UNDER the betting total. The Bears were expected to be one of the top offenses in the league this season, which can’t be ignored when making your Week 14 NFL betting picks, but they’ve averaged 6.3 points fewer than last season. It’s important to point out that the squad has been outscored by a 41-0 margin in the first quarter in the last six games. Chicago is 2-4 SUATS as underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points the last two-plus seasons, with the OVER going 4-2 in that situation.

The Bears have the ability to run the football with running back Matt Forte, which is important to consider when looking over the NFL betting lines, as he’s managed to gain an average of 95.8 yards in his last five games in the Motor City. He’s also been targeted in the passing game by signal-caller Jay Cutler, as he’s tied for fourth in the league with 72 receptions.

Detroit returns home after dropping two games on the road against the New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals by a combined 48-15 margin over that span, while going UNDER the betting total in four consecutive contests. The Lions had a major breakthrough in this NFC North series last year, with wide receiver Calvin Johnson accounting for three touchdown catches en route to winning both meetings. Detroit is 3-5 SUATS as home favorites of 3.5 to 7 points the last two-plus seasons, with no clear edge in terms of the betting total (4-4 Over/Under).

The Lions haven’t been explosive offensively in recent weeks, but they still have plenty of playmakers for Matthew Stafford to target, including No. 2 wide receiver Golden Tate. Detroit brought Tate in from Seattle to ease the burden on Johnson, and he’s delivered in catching 72 passes for 1,047 yards. Stafford is still working on his timing with his main target downfield due to Johnson missing three games with an ankle injury.