NFL Thanksgiving Preview: Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions
Thursday, 11/28/13, 12:30 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Detroit -4
Current Betting Line: Detroit -6.5
Opening Total: 49.5
Current Total: 48.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Detroit Lions are 6-10 SU versus division foes the last two-plus seasons

Green Bay will face Detroit on Thanksgiving Day for the fourth time in the last seven seasons, as it looks to pick up its first victory since Oct. 27 after finishing in a 26-26 tie at home against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday. The Packers current three-game winning streak on this holiday is tied for the longest in franchise history, which is important to consider when making your NFL betting picks Thursday. The team has won 14 of its last 17 regular-season games with a tie versus NFC North opponents. Green Bay is 6-2 SU and 5-3 ATS in a dome the last two-plus seasons.

The Packers are 19-8 SU when playing indoors in the Mike McCarthy era, which can’t be ignored when looking over the pro football odds page. Green Bay is second in the league in averaging 424.4 yards per game, while five of the team’s top six rushing performances since 2009 have come in the last nine games. Offensively, the team has had at least one 100-yard receiver in eight of 11 games.

Detroit has dropped back-to-back games, including a 24-21 defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as 7.5-point home favorites in Week 12, but has won the statistical battle in its last five contests. The Lions have lost nine consecutive games on this special day in the Motor City, with the last victory coming in 2003. Quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson make this team dangerous in what many see as a must-win situation. Detroit is 6-10 SU and 6-9-1 ATS versus division foes since 2011, with no edge in terms of the betting total (8-8 Over/Under).

The Lions are looking to improve to 7-5 on the season and stay atop the division standings, but a loss would drop them into a third-place tie with the Packers and Chicago Bears. Detroit has allowed just 14 sacks this season, as it prepares to face a defensive unit that is tied for the NFL lead with 37.