Thanksgiving is upon us, and that means we get our annual triple-header of NFL action. The day gets going with the Detroit Lions hosting the Chicago Bears in the game with the fewest implications. The 3-7-1 Lions will be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss, while the 5-6 Bears will be all but eliminated with a loss.
The Bears are a 5.5-point road favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook, with a point total of 38.5. The Bears are -167 on the money line, while the Lions are +145. Chicago is 3-8 against the spread this season and has gone over the point total three times. Detroit is 4-7 ATS and has gone over the point total seven times.
This game marks the fourth time this season the Bears have been a road favorite. They were 6.5-point favorites in Oakland, five point favorites in Washington, and three point favorites in Denver. Chicago is 2-1 straight up and 1-2 ATS in those games. Meanwhile, this is the fifth time Detroit has been a home underdog this season. They were touchdown dogs to Dallas, 2.5-point dogs to Minnesota, touchdown dogs to Kansas City, and one-point dogs to the Chargers. Detroit was 1-3 SU and 2-2 ATS in those games.
Injury report
Bears
TE Ben Braunecerk: OUT
WR Taylor Gabriel: OUT
OT Bobby Massie: OUT
DB Sherrick McManus: OUT
TE Adam Shaheen: OUT
LB Danny Trevathan: OUT
Lions
QB Jeff Driskel: Questionable (not expected to play)
DE Trey Flowers: Questionable
DL Da’Shawn Hand: Questionable
DT Damon Harrison Sr.: Questionable
TE T.J. Hockenson: Questionable
DB Tracy Walker: Questionable
CB Jamal Agnew: OUT
WR Marvin Hall: OUT
CB Rashaan Melvin: OUT
QB Matthew Stafford: OUT
Pick against the spread
This game just got more complicated. Jeff Driskel is not expected to play due to a hamstring injury. David Blough will start in his place. Even with the QB change, I simply cannot lay points with Mitchell Trubisky on the road. If this game was in Chicago, I’d consider laying 4.5 points with Trubisky, but on the road on a short week, I just can’t justify the pick. The entire free world will be picking the Bears with Driskel sidelined. I will go the other way and take the points against Trubisky.
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