A reminder to everyone to make sure your picks are in before each game starts. Yes, that means you can send the three picks individually if you wish.
Here are the three games:
Bears (-3) at Lions, 12:30
The 3-7 Bears take on the 0-9-1 Lions in what promises to be a thrilling uh football game at Ford Field. The “Fire Nagy” chants are showing up at interesting places and if the Bears happen to lose this one to the winless Lions, those fans may get their wish. The Lions have been downright frisky of late, tying the Steelers and narrowly losing to the Browns, both on the road. A score in the teens seems the most likely scenario so of course that means we should expect (or perhaps hope for) a 34-31 shootout.
Predictor: Bears +1
Matt: Bears
Raiders at Cowboys (-7.5), 4:30
The 5-5 Raiders, losers of three straight and five of their last seven, head to Jerry World to take on the 7-3 Cowboys in the other traditional Thanksgiving Day game. The Raiders have struggled on both sides of the ball recently, but especially the offense, as they have failed to top 16 points in any of their games during the skid. The Cowboys will be without WR Amari Cooper (COVID protocol) and CeeDee Lamb (concussion) is a game time decision, as he requires the OK from an independent neurologist to play.
Predictor: Cowboys
Matt: Cowboys +1
Bills (-6.5) at Saints, 8:20
The nightcap of this fine feast of football festivities features two struggling teams, the 6-4 Bills, losers of three of their last five, take on the 5-5 Saints, who have lost three straight. The Bills were trampled by the Colts, and specifically Jonathan Taylor, as they gave up five touchdowns to the second year back out of Wisconsin in a 41-15 home loss. The Saints have lost three in a row following the ACL injury suffered by Jameis Winston but there has been another injury that is likely as important – Alvin Kamara went down with an injury in the Falcons game and has yet to return, and this will be the case again this week as Kamara has not been cleared to play. Also on the injury report is new/old RB Mark Ingram, who projects to be a game time decision after missing most of the Saints practice time this week.
Predictor: Buffalo
Matt: Buffalo +1