As usual, before delivering the Detroit Lions best bets for this week, let's see how Week 11's best bets did.
RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Over 3.5 receptions (+114, Draft Kings): 6 receptions
LB Alex Anzalone, Over .25 sacks (+270, DraftKings): Zero sacks
RB David Montgomery, Anytime touchdown (-140, FanDuel; -145, DraftKings): 1 touchdown
Went a little outside the box with the Anzalone sack bet. but otherwise a pretty good week. Now it's on to Week 12, and the short week before the Lions play on Thanksgiving Day.
The Lions will welcome the rival Green Bay Packers to town on Thanksgiving for the first time since 2013. The two teams played back in Week 4, a 34-20 win for the Lions as David Montgomery scored three touchdowns.
The Lions are significant favorites over the Packers (7.5 points as of the latest check), who have a lengthy injury report this week. So while short week games can be tricky, with the added layer of this one being a division game on a holiday, the Lions are not expected to have much trouble with the Packers.
Via the sportsbook as noted, here are our best Lions bets for Thanksgiving Day.
3 best Detroit Lions bets for Week 12 (Thanksgiving) vs. Green Bay Packers
RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Over 33.5 receiving yards (+135, DraftKings)
The Packers aren't overly generous to opposing running backs in the passing game, certainly not nearly as generous as the Bears were heading into Week 11. But it's also safe to say they have not faced someone with Gibbs' capabilities as a pass catcher, and even in relatively limited action in Week 4 he had four catches on five targets.
The over on Gibbs' catch prop (3.5) is an easy bet, and one of our player props for this week. The natural tentacle/residual of that is yardage, and there are some interesting alt-receiving yards lines on the rookie this week. Over 33.5 feels like easy pickings.
RB David Montgomery, Anytime touchdown (-145, FanDuel, -150, DraftKings)
Montgomery has scored in all six games he has finished healthy this season. Back in Week 4 against the Packers, as previously mentioned, he had 32 carries for 121 yards and three touchdowns.
With Gibbs fully integrated now, Montgomery is not going to get 32 carries on Thursday. But he will still get plenty of work, and the goal line work will always lean toward him a bit over Gibbs. Adding a layer with a multiple-touchdown bet is in play on Montgomery, and they're nice plus-money (which we like). But an anytime score is lined up to hit, perhaps very early in the game.
Lions, -7.5 points (-110, FanDuel; -108, DraftKings)
The 34-20 final score back in Week 4 was not a reflection of how much the Lions beat the Packers. Detroit's third quarter offensive issues were there, and the Packers scored 14 of their points between halfway through the third quarter and the first minute of the fourth quarter. 152 of their 230 offensive yards came on those two drives.
As also previously mentioned, the Packers are incredibly banged up and will be without some key players on Thursday. 7.5 points is a big spread, but the Lions are lined up to cover it comfortably.
Note: Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.