NFL Thanksgiving Betting Guide 2025: Best Bets, Odds & Historic Trends

By Bill Speros Nov 13th, 2025 11:39 AM EST

Thanksgiving means three things: Turkey. Football. And more football. Here's our annual NFL Thanksgiving Betting Guide for 2025.

The NFL serves up three games on the Thursday holiday. The Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys occupy their traditional spots during the afternoon. This year, the Green Bay Packers visit the Lions at 1 p.m. ET (FOX). The Cowboys then play host to the Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs at 4:30 p.m. ET (CBS). The NFL's Thanksgiving nightcap has Cincinnati Bengals playing at NFC North rival Baltimore. The game kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.

The Lions first played on Thanksgiving in 1934. Save for a break during World War II (1942-45), the Lions have played on the holiday ever since. They were joined by the Cowboys on Thanksgiving in 1966. The Cowboys have occupied the late afternoon Thanksgiving Day spot every year since, save for 1975 and '77.

The NFL added a nightcap in 2006.

2025 NFL Thanksgiving Day Schedule, Odds & Best Bets

Thursday, Nov. 27
Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions
1 p.m. (FOX) Odds: TBD

Buzz: The NFC North remains up for grabs. Dan Campbell and Lions want that "Turducken" for the second year in a row. Last year, they barely escaped the Bears. Chicago coach Matt Eberflus held on to his final timeout and never had the chance to try an potential game-tying field goal. Eberflus took that time-out to the unemployment line. Now, he's the DC for the Cowboys. The Packers continue to search for answers on offense.

Kansas City Chiefs at Dallas Cowboys
4:30 p.m. (CBS) Odds: TBD

Buzz: Will Taylor Swift travel to Dallas to spend Thanksgiving with her bethroed? The folks at CBS sure hope so. Jim Nantz and Tony Romo share their Thanksgiving with you and a few million of their closest friends. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs have made the expected mid-season correction and remain fully engaged in the playoff chase. Dallas bolstered its defense at the trade deadline, but it came likely too little, too late.

Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens
8:20 p.m. (NBC) Odds: TBD

Buzz: Joe Flacco stays up late to face his original team. The 'Cats can't stop a nosebleed. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens weathered a flood of injuries and look to surge in the second half of the season.

NFL Thanksgiving Day Betting Trends Of Note

Here are some of the historic and unique NFL betting trends to watch in our NFL Thanksgiving Betting Guide.

1. Favorites are 38-20 (66%) against the spread (ATS) on Thanksgiving since 2005. Go with white meat, stuffing, and the favorites.
2. The Dallas Cowboys are 3-11 (21.4%) ATS on Thanksgiving since 2011. Fade the Cowboys against the point spread on Thanksgiving. But enjoy your pie.
3. Since the 1970 merger, the Dallas Cowboys are 11-0 outright and 10-3 ATS as double-digit favorites on Thanksgiving.
4. The Detroit Lions have lost seven of their past eight Thanksgiving games outright, and have gone just 3-5 ATS. Overall, the Lions are 38-45-2 on the holiday. They missed the cover as 10.5-point favorites last year in a 23-20 win over the Bears.
5. No team has won the Super Bowl after playing on Thanksgiving since the 1995 Dallas Cowboys. Furthermore, last season was the first time since 2019 that a team playing on Thanksgiving did not make the Super Bowl
6. Going back to 2000 season, favorites have gone a whopping 43-25 ATS (63.2%) and 56-12 straight up (SU) (87.5%) on Thanksgiving
7. Road favorites have gone 22-11 ATS (66.6%) and 29-4 SU (87.8%) on Thanksgiving Day since 2000.
8. When in doubt, go with the crowd on Thanksgiving. Favorites with 60%+ of the betting wagers are 25-10 ATS (71.4%) since 2005. Overall, teams with 51%+ of the betting wagers are 36-20 ATS (64.2%) in the same span.
9. Road favorites of 7-plus points are 9-1 ATS (90.09%) and 10-0 on Thanksgiving since 2003.
10. And when you go back for seconds on Thanksgiving night, make sure you back the favorites. The night-game favorites on Thanksgiving are 14-4 ATS (77.7%).
11. The Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions, however, have not both covered on Thanksgiving since 2001. Parlay bettors beware of this – and Aunt Karen’s fruit cake.
12. The Detroit Lions are 11-2 SU (81.1%) as a favorite on Thanksgiving since 1990.
13. Overall, double-digit favorites have gone 10-3 ATS since 2005.
14. The Detroit Lions have played at home on Thanksgiving every year since 1934 -- except when games were paused from 1939 to 1944 during World War II.
15. The Cowboys first played on Thanksgiving in 1966, beating the Cleveland Browns 26-14 at the Cotton Bowl. The Cowboys, meanwhile, have played on every Thanksgiving Day since -- except in 1975 and 1977.

Why Do The Detroit Lions Play On Thanksgiving

The Lions' first player on Thanksgiving Day in 1934. The Portsmouth (Ohio) Spartans were sold for $8,000 and moved to Detroit. The owner of the team put the game on Thanksgiving to give the NFL a national NBC radio audience. The game was a massive success; a Detroit-record crowd attended the game while listeners across the U.S. enjoyed the gridiron action over the airwaves.

Why Do The Dallas Cowboys Play On Thanksgiving?

When the NFL added a second Thanksgiving Day game in 1966, then-Cowboys owner Tex Schramm offered his team as tribute. But with a hitch – Dallas had to be the home team. He believed having the home Thursday game off a short week would give his team a built-in advantage. The NFL flirted with the then-St. Louis Cardinals as the 2^nd Thanksgiving Day game in 1975 and 1977. But America demanded “America’s Team” on this American holiday. And the Cowboys have played at home on Thanksgiving every year in the late-afternoon time slot since 1978.

When Did Thanksgiving Night Games Begin?

The rotating prime-time game was added in 2006 to complete our NFL Thanksgiving Betting Guide.

Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Game Results Year-By-Year

• 1934: vs. Chicago Bears L, 19-16
• 1935: vs. Chicago Bears W, 14-2
• 1936: vs. Chicago Bears W, 13-7
• 1937: vs. Chicago Bears L, 13-0
• 1938: vs. Chicago Bears W, 14-7
• 1945: vs. Cleveland Rams L, 28-21
• 1946: vs. Boston Yanks L, 34-10
• 1947: vs. Chicago Bears L, 34-14
• 1948: vs. Chicago Cards L, 28-14
• 1949: vs. Chicago Bears L, 28-7
• 1950: vs. New York Yanks W, 49-14
• 1951: vs. Green Bay Packers W, 52-35
• 1952: vs. Green Bay Packers W, 48-24
• 1953: vs. Green Bay Packers W, 34-15
• 1954: vs. Green Bay Packers W, 28-24
• 1955: vs. Green Bay Packers W, 24-10
• 1956: vs. Green Bay Packers L, 24-20
• 1957: vs. Green Bay Packers W, 18-6
• 1958: vs. Green Bay Packers W, 24-14
• 1959: vs. Green Bay Packers L, 24-17
• 1960: vs. Green Bay Packers W, 23-10
• 1961: vs. Green Bay Packers L, 17-9
• 1962: vs. Green Bay Packers W, 26-14
• 1963: vs. Green Bay Packers T, 13-13
• 1964: vs. Chicago Bears L, 27-24
• 1965: vs. Baltimore Colts T, 24-24
• 1966: vs. San Francisco 49ers L, 41-14
• 1967: vs. Los Angeles Rams L, 31-7
• 1968: vs. Philadelphia Eagles L, 12-0
• 1969: vs. Minnesota Vikings L, 27-0
• 1970: vs. Oakland Raiders W, 28-14
• 1971: vs. Kansas City Chiefs W, 32-21
• 1972: vs. New York Jets W, 37-20
• 1973: vs. Washington L, 20-0
• 1974: vs. Denver Broncos L, 31-27
• 1975: vs. Los Angeles Rams L, 20-0
• 1976: vs. Buffalo Bills W, 27-14
• 1977: vs. Chicago Bears L, 31-14
• 1978: vs. Denver Broncos W, 17-14
• 1979: vs. Chicago Bears W, 20-0
• 1980: vs. Chicago Bears L, 23-17 (OT)
• 1981: vs. Kansas City Chiefs W, 27-10
• 1982: vs. New York Giants L, 13-6
• 1983: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers W, 45-3
• 1984: vs. Green Bay Packers W, 31-28
• 1985: vs. New York Jets W, 31-20
• 1986: vs. Green Bay Packers L, 44-40
• 1987: vs. Kansas City Chiefs L, 27-20
• 1988: vs. Minnesota Vikings L, 23-0
• 1989: vs. Cleveland Browns W, 13-10
• 1990: vs. Denver Broncos W, 40-27
• 1991: vs. Chicago Bears W, 16-6
• 1992: vs. Houston Oilers L, 24-21
• 1993: vs. Chicago Bears L, 10-6
• 1994: vs. Buffalo Bills W, 35-21
• 1995: vs. Minnesota Vikings W, 44-38
• 1996: vs. Kansas City Chiefs L, 28-24
• 1997: vs. Chicago Bears W, 55-20
• 1998: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers W, 19-16 (OT)
• 1999: vs. Chicago Bears W, 21-17
• 2000: vs. New England Patriots W, 34-9
• 2001: vs. Green Bay Packers L, 29-27
• 2002: vs. New England Patriots L, 20-12
• 2003: vs. Green Bay Packers W, 22-14
• 2004: vs. Indianapolis Colts L, 41-9
• 2005: vs. Atlanta Falcons L, 27-7
• 2006: vs. Miami Dolphins L, 27-10
• 2007: vs. Green Bay Packers L, 37-26
• 2008: vs. Tennessee Titans L, 47-10
• 2009: vs. Green Bay Packers L, 34-12
• 2010: vs. New England Patriots L, 45-24
• 2011: vs. Green Bay Packers L, 27-15
• 2012: vs. Houston Texans L, 34-31 (OT)
• 2013: vs. Green Bay Packers W, 40-10
• 2014: vs.Chicago Bears W, 34-17
• 2015: vs. Philadelphia Eagles W, 45-14
• 2016: vs. Minnesota Vikings W, 16-13
• 2017: vs. Minnesota Vikings L, 30-23
• 2018: vs. Chicago Bears L, 23-16
• 2019: vs. Chicago Bears L, 24-20
• 2020: vs. Houston Texans L, 41-25
• 2021: vs. Chicago Bears L, 16-14
• 2022: vs. Buffalo Bills L, 28-25
• 2023: vs. Green Bay Packers L, 29-22
• 2024: vs. Chicago Bears W, 23-20

Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Game Results Year-By-Year

• 1966: vs. Cleveland Browns W, 26-14
• 1967: vs. St. Louis Cardinals W, 46-21
• 1968: vs. Washington Redskins W, 29-20
• 1969: vs. San Francisco 49ers T, 24-24
• 1970: vs. Green Bay Packers W, 16-3
• 1971: vs. Los Angeles Rams W, 28-21
• 1972: vs. San Francisco 49ers L, 31-10
• 1973: vs. Miami Dolphins L, 14-7
• 1974: vs. Washington Redskins W, 24-23
• 1976: vs. St. Louis Cardinals W, 19-14
• 1978: vs. Washington Redskins W, 37-10
• 1979: vs. Houston Oilers L, 30-24
• 1980: vs. Seattle Seahawks W, 51-7
• 1981: vs. Chicago Bears W, 10-9
• 1982: vs. Cleveland Browns W, 31-14
• 1983: vs. St. Louis Cardinals W, 35-17
• 1984: vs. New England Patriots W, 20-17
• 1985: vs. St. Louis Cardinals W, 35-17
• 1986: vs. Seattle Seahawks W, 31-14
• 1987: vs. Minnesota Vikings L, 44-38 (OT)
• 1988: vs. Houston Oilers L, 25-17
• 1989: vs. Philadelphia Eagles L, 27-0
• 1990: vs. Washington Redskins W, 27-17
• 1991: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers W, 20-10
• 1992: vs. New York Giants W, 30-3
• 1993: vs. Miami Dolphins L, 16-14
• 1994: vs. Green Bay Packers W, 42-31
• 1995: vs. Kansas City Chiefs W, 24-12
• 1996: vs. Washington Redskins W, 21-10
• 1997: vs. Tennessee Titans L, 27-14
• 1998: vs. Minnesota Vikings L, 46-36
• 1999: vs. Miami Dolphins W, 20-0
• 2000: vs. Minnesota Vikings L, 27-15
• 2001: vs. Denver Broncos L, 26-24
• 2002: vs. Washington Redskins W, 27-20
• 2003: vs. Miami Dolphins L, 40-21
• 2004: vs. Chicago Bears W, 21-7
• 2005: vs. Denver Broncos L, 24-21 (OT)
• 2006: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers W, 38-10
• 2007: vs. New York Jets W, 34-3
• 2008: vs. Seattle Seahawks W, 34-9
• 2009: vs. Oakland Raiders W, 24-7
• 2010: vs. New Orleans Saints L, 30-27
• 2011: vs. Miami Dolphins W, 20-19
• 2012: vs. Washington Redskins L, 38-31
• 2013: vs. Oakland Raiders W, 31-24
• 2014: vs. Philadelphia Eagles L, 33-10
• 2015: vs. Carolina Panthers L, 33-14
• 2016: vs. Washington Redskins W, 31-26
• 2017: vs. Los Angeles Chargers L, 28-6
• 2018: vs. Washington Redskins W, 31-23
• 2019: vs. Buffalo Bills L, 26-15
• 2020: vs. Washington Football Team L, 41-16
• 2021: vs. Las Vegas Raiders L, 36-33
• 2022: vs. New York Giants W, 28-20
• 2023: vs. Washington Commanders W, 45-10
• 2023: vs. New York Giants W, 27-20
  
  

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