The Detroit Lions (4-6) host the Houston Texans (3-7) on Thursday afternoon to kick off Thanksgiving as part of the franchise’s annual tradition. The game is slated to start at 12:30 p.m. ET at Ford Field. Below, we preview the Texans-Lions betting odds and lines and make our NFL picks and predictions.
Texans at Lions: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 1:05 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Texans -162 (bet $162 to win $100) | Lions +135 (bet $100 to win $135)
- Against the spread/ATS: Texans -3 (-110) | Lions +3 (-110)
- Over/Under: 51.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Texans at Lions: Game notes
- The Lions are 37-41-2 all-time on Thanksgiving Day, hosting a game every year on the holiday since 1934 (except from 1939-44).
- The Texans have won two of their last three games, beating the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars in the last three weeks.
- The Texans’ last five games have all been within seven points.
- The Lions were shut out by the Carolina Panthers in Week 11, losing 20-0 for their third loss in four games.
- The Lions and Texans rank 22nd and 23rd, respectively, in the NFL in scoring this season.
Texans at Lions: Key injuries
Texans
- WR Kenny Stills (quad) questionable
- WR Randall Cobb (toe) questionable
- OT Laremy Tunsil (illness) questionable
Lions
- WR Kenny Golladay (hip) questionable
- LB Jarrad Davis (knee) questionable
- CB Jeff Okudah (shoulder) questionable
- TE T.J. Hockenson (shoulder) questionable
- QB Matthew Stafford (thumb) questionable
- RB D’Andre Swift (concussion) questionable
Texans at Lions: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Texans 24, Lions 17
Money line (?)
The Texans are not a good team, but neither are the Lions – and at least Houston has QB Deshaun Watson. Cobb and Stills are likely out for this one, but WRs Brandin Cooks and Will Fuller are still capable receivers.
I’m taking the TEXANS (-162) to win outright on Thanksgiving against a banged-up Lions team with an injured Stafford.
Against the spread (?)
The Texans are only 3-7 ATS this season, with the Lions going 4-6 ATS. Houston is understandably favored in this game and even as poorly as this team has played, it should be able to handle the Lions.
The Texans’ win over the Patriots was mostly because of Watson’s brilliance and there’s no reason to believe he can’t continue that magic against Detroit. Take the TEXANS -3 (-110).
Over/Under (?)
The total has gone Under in four of the Texans’ last six games and now they get a bad Lions offense that could be missing Golladay. Houston will score enough to win, but don’t expect this to be a shootout.
Take the UNDER 51.5 (-110) on Thanksgiving.
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