Ravens vs. Steelers odds: Ravens close underdogs for Thanksgiving

Despite all of the Baltimore Ravens’ troubles right now, oddsmakers are making them nearly even with the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Baltimore Ravens are coming off back-to-back losses for the first time this season, falling to the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans. As the team seems to be showing some cracks in their confidence, they’ll go on the road on a short week to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thanksgiving.

According to BetMGM, the Ravens open this week as three-point underdogs to the Steelers. And it’s easy to see why that might be.

First and foremost, all records need to get thrown out when you’re talking about this matchup. It doesn’t matter how great or bad one team looks, it’s almost always a close game. Since John Harbaugh became Baltimore’s coach, the series is split at 14-14 each, with the tiebreaker coming this week. Of those 28 games, only 14 have been decided by four-plus points.

But this matchup takes place at Heinz Field right after the Ravens got done with a very physical and draining game that went into overtime. While a short week isn’t great for any team, Baltimore has so many more hurdles to overcome this week than its counterpart.

If it’s anything like the previous games in this rivalry, it’s going to be a real fistfight. If the Ravens want to have a shot at winning the division or just really help their playoff chances, they need this win. Which is exactly why the Steelers will be gunning for them too.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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The glass half-empty/glass half-full NFL breakdown: Thanksgiving games

Thanksgiving 2019 can be looked at as great entertainment…or, well, terrible. It ultimately comes down to how you look at the glass.

While we’re all brainwashed—lulled into a comfortable trance by the tranquil voice of Jim Nantz—to believe the Masters is “A tradition unlike any other,” the slate of NFL games on Thanksgiving is the true champion of unique sports experiences.

Thanksgiving NFL games carry so much more than the actual matchup or even outcome. For some, they are an escape from family members or that weird casserole thing, with all the raisins on it, that Aunt Clara made. For others, it’s a chance to digest and catch one’s breath while enjoying a form of holiday-warming nostalgia that harkens back to Pre-Turducken. There are conversations—with minor doses of directed snark—with people you don’t normally talk to: “Well…that’s actually a Cover-4, Bill.”

For many folks, it’s a chance to sleep.

And whatever your reason is for watching (or ignoring) the NFL on Thanksgiving day, I’m sure it’s fantastic. It’s unique, in your particular way—regardless if your team is playing, if your money is swaying, or if you’re simply a fan of all-things Joe Buck. At the end of the day, this proverbial smorgasbord of football consumption ultimately comes down to how you look at it.

Remote, please.

Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions

Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport

Glass Half-Full:

This game, unlike the others, has so much history—it’s matchup No. 180. It’s always great, regardless of the team’s quarterback or shortcomings.

The Bears are coming off a win over the Giants, where Mitch Trubisky looked decent at times, and the defense lived up to its 4th-overall ranking. The Bears won this game last year too, behind a solid effort from Chase Daniel—so, maybe, if Trubisky is ineffective, the memory of yesteryear could be the spark for the offense?

For The Lions, although the team has suffered four consecutive losses, none have been by more than eight points. Like most rivalries such as this, the records don’t factor into the outcome, so you have to like the chances when playing in front of the home crowd.

Glass Half-Empty:

Who is David Blough? You know what, it doesn’t matter. Who lines up under center, for either team, holds about as much importance as whether there’s sausage in the stuffing or not—it’s stuffing.

The Bears barely beat the Giants, and Josh Nagy seems like a befuddled press secretary at this point. The Lions have been hanging on by the fact they ‘barely” lost to basically their entire schedule. Though Matt Patricia and his pencil might make for a cool Halloween costume, it causes nothing but indigestion on more food-centric holidays like Thanksgiving. Sure, the NFC is a somewhat open road, but that doesn’t mean it’s an abandoned parking lot. Change the channel, and let’s see what Hoda is up to!

NFL Thanksgiving Day Betting Guide – NFL parlays to consider

NFL parlay bets to consider around Week 13’s Thanksgiving Day Games.

Three NFL games are on tap for Thanksgiving Day, giving sports fans and bettors plenty of betting action to take part in while friends and family gather around the holiday celebration.

The Detroit Lions host the Chicago Bears, the Dallas Cowboys host the Buffalo Bills and the Atlanta Falcons host the New Orleans Saints Thursday.

While you can bet on all three games individually, the slate leads to some interesting parlay options, too.

New to sports betting? A parlay bet is when you place a wager on two or more items. In order to cash, you need them all playing out exactly as you pick. They can include different betting lines, games or sports, even. The larger amount of items involved in a parlay lead to larger payout opportunities, but also higher risk.


Special NFL Thanksgiving Prop Bet!

BET $1, WIN $200 (in free bets) at BetMGM in New Jersey if any NFL team scores a touchdown Thursday, Nov. 28th, 2019. Bet now!
Offer for new customers; visit BetMGM for terms and conditions.


Thanksgiving NFL Parlay Bets

1. Bears moneyline (-189), Bills against the spread (-106) and Saints moneyline (-286)

A $10 wager returns a potential $40.28 payout, $30.28 profit

2. Lions/Bears under (-139), Bills/Cowboys over (-125) and Saints/Falcons over (-106)

A $10 wager returns a potential $60.37 payout, $50.37 profit

Now that you have the skinny on what to do with each game, visit BetMGM to place a bet on your favorite match ups now. Don’t miss out on BetMGM’s special Thanksgiving NFL prop bet, too!

For additional sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com now and for a complete set of today’s live odds, access them at USA TODAY Sports.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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NFL Thanksgiving Day Betting Guide – Odds, lines, spreads, picks and best bets

Game-by-game NFL Week 13 Thanksgiving Day game breakdowns, with NFL betting odds, lines, predictions, picks and betting tips for each game.

Happy Thanksgiving, sports fans.

SportsbookWire’s NFL Thanksgiving Day Game Betting Guide is at your service; it is the start of Week 13 and full of NFL odds, lines, prop bets, spreads, game-by-game predictions, picks and best-bet selections to help you make the best NFL sports bets for Thanksgiving Day.

Three games kickoff this week’s action, giving us plenty of sides of football action for sports betting enjoyment to go along with our holiday meal.

Are you looking for some action on these games? Visit BetMGM and place your bets now. Games are always more interesting when you have some skin in the game.

NFL Week 13 – Thursday, November 28th


Special NFL Thanksgiving Prop Bet!

BET $1, WIN $200 (in free bets) at BetMGM in New Jersey if any NFL team scores a touchdown Thursday, Nov. 28th, 2019. Bet now!
Offer for new customers; visit BetMGM for terms and conditions.


Chicago Bears (5-6) at Detroit Lions (3-7-1)

Photo Credit: Bill Streicher – USA TODAY Sports

When and where? 12:30 p.m. ET – FOX

The bottom of the NFC North meet to kick off the Week 13 action. The Lions, a home underdog, have plenty of backups in their lineup, while the Bears continue to search for ways to solve their offensive woes.

Read Bears at Lions betting preview… | Bet on this game

Buffalo Bills (8-3) at Dallas Cowboys (6-5)

Photo Credit: Rich Barnes – USA TODAY Sports

When and where? 4:30 p.m. ET – CBS

The Cowboys, barely hanging onto the NFC East lead, just had a painful loss at the hands of the Patriots, while the surprising Bills continue to find ways to win and push toward a playoff spot. Despite their records, Dallas enters this as a solid favorite.

Read Bills at Cowboys betting preview… | Bet on this game

New Orleans Saints (9-2) at Atlanta Falcons (3-8)

Photo Credit: Derick E. Hingle – USA TODAY Sports

When and where? 8:20 p.m. ET – NBC

The Falcons shocked the Saints, who are heavily favored in this game, just a few weeks ago. Will lightning strike twice for Atlanta against the NFC South leading Saints?

Read Saints at Falcons betting preview… | Bet on this game

Now that you have the skinny on what to do with each game, visit BetMGM to place a bet on your favorite match ups now. Don’t miss out on BetMGM’s special Thanksgiving NFL prop bet, too!

For additional sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com now and for a complete set of today’s live odds, access them at USA TODAY Sports.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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