NFL Thanksgiving Parlay and Teaser
By
Nov 26, 2020
NFL Parlay Picks and Teasers – Thanksgiving Thursday: We have two interesting NFL games to wager on Thanksgiving Thursday and after carefully examining each, we’re confident in our picks for both our two-team 6-point teaser and our two-team money-line parlay.
The two-team 6-point teaser involves taking the Detroit Lions from +2.5 to +8.5 in their non-conference home game against the Houston Texans, and the Dallas Cowboys from -3 to +3 (normally we don’t recommend crossing over “0,” but in this case, we feel it’s warranted, and we’ll touch on that more shortly) in their home contest versus the Washington Football team.
Our two-team money-line parlay includes taking the -170 Cowboys over the Texans and the -210 Pittsburgh Steelers at home to the Baltimore Ravens in what was supposed to be the Thursday Thanksgiving night cap, but has now been re-scheduled for Sunday.
Thanksgiving Teaser Best Bet:
| Week 12 Games | Tease | Teaser Odds |
| Texans vs Lions | Lions +8.5 | -240 |
| Washington vs Cowboys | Cowboys +3 | -225 |
| Total Teaser: | Lions +8.5, Cowboys +3 | +104 |
Teaser Odds via Bet365
How To Bet Teasers
There are a few basics as far as betting teasers are concerned. With these selections, it’s best not to cross over zero, but instead cross over three “key numbers” (3, 4, 6, 7, 10, and 14 are the key teaser numbers.) Why are these considered key numbers? That’s because those are the five most common margins of victory in Football. Another important thing to consider when making a teaser is assessing whether or not the opposing sides of your ticket will run up the score in the second half if they do in fact have a lead. So, with these rules in mind, let’s quickly break down our two “play on” sides.
There are a few basics as far as betting teasers are concerned. With these selections, it’s best not to cross over zero, but instead cross over three “key numbers” (3, 4, 6, 7, 10, and 14 are the key teaser numbers.) Why are these considered key numbers? That’s because those are the five most common margins of victory in Football. Another important thing to consider when making a teaser is assessing whether or not the opposing sides of your ticket will run up the score in the second half if they do in fact have a lead. So, with these rules in mind, let’s quickly break down our two “play on” sides.
Detroit Lions from +2.5 to +8.5: Houston has been more “miss” than “hit” this year. The Texans are 3-7 and they enter off a rare victory, a 27-20 win over the short-handed Patriots at home on Sunday. DeShaun Watson has been fantastic, but his team is still a poor 1-4 straight-up and against-the-spread on the road this season.
This is a big game for the Lions. Detroit is still tied with Minnesota at 4-6 for the third spot in the NFC North and only a game behind the 5-5 Bears. Despite a 20-0 loss at Carolina last weekend, the short week benefits the home side in this situation. With an added six points to their spread, we expect the Lions to deliver in the first part of our Thanksgiving Thursday teaser best bet.
Dallas Cowboys from -3 to +3: As we outlined in our “basics to wagering teasers” section, normally you try to avoid crossing over zero. In this particular situation though, we’re still passing by two key numbers by doing this (crossing over 0 itself and then attaining a field-goals worth of points as well.) These are two teams that have had to deal with plenty of on-field and off-field issues this season. Each enters sitting at 3-7.
The NFC East is so poor, that either of these clubs still has a mathematical shot at winning the division. From a situational standpoint, this one definitely sets up well for the Cowboys though, as they play with revenge after a 25-3 loss in the Nation’s capital earlier in the season. Dallas also comes off one of its best games of the year in last week’s crucial 31-28 win in Minnesota.
Alex Smith and Washington got by the Joe Burrow-less Bengals at home last weekend, but they’re still 0-4 straight-up and against-the-spread on the road this season. With six points added to their spread, we like Andy Dalton, Ezekiel Elliott, and the hungry home side to get the job done in the second leg of our Thanksgiving Thursday teaser best bet.
Key Teaser Stat: Since 2016, the favorite on Thanksgiving has covered the six-point teaser in 11 of 12 games, with the only favorite failing to cover the six-point teaser being Dallas last year against Buffalo. The underdog has covered the six-point teaser in nine of the last 12 games on Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving Day Parlay Best Bet:
| Week 12 Games | Pick | Odds |
| Washington vs Cowboys | Cowboys | -150 |
| Steelers vs Ravens | Steelers | -240 |
| Total Parlay: | Cowboys, Steelers | +136 |
Parlay Odds via Bet365
Remember, for our Thanksgiving Thursday parlay we’re throwing the spread options out the window, and instead, we’re taking these two favorites on the money-line.
Dallas Cowboys -150: Because there are only three games on Thanksgiving, we must include one team in both our teaser and in our two-team money-line parlay. We like Dallas on the money-line in this matchup for all of the same reasons that we like it with an added six points to its spread in our teaser.
We’ll additionally point out though that despite the earlier loss in Washington this season, Dallas has to be feeling very confident it’ll bounce back in the rematch at home, as it’s still 7-2 straight-up the last nine in this series overall and 4-1 straight-up in its last five at home against the Washington Football team.
Pittsburgh Steelers -210: We just finished talking about how the “revenge factor” is a big part of our reasoning in taking the Cowboys today in their matchup versus the Washington Football, but there are many differences between that situation and this one. Yes, the Steelers beat the Ravens 28-24 at the start of November, but that was in Baltimore.
The Ravens actually outgained the Steelers 457 to 221 in that loss, but Pittsburgh’s opportunistic defense was the difference-maker as it won the turnover battle 4 to 1. Baltimore averages 26.8 points per game and only 183.4 yards per game through the air (ranked 31st in the NFL!)
The Steelers average 29.8 points per game while allowing just 17.4. Ravens’ quarterback LaMar Jackson has not found his MVP form from a year ago, and now the Ravens come to Heinz Field without the services of their top two running backs in Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins (both out with COVID-19).
Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is having an MVP-like season himself with a sharp 24:5 TD:INT ratio. The schedule shift benefits the home side in this situation as well. Look for Big Ben and the surging Steelers to take advantage.
Keep it locked to Odds.com for all of your NFL betting needs for Week 12. The best current odds can be found at our NFL Odds Page. Stay tuned for plenty more Weekly NFL Picks throughout the season.