Thanksgiving 2020: predictions, betting preview and free tips for Thursday's NFL

Free NFL picks, best bets and analysis for the Thanksgiving matches in Week 12 of the 2020 NFL season.

Houston Texans at Detroit Lions

Where to watch

Sky Sports NFL, 5.30pm Thursday

Best bet

Deshaun Watson to score a touchdown
2pts 2-1 Betfred

Match preview

The Thanksgiving football feast starts at its traditional venue of Ford Field in Detroit, where the Lions will be hoping to end their run of three Turkey-Day defeats against Houston.

Detroit head coach Matt Patricia's job appears to be hanging by a thread and his prospects of a reprieve will not have been done any good by Sunday's shutout defeat to the Carolina Panthers.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford has been struggling with a thumb injury and three defeats in four matches paint a sorry picture.

The Lions rushing defence has been poor and this looks one area where they can be exploited by Houston, whose tough schedule has contributed to their 3-7 record.

Detroit are the second-worst team in the league for stopping the run and no team have conceded more than their average of 1.7 touchdowns on the ground per game.

The Texans, who beat New England 27-20 on Sunday, have failed to ignite their running game this season as David Johnson has failed to make a big impression after his move from Arizona.

But quarterback Deshaun Watson was electric in the win over the Patriots, scoring his second touchdown of the season, and he could go over again if the Lions show their customary level of resistance.

Key stats

• The Lions have covered the handicap in just six of their last 20 matches.
• The points total has gone over the line in ten of Detroit's last 11 home matches.
• The points total has gone over the line in five of Houston's last six away matches.

Washington at Dallas Cowboys

Where to watch

Sky Sports NFL, 9.30pm Thursday

Best bet

Under 46.5 points
2pts 9-10 Betfair, Paddy Power

Match preview

The NFC East looks a woeful division this season - no team have collected more than three wins - but that doesn't mean it's not going to be competitive and this is a key battle for both Washington and Dallas.

Maybe the penny has dropped as both teams collected victories last week, when the Cowboys made a statement by beating Minnesota 31-28 as seven-point underdogs.

Washington have also got their act together as they snuffed out Cincinnati's resistance, restricting the Bengals to just nine points, and it could be defences that hold sway in this one.

The previous meeting this season generated just 28 points and while Dallas endured a nightmare and chalked up just three of them, this could prove to be an attritional battle which features few opportunities.

Key stats

• Washington have won three of their last 14 matches.
• Washington have lost their last six away matches.
• The points total has gone under the line in four of Dallas's last five games.

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