Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions: Picks, Predictions, Odds and Player Props

Week 13 of the 2024 NFL season kicks off with a Thanksgiving Day clash between the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions.

The NFC-leading Lions are facing off against a Bears team that is in desperate need of a victory to get their season back on track following a fifth consecutive loss on Sunday.

A season ago, Detroit was beaten at home by the Packers on Thanksgiving, extending their Turkey Day losing streak to seven games.

Will the Lions drop an eighth straight game on Thanksgiving, or can Detroit keep up its winning ways against a reeling Bears team on Thursday? 

Let’s get into our breakdown for this matchup, plus our expert’s betting picks and predictions.

Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions betting picks and predictions

Detroit Lions -10.5 (-110)

It’s no secret that the Lions have been one of the best teams in football this season, and Dan Campbell’s team continues to win games while exceeding oddsmakers expectations each week.

Jared Goff leads a Detroit offense that is third in success rate, fourth in expected points added (EPA) per play, eighth in EPA per rush and fourth in points per quality possession.

Detroit has won four of its last five games by double digits, and the Lions are set up nicely to see more success at home, where they’ve scored a combined 104 points in their last two games.

On the other side, the Bears are in the midst of a brutal slump, losing five straight games following an impressive 4-2 start to the campaign.

Caleb Williams’ rookie season has not exactly gone according to plan, as the Chicago offense has struggled to this point (27th in EPA per play, 24th in success rate and 27th in EPA per pass).

On a short week against a deep and experienced division rival, it’s hard to imagine Williams and company experiencing consistent success against a Detroit pass rush that has quietly adapted to the loss of Aidan Hutchinson.

The chalk has historically done very well on Thanksgiving, especially teams that are favored by 10 points or more. In fact, double digit favorites are a whopping 9-0 against the spread on Thanksgiving since 2005, and 11-0 against the number in the Wild Card era.

Look for that to continue on Thursday with a convincing Lions victory.

Over 48.5 total points (-110)

While there are avenues for both teams to cover the spread in this contest, a Lions win by double digits is more likely to coincide with this game going over the total. There is historical precedent for both teams to score and allow plenty of points in this game, as the over has cashed in eight of the last 12 Thanksgiving games played in Detroit.

Detroit’s offensive line has a tough matchup against a solid Bears defensive front, but they still should give Goff plenty of time to pick apart the Chicago secondary.

There’s also something to be said for Campbell’s aggressive mindset, as he typically likes to keep the offense on the field for fourth downs, leading to more variance and scoring in Lions games.

On the other side, the Bears offense has looked a lot more functional over the last two weeks following the firing of former offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, so Chicago should be able to contribute to this game hitting the Over.

Read more betting picks and predictions for the NFL on site.

Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions odds

Chicago Bears	+425 ML
Detroit Lions	-575 ML
Spread	DET Lions -10.5
Total Points	O/U 48.5

Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions player props

Anytime Touchdown

David Montgomery	+140
Jahmyr Gibbs	+145
Amon-Ra St. Brown	+190
Jameson Williams	+400
D’Andre Swift	+400
Roschon Johnson	+400

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.