Thursday tripleheader lined up
Vikings, Chargers, Redskins choices for today’s NFL games
Today’s Thanksgiving tripleheader in the NFL isn’t all that tasty, except for the traditional opener at Detroit.
The NFC North-leading Vikings from Minnesota visit Ford Field, and carry a two-game edge over the Lions. So this is a particularly huge game for the hosts.
“They’re all big,” coach Detroit Jim Caldwell says. “Every single one of them is a factor in the grand scheme of things. The most important one is the next one.
“Someone else might have a different philosophy. I don’t believe in functioning that way. My experience has been it can work against you more than it works for you when you start looking at the grand scheme of things.
‘You can’t act as if one game is going to make a complete difference in the season, because you don’t know what’s going to happen the rest of the season. You have no idea.“
Judging by Pro Picks’ struggles last week against the spread, having no idea is a familiar concept.
Minnesota, ranked fourth in the AP Pro32, is a two-point favourite over No. 12 Detroit.
VIKINGS, 23-20
KNOCKOUT LEAGUE TIP
The Jaguars had an easy
enough time with the Browns. Do we trust the Bengals to do the same? Why would we when we still have 9-1 PHILADELPHIA available?
No. 8 Jacksonville (minus 4) at No. 23 Arizona
Jaguars favoured on You bet. And ...
BEST BET: JAGUARS, 20-10
No. 16 Los Angeles Chargers (plus 3 1/2) at No. 15 Dallas, today
Cowboys are rattled, on and off field. Chargers are dangerous. SPECIAL: 23-20
UPSET
road? CHARGERS,
No. 30 New York Giants (plus 7) at No. 27 Washington, tonight
Redskins are ravaged by injuries, yet still should win close one.
REDSKINS 21-17
No. 20 Houston (plus 7) at No. 14 Baltimore, Monday night
A lot of points for Ravens to give. Of course, they might get another shutout. RAVENS, 13-10
No. 28 Chicago (plus 12 1/2) at No. 1 Philadelphia
Not much “Roar, Bears, Roar” these days. Try “Fly, Eagles, Fly.”
EAGLES, 27-10
No. 26 Miami (plus 16) at No. 2 New England
Patriots coasting AFC’s top seed?
PATRIOTS, 30-13
No. 19 Green Bay (plus 13 1/2) at No. 3 Pittsburgh
Steelers tend to through these games.
STEELERS, 24-13 toward lollygag
No. 18 Buffalo (plus 9) at No. 11 Kansas City
Jim Kelly at QB next? Doug Flutie? Chiefs need rebound game.
CHIEFS, 19-12
No. 5 New Orleans (plus 2 1/2) at No. 6 Los Angeles Rams
Huge game in NFC seedings race between surprise division leaders. RAMS, 24-23
No. 25 Tampa Bay (plus 8 1/2) at No. 9 Atlanta
Bucs struggle on road, though Falcons not that comfy in new digs.
FALCONS, 26-16
No. 7 Carolina (minus 4 1/2) at No. 24 New York Jets
Panthers need to be careful here with Saints, Vikings on their schedule next. Could be trap game.
PANTHERS, 26-20
No. 13 Tennessee (minus 4) at No. 29 Indianapolis
Look for bounce back from Marcus Mariota.
TITANS, 20-13
No. 10 Seattle (minus 7) at No. 31 San Francisco
Like Redskins, Seahawks very banged-up, but good enough to survive this week.
SEAHAWKS, 24-14
No. 27 Denver (plus 5) at No. 21 Oakland
This looked like a blockbuster when schedule came out. No more.
RAIDERS, 23-13
No. 32 Cleveland (plus 8) at No. 22 Cincinnati
Bengals thinking wild Browns thinking “when this end?”
BENGALS, 20-13 card. does