Who doesn't love a good inter-conference showdown on NFL Thanksgiving Day? As luck would have it, that's just what the league has in store for us on Thursday, November 24, at 12: 30 p.m. EST with its underrated matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions.
Many will look at the Lions' record and scoff. They are 4-6 and outfitted with the absolute worst defense in existence. Very few of the best online NFL betting sites even pay them serious attention anymore. But perhaps that needs to change. The Lions have won three straight, cobbled together a tantalizing overall offense and put forth some seriously great efforts against superior teams in recent weeks. Could the Bills be the latest squad they catch off guard?
Before we get started, here are the latest NFL online betting odds for all the games taking place during Week 12, including Buffalo Bills vs. Detroit Lions, courtesy of Bovada:
| Favorite |  | | Underdog |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | -420 | +330 | Detroit Lions |
| Dallas Cowboys | -400 | +315 | New York Giants |
| Minnesota Vikings | -148 | +126 | New England Patriots |
| Baltimore Ravens | -205 | +172 | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| Denver Broncos | -142 | +120 | Carolina Panthers |
| Washington Commanders | -215 | +180 | Atlanta Falcons |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | -154 | +130 | Cleveland Browns |
| Cincinnati Bengals | -120 | +102 | Tennessee Titans |
| Miami Dolphins | -620 | +460 | Houston Texans |
| New York Jets | -225 | +188 | Chicago Bears |
| Seattle Seahawks | -200 | +168 | Las Vegas Raiders |
| Los Angeles Chargers | -186 | +156 | Arizona Cardinals |
| Kansas City Chiefs | -1100 | +700 | Los Angeles Rams |
| San Francisco 49ers | -375 | +375 | New Orleans Saints |
| Philadelphia Eagles | -300 | +245 | Green Bay Packers |
| Indianapolis Colts | -144 | +122 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
Always remember to double-check these online NFL betting odds until you actually submit your wager. Our Bills vs. Lions betting odds are accurate entering Tuesday, November 22. That gives linemakers plenty of time to make adjustments between now and the opening whistle on Thursday.
Related: Did you also know that Thanksgiving Day is one of the biggest betting days of the year for NFL football? It's true. And if you wish to join the festivities, we highly recommend you check out our reviews of the top online sportsbooks. All of the information we've pieced together is designed to help you spot the best online NFL betting sites in 2022.
With all of this in mind, we get back to the pressing questions at hand: How should you bet on the Lions vs. Bills game in Week 12? Who covers the point spread? And what's the over/under look like? We have our best NFL Week 12 bets just below!
Buffalo Bills Should Have No Trouble Breezing Past the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day
Make no mistake, the Lions have been pesky over the past few weeks. Their past three games have featured victories over the New York Giants, Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, and two of those tilts came on the road. Not only that, but Detroit nearly stole a win from the Miami Dolphins in Week 8, which means they were a heartbeat away from a four-game winning streak.
Some of the Lions' numbers don't make logical sense. They are eighth in points per game despite having two instances in which they tallied fewer than seven points on their docket. Their offense seemingly operates on extremes.
Then again, Detroit's offense also boasts balance. They rank as an above-average team on both running and passing plays, and quarterback Jason Goff's willingness to take more chances downfield has really worked magic.
What's more, the Bills defense has looked eminently beatable over the past few weeks. They let up more than three touchdowns in each of their past two outings—both of which came at home, where they're supposed to have a monster edge.
Despite all this, we can't bring ourselves to pick against Buffalo. Star quarterback Josh Allen appears to be healing nicely while playing through his UCL injury, and a team that ranks sixth in net yards per passing attempt should wind up making mincemeat out of the Lions' league-worst defense.
OSB Prediction: Buffalo Bills (-420)
Should You Seriously Consider Betting on the Lions to Cover vs. the Bills?
Here are the latest NFL point spread betting odds for Bills vs. Lions in Week 12:
- Buffalo Bills, -9.5 (-105)
- Detroit Lions, +9.5 (-115)
Trusting the Bills to cover their end of the spread is tough. They certainly have the offensive firepower to author such a huge deficit, but the Lions' own offense has snuck up on teams this year.
Believe it or not, only two of Detroit's six losses have come by more than nine points all season. Their offense, in particular, has also thrived at home. So even if they bleed points to the Bills (and they probably will), the Lions should be able to move the chains enough to remain within 10 points.
Distrusting fans will point out that Detroit has turned many recent Thanksgiving Day games into a slog. But this team is different—devoid of expectations and playing more freely.
OSB Prediction: Detroit Lions, +9.5 (-115)
This is Why We're Cautiously Taking the Over for Buffalo vs. Detroit
Below you can find the latest NFL over/under betting odds for Lions vs. Bills in Week 12:
- Over 53.5 (-115)
- Under 53.5 (-105)
Phew, this over/under is very high. And yet, we're taking the over anyway.
All signs point to this evolving into a shootout. The Bills rank among the most lethal offenses in the league and are getting to face off against the 32nd ranked defense. You do the math.
On top of that, the Lions offense has looked like a juggernaut whenever they play at home. Detroit is averaging 31.6 points per game on their own turf this year and has only been held to fewer than 27 points once.
If we had to guess, we'd say at least one of these two teams comfortably skirts past the 31-point plateau.
OSB Prediction: Over 53.5 (-115)
Take a look at this list of the top online sportsbooks so you can decide which one to use for all of your NFL betting:
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