Grabbing the points and backing the ‘dogs on Turkey Day

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CHICAGO BEARS (4-7) at DETROIT LIONS (10-1)

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LINE: Detroit by 10.5

The Bears have lost five straight games coming out of their bye, but three were on the day’s last play (a Hail Mary, a blocked field goal and an overtime field goal) and the past two were by a combined four points against quality division rivals. The Lions are playing at a level above everyone else with a league-leading point differential of +177 (Buffalo is next at +106) and will move the ball along the ground, even if former Bear David Montgomery (shoulder) doesn’t play, but last year they were 8-2 when they hosted the 5-6 Packers on Thanksgiving Thursday and they lost 29-22 — their seventh-straight Turkey Day defeat. Caleb Williams threw for 340 yards against Brian Flores’ defence last Sunday and will keep Chicago within 10 this week.

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TAKING: CHICAGO +10.5

Lions 33, Bears 24

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NEW YORK GIANTS (2-9) at DALLAS COWBOYS (4-7)

LINE: Dallas by 3.5

Tommy DeVito versus Cooper Rush is like having macaroni-and-cheese loaf instead of turkey for a holiday dinner, but maybe — just maybe — DeVito’s forearm injury (or ineptness) paves the way for Drew Lock to make his first start as a Giant, in which case the menu gets upgraded to mortadella. Rush led the Cowboys to 34 points against Washington, but the New York ‘D’ will be more prepared for his quick releases. Either way, it’s a matchup of two bad teams, neither of which deserves to be favored by more than a field goal against anybody.

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TAKING: NEW YORK +3.5

Cowboys 20, Giants 17

MIAMI DOLPHINS (5-6) at GREEN BAY PACKERS (8-3)

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LINE: Green Bay by 3

Brock Osweiler was the Dolphins QB the previous time they visited Lambeau — a 31-12 loss to Aaron Rodgers (when he was still good) on Nov. 11, 2018. Guiding the Fish with some authority now is Tua Tagovailoa, who has won three in a row and has a 7-0 TD pass-to-interception ratio in the past two as he attempts to rally get Miami into a wild-card spot. Packers are in a playoff push of their own and crushed the shorthanded Niners last week, but will find the feisty Fins a much tougher battle.

TAKING: MIAMI +3

Packers 28, Dolphins 27

Picks records

Don Brennan

LAST WEEK: 5-8

SEASON: 87-90-2

BEST BETS LAST WEEK: 2-1

BEST BET SEASON: 18–17-1

Dan Bilicki

LAST WEEK: 7-6

SEASON: 89–88-2

BEST BEST LAST WEEK: 0-1

BEST BET SEASON: 6-6

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