Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites for Thursday 11/22/18
Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions Preview and Predictions 11-22-2018
NFL Predictions 20th November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/20/2018
Mitchell Trubisky has been providing plenty of correct answers for the Chicago Bears this season, but the availability of the quarterback is now in question for their Thanksgiving Day game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Thursday. Trubisky did not practice on Tuesday, two days removed after injuring his throwing shoulder on a late hit in a 25-20 win over Minnesota.
"I'm saying cautiously optimistic but I can't make any promises," Chicago coach Matt Nagy said of Trubisky's potential involvement against Detroit. "I hope he does. But it's a day-to-day thing for us, like I said. He wants to play. I know that. And for us, we got to make sure in these situations that we're doing the right thing." Trubisky threw for a career-high 355 yards with three passing touchdowns to go along with a rushing score in the Bears' 34-22 win over the Lions on Nov. 11. While Chicago has won four straight to ascend to the top of the NFC North, the Lions snapped a three-game skid by holding on for a 20-19 victory over Carolina on Sunday. Kerryon Johnson scored in his second straight game and rushed for 87 yards against the Panthers before sustaining a knee injury that has prevented the promising rookie from practicing this week.
TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Bears -3.5. O/U: 44.5
ABOUT THE BEARS (7-3): Veteran backup Chase Daniel would get the nod if Trubisky is sidelined, with the former having spent time under Nagy in Kansas City before shuffling over to Chicago. "I haven't gotten any reps with the first team this year, but it's the same offense that I was in for five years, so for me, it's mostly the same plays," said the 32-year-old Daniel, who hasn't started an NFL game since the 2014 season. Allen Robinson reeled in six catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns versus the Vikings while fellow wideout Anthony Miller has found the end zone in back-to-back contests. Jordan Howard, however, was limited to just 21 yards on 11 carries against the Lions' 24th-ranked rush defense (125.0 yards per game).
ABOUT THE LIONS (4-6): Coach Matt Patricia likely will use a running back-by-committee approach in place of Johnson, with the bruising LeGarrette Blount, Theo Riddick and Zach Zenner expected to handle specific tasks out of the backfield. "It's not cookie-cutter. Football is not that way," Patricia said. "When you have a different player that is in and in the same position, it doesn't mean they can do the same thing. So you have to be able to adjust with that and do a good job of handling that whatever the situation is, whoever those guys are." Matthew Stafford has thrown for 220 yards for fewer in two of his last three outings and faces a Bears defense that leads the NFL with 18 interceptions, although wide receiver Kenny Golladay set a season high in catches (eight) for 113 yards versus the Panthers last week.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Detroit WR Marvin Jones Jr., who did not practice on Tuesday, is trending toward missing his second straight game with a knee injury.
2. Bears LB Khalil Mack returned from a month's absence due to an ankle injury and collected two of his team-leading eight sacks against the Lions.
3. Detroit CB Darius Slay, who missed this month's meeting with Chicago, had a pair of interceptions in his last encounter with the club on Dec. 16.
PREDICTION: Bears 20, Lions 19
__________________
Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys Preview and Predictions 11-22-2018
NFL Predictions 20th November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/20/2018
In a short week, the Washington Redskins not only have to rebound from a narrow defeat but also move forward after losing their starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. Alex Smith suffered a gruesome injury in Sunday's loss to Houston, leaving Colt McCoy to take over entering Thursday's crucial matchup against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys.
Washington was in firm control of the NFC East following a three-game winning streak that included a 20-17 victory over visiting Dallas, but coach Jay Gruden is confident McCoy can steady the team after two losses in three games. "I'm a big, firm believer in Colt McCoy's ability to play," Gruden said. "This is an opportunity of a lifetime for him. I know he would like it in different circumstances, but things happen for a reason. He'll take advantage of it." The Cowboys appeared ready to drop out of contention before posting consecutive back-to-back road wins at Philadelphia and Atlanta to draw within one game of the Redskins. "You know what Thanksgiving means to the Cowboys and to our tradition," Dallas owner Jerry Jones said. "We're so proud to have done what we've done for the NFL on Thanksgiving Day. To have it boil down to a game of this substance, that will be a treat for us on Thanksgiving Day."
TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Cowboys -7.5. O/U: 40.5
ABOUT THE REDSKINS (6-4): No matter who is under center, Washington's game plan will remain the same -- control the clock by feeding veteran running back Adrian Peterson and lean on a defense that ranks fifth in points allowed (19.8). Peterson scored twice in Sunday's 23-21 loss to Houston and rushed for 99 yards on 24 carries against Dallas last month, a game in which Smith was limited to 178 yards passing and one touchdown. McCoy, who was 6 of 12 for 54 yards and a TD on Sunday, has made 25 career starts but has not seen substantial duty since appearing in five games with the Redskins in 2014. Washington's No. 6-ranked run defense held Ezekiel Elliott to a season-low 33 yards in Week 7.
ABOUT THE COWBOYS (5-5): Elliott has been instrumental in Dallas' last two victories, rushing for 273 yards and a pair of touchdowns while hauling in 13 receptions for 115 yards and another score. Wide receiver Amari Cooper, acquired from Oakland at the trade deadline, has 14 catches for 169 yards and a TD in three games with the Cowboys, but quarterback Dak Prescott has benefited from his presence in the lineup by posting his three top completion percentages during that time. Prescott lost two fumbles in the first matchup, one of which was returned for a TD, and will be without starting tight end Geoff Swaim (wrist). The Cowboys have allowed more than 20 points once in the past six games.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Elliott joined Eric Dickerson and Edgerrin James as the only players with at least 4,500 scrimmage yards and 30 TDs in his first 35 games.
2. Redskins TE Jordan Reed has a season high-tying seven catches last week and 10 receptions for two scores in his last game at Dallas.
3. Cowboys DE Demarcus Lawrence has 3.0 sacks and six tackles for loss in the last three meetings versus Washington.
PREDICTION: Cowboys 23, Redskins 19
__________________
Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints Preview and Predictions 11-22-2018
NFL Predictions 21st November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/21/2018
When they met in Week 3, the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints both were sitting at 1-1 and in need of a win to propel them in the right direction. The Saints eked out a 43-37 overtime victory and haven't stopped since, as they aim for a 10th consecutive victory when they host the Falcons on Thursday night.
The Saints ran their winning streak to nine games with a 48-7 romp over Philadelphia last week, completing a difficult stretch of their schedule in impressive fashion. New Orleans has scored at least 45 points and rolled up 487 or more yards in three straight games, and the defense has forced eight turnovers in the last four contests. The loss to the Saints in Week 3 began a three-game skid for the Falcons. They then won three straight, including a 24-point triumph at Washington, but back-to-back losses have put Atlanta's playoff hopes in peril.
TV: 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC. LINE: Saints -13. O/U: 60
ABOUT THE FALCONS (4-6): The first meeting with the Saints encapsulates Atlanta's entire season - the team has one of the league's top offenses and one of its worst defenses. Although the offense ranks sixth in total yards and ninth in the scoring, the ground game has been almost non-existent, so the Falcons have relied on Matt Ryan (3,306 yards, 22 touchdowns, four interceptions) and the passing attack. Ironically, the defense turned in its best effort since Week 1 last time out, holding Dallas to 323 total yards, but the offense fell flat in a 22-19 loss.
ABOUT THE SAINTS (9-1): New Orleans possesses the league's top scoring offense and one of its most balanced, as complementary running backs Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram have given the team a ground attack to go along with the prolific Drew Brees. The superstar quarterback has been especially good in five home games, completing 78.9 percent of his passes for 1,754 yards with 16 touchdowns and no interceptions. The Saints' defensive stats are somewhat skewed by their opponents often playing catch-up, but they've been tough against the run while giving up substantial passing yardage, including a season-high 391 yards at Atlanta.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Brees threw four touchdown passes without an interception last week, his NFL-record 23rd such game - one more than Tom Brady.
2. Atlanta WR Julio Jones has caught a touchdown pass in three straight games after being kept out of the end zone in the first seven contests.
3. New Orleans WR Michael Thomas has recorded at least 10 receptions and 115 yards in three of his last four games against Atlanta.
PREDICTION: Saints 34, Falcons 23
Thursday
Bears (7-3) @ Lions (4-6)—Sounds like Bears’ backup QB Chase Daniel (9 years/2 starts in NFL) gets nod here, with Trubisky hurt. Chicago won/covered its last four games; they’re 2-2 on road, with wins 16-14 in Arizona, 41-9 in Buffalo. Bears have 10 takeaways (+6) in last three games. Last five years, Bears are 1-3 as road favorites, 1-2 this year. Lions (+6.5) lost 34-22 in Chicago two weeks ago, turning ball over three times (-3) in game where Bears averaged 11.2 yards/pass attempt, with three TD plays of 26+ yards. Detroit is still 9-2 in last 11 series games; Bears lost their last five visits to the Motor City. Lions lost three of last four games; they’re 3-2 at home, 5-8 ATS in last 13 games as home dogs (2-0 this year) Over is 6-1 in last seven Chicago games; under is 3-1 in Detroit’s last four. Lions won four of last five Thanksgiving Day games.
Redskins (6-4) @ Cowboys (5-5)— QB Alex Smith broke his leg LW; Colt McCoy is new starter, Mark Sanchez is the new backup. Washington is 3-1 on road; they’re 13-10 in last 23 games as road underdogs, 2-1 this year. Redskins won four of last six games (+11 in turnovers in those games). Cowboys ran ball for 171-132 yards in first two games with new OL coach; they’re 3-1 at home. Under Garrett, Cowboys are 15-30 vs spread as home favorites, 1-2 this year. Dallas (+1.5) lost 20-17 at Redskins in Week 7; Cowboys were -2 in turnovers (0-2) with one of turnovers run back for a TD. Dallas won six of last eight series games; Redskins lost 31-26/38-14 in last two visits here. Four of last six Redskin games stayed under;
Falcons (4-6) @ Saints (9-1)— New Orleans won last nine games (8-1 vs spread) since opening loss to Bucs. In last three games, Saints scored 45-51-48 points (18 TDs on 29 drives), averaging over 9.5 yds/pass attempt all three games. Since 2014, NO is 11-18-1 as home favorite, 2-2 this year. Falcons lost last two games, scoring 16-19 points; they’re 1-3 on road, with losses by 6-6-24-12 points. Under Quinn, Atlanta is 7-4 as road underdog, 1-1 this year. Saints won first meeting 43-37 in OT in Atlanta in Week 3, with 10 TD’s scored on 23 drives, with no turnovers. These rivals split last 12 meetings; Falcons lost five of last seven visits to Bourbon Street. Series has been swept four of last five years. Under is 3-1 in Atlanta’s last four games.