Across the Atlantic today, millions of Americans will give thanks for many things - for the fact that Mitt Romney was not elected president, for the fact that they are free to shop and shop and shop all day Friday, and most importantly that they have a state holiday to gourge themselves on food and watch the greatest American game of them all - football - to distract them from friends and family.
Starting from dinner time tonight, there are three intriguing games taking place and our NFL tipster Frankie Lally is here to give you a rundown on where you should put your money.
Frankie's Thanksgiving Day Banker: The Houston Texans @ 7/12 (Pinnacle)
The 9-1 Houston Texans certainly look the team to beat right now in the NFL and should have far too much class for the Detroit Lions. The Lions, for their sins, have not won a Thanksgiving day game since 2003.
Detroit are the masters of their own downfall at the moment, and while they still have a shot at the playoffs, their hopes are quickly fading.
The news that the Lions have suspended wide receiver Titus Young for the game also doesn’t help their cause either. Young copped the suspension for unacceptable behaviour in last weekend’s 24-20 defeat to the Green Bay Packers – a game which Detroit really should have won but for the team's incompetence.
Houston meanwhile are fresh off a 43-37 overtime victory over the woeful Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday and are keen to make sure they lockdown home-field advantage for the fast-approaching play-offs.
They will continue to blaze a trail with a comfortable win against Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford and his Lions.
Frankie's Thanksgiving Day Treble
Houston (-3)
Dallas (-3)
New England (-6.5)
Frankie's stats from last week:
Frankie’s Lock Of The Week: The Green Bay Packers (-3) @ 10/11 (General) - WIN, Packers defeated Detroit 24-20.
Frankie’s Underdog of the Week: The New York Jets @ 17/10 (Boylesports) - WIN, Jets beat St Louis 27-13.
Frankie’s Team to Avoid: Kansas City Chiefs @ 8/5 (William Hill) - CORRECT, Chiefs beaten 28-6 by Cincinnati
Frankie’s Banker Treble: Tampa Bay (-1), Baltimore (-3), New England (-9) - WIN, reverted to a double as Baltimore won by exactly 3 points.
Frankie's Picks against the spread: 7-3 (Not including Baltimore game which was a tie).
Frankie's record against the spread over the last 4 weeks- 29-15
Total record since- 35-19.
