The Detroit Lions haven't done a lot of things right in the history of the NFL franchise.

The team hasn't won an NFL championship since 1957, and it is the oldest team in the league without a Super Bowl appearance.

One thing the franchise did get right is the tradition of playing a home game on Thanksgiving Day, something it has done annually since 1934.

Detroit owner G.A. Richards saw the gimmick as an opportunity to get more people to see his team play and increase its national presence.

Recognizing a good idea — and then stealing it — the Dallas Cowboys started playing annually on Thanksgiving, too, in 1966.

So, while the opponents will change, football fans can always count on seeing the Lions and Cowboys in action. Indianapolis also plays at Atlanta, with the Colts listed as an 11.5 point favorite.

This year, football fans are in for a treat. While the Cowboys will face off with a one-win stink hole of a New York Jets team, Detroit (6-4) will play Green Bay (9-1) in a battle of two of the best teams in the NFC.

The matchup also makes an intriguing wager.

The line has Green Bay listed as a 3.5-point favorite, but this has the makings of a game that can really go either way. Detroit plays well at home with three covers and a push in its first four games at Ford Field.

On offense, the Lions are averaging more than 25 points per game and have scored more than 20 in all but three contests.

Green Bay has proved to be equally adept on the road. The Packers sport a perfect 4-0 record on the road, covering the spread in each game and also averaging 26 points per game.

History is irrelevant in this game from a betting perspective. The Lions haven't beaten a spread (always the listed underdog) in five years on Thanksgiving. But this is a different Detroit team — it actually doesn't suck.

As for the Cowboys, look for an easier bet. Dallas is listed as a 14-point favorite in a game that shouldn't be anywhere near that close.

LEARN THE LINGO
 
PUSH: A bet that is neither a win nor a loss, and the amount of the wager is refunded to the bettor.

Chuck Blount | 210SA Contributor