Week 12 Thanksgiving Day Picks

Thanksgiving has always been about family, turkey and football(unless, I guess, if you're Native American....then it's probably about the shanking the first Pilgrim you see.) So with a threesome of games on tap for Turkey Day tomorrow, here are our picks for Thursday's showdowns.

Packers(-10.5) at Lions

Dave: Lions - If the Lions defense gave up four touchdown passes to Brady Quinn(who had 3 TDs in his entire career coming into last week), one can only wonder what will happen when Aaron Rodgers gets ahold of them. That being said, we don't know how good this Packers defense can be without Al Harris and Aaron Kampman and, even with Matt Stafford and Calvin Johnson sitting out, I won't put it past the Lions to score some garbage time touchdowns and cover the spread. Packers by 9.

Gabe: Packers - I said last week that the Lions have at least a spark of talent, especially on offense...well, that talent, quarterback Matthew Stafford and receiver Calvin Johnson, will be watching the game like the rest of us. Well, not just like the rest of us, they will have a much better seat. I think last week's game was a sign of things to come out of the Lions, but only when Stafford and Johnson are there. The Packers will be missing some key pieces on defense, but they should be able to load the box against Lions running back Kevin Smith, the only weapon the Lions have left. Packers by 13.

Raiders(+13.5) at Cowboys

Dave: Raiders - Damn near two touchdowns is a bit high for a Cowboys team that has scored only two touchdowns in its last two games, even if they are playing at home against the Raiders. Tony Romo's hurt, as is his favorite target Jason Witten, and with the Raiders likely to unleash Nnamdi Asomugha more on Miles Austin, the Cowboys' air attack will be leaning more on the stone hands of Roy Williams.The Cowboys will win this one by double digits, but I see it being more 10 points than 14.

Gabe: Raiders - Dave put it perfectly, 13.5 is to many points for a team that has scored 14 total in the last two weeks. Teams have figured out how to defend the Cowboys passing game - bottle up Jason Witten. I think the Raiders will keep Witten in check, stick Austin with Asomugha, and let Roy Williams continue to lead the team in drops. The Raiders might not win, but they will keep it closer than 2 touchdowns.

Giants(-7) at Broncos

Dave: Giants - It's hard to pick the Broncos to lose their fifth straight but the fact remains that this defense has taken three steps back from the dominant force it was in the first 6 weeks and the play-it-safe offense has now become a turnover machine thanks to Knowshon Moreno's butterhands and an unsteady and injured Kyle Orton. I see the Giants' pass rush getting some hits on a wounded Orton, while Brandon Jacobs feasts on the Broncos swiss-cheese run D like John Madden feasts on turducken. Giants by 10.

Gabe: Giants - Just as I was contemplating this pick Marcellus Wiley was on Sportscenter making his pick of this game, and because I hate working on Thanksgiving, I'll go with his analysis - The Broncos are reeling after losing four straight. They are fighting on the sidelines and holding players-only meetings. The Giants running game is banged up, but Eli will do enough to beat the Broncos. I'll use his score prediction, Giants by 11, 31-20.