Thanksgiving Football Games

  • Home
  • Betting Sites
  • NFL
    • Dallas Cowboys
    • Detroit Lions
  • NCAAF
  • Odds
  • 2024 Predictions
  • US Betting Laws
  • Blog

Thanksgiving Football Betting Guide For 2025

Turkey ballEach fall, on the third Thursday of November, families and friends join each other around the dinner table across the United States and celebrate fellowship and the founding of this country.

What has also become a tradition is watching the full slate of NFL and NCAAF games on Thanksgiving Day to help Americans digest full bellies of turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie.

The NCAA and the NFL’s Thanksgiving Day football games pit some of the league’s most storied teams against each other, and our guide below will inform Turkey Day pigskin fanatics of the best places to place a bet on them. We’ll also detail the legalities involved, as well as background information for historical context and research.


Best Sportsbook Sites For Betting On Football Games

SportsbookCurrent BonusU.S.Link
Bovada Sportsbook
50% bonus up to $250
USA FlagVisit Site
MyBookie
50% bonus up to $1,000
USA FlagVisit Site
Betonline Sportsbook
50% bonus up to $1,000
USA FlagVisit Site
Sports Betting
50% bonus up to $1,000
USA FlagVisit Site

Best USA Sportsbooks in 2025

Our team of industry professionals has searched through the mass of online sportsbooks and determined that the above offshore sportsbooks are US-friendly and legally sanctioned. All of the sportsbook brands listed in the table have passed our review process with flying colors.

These criteria include verification of legal licensing, a wide range of betting lines and wagering types, a strong security profile, accommodating banking suite, customer support, generous bonuses and promotions, and mobile and live betting capabilities.

These are the sites that are considered to be the most reputable in the industry. You can browse these Thanksgiving football betting sites prior to making an account by clicking on the links provided in the above table.

NFL Betting Odds For 2024 Thanksgiving Day Games

MatchupMoneylineSpreadOver/Under
Chicago Bears at Detroit LionsBears: +400
Lions: -575
Bears: -+10.5
Lions: -10.5
O 48.5
U 48.5
New York Giants at Dallas CowboysCowboys: -210
Giants: +175
Cowboys: -4.0
Giants: +4.0
U 38.5
O 38.5
Miami Dolphins at Green Bay PackersPackers: -175
Dolphins: +150
Packers: -3.5
Dolphins: +3.5
O 47.0
U 47.0
Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City ChiefsRaiders: +500
Chiefs: -750
Raiders: +13.5
Chiefs: -13.5
O 43.0
U 43.0

Who Plays Football On Thanksgiving?

NFL Thanksgiving Matchups

NFL classic logo

Each year there are three NFL Thanksgiving Day games, and they each see their fair share of legal online NFL betting action. The 2024 Thanksgiving Day schedule features the Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions, the New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys, and the Miami Dolphins @ Green Bay Packers.

In 2024, a Black Friday game was introduced and will include the Kansas City Chiefs vs. the Las Vegas Raiders. Check out our Thanksgiving Day games and previews of the three matchups for insight before wagers are placed.

NCAAF Thanksgiving Matchups

NCAAF logo

Football fans are fortunate to have action in both the NFL and the NCAA over the Thanksgiving holiday. College football Thanksgiving matchups pit some of the league’s fiercest rivals against each other, often including interstate teams.

Our page dedicated to NCAAF Thanksgiving betting has information regarding the best matchups, complete with previews of each fixture and betting odds.


2024 Thanksgiving Football Betting Odds

Curious about which teams are favored to win in this year’s Thanksgiving matchups? Check out our page dedicated to football betting odds to get the inside scoop on what is expected out of each game. These odds are kept current in real-time and are comparable with the odds published by Las Vegas oddsmakers.


How To Bet Thanksgiving Games In 2024 (NFL/NCAAF)

In order to place Thanksgiving football bets, we recommend visiting one of our top-rated Turkey Day football sportsbook sites and becoming a member.  Most of them require a minimum age of 18 to join and are available in almost all US States (check the terms and conditions at each site to ensure eligibility).

Visit our page detailing Thanksgiving Day football betting sites for more information.

Is Betting On Football Legal In The United States?

Yes, and Thanksgiving Day football bettors inside of the USA have two options available to them – domestic sportsbooks and offshore betting sites.

Domestic – If you reside in or near a state that has legalized and regulated in-state domestic sports betting, then you can visit an in-person bookie or place a football bet online or with a licensed mobile betting app.

International – State and federal football betting laws in the US do not attempt to govern overseas sportsbook sites offering Thanksgiving Day football betting lines to USA patrons.

That means there are no laws being broken when placing a bet on the Detroit Lions Thanksgiving game, the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving game, or any other NFL game using an offshore sportsbook site. Read the terms and conditions of membership with each site to ensure that members are allowed from your state or region, as a few states are excluded.


2024 Thanksgiving Football Betting FAQ’s

Is It Legal For Me To Bet On NFL/NCAA Games?
Yes. Betting on NFL and NCAA games is legal as long as it is done through legally sanctioned offshore sportsbook brands or with a domestic sportsbook that has been regulated at the state level
Do The Same NFL Teams Play On Thanksgiving Every Year?
Yes and no. The Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys have hosted Thanksgiving games consecutively since 1967. The third game does not have any fixed opponents and features new teams each year.
When Did Thanksgiving Football Games Start?
Thanksgiving Day games have been happening since the NFL league began back in 1920. Before that, college games were hosted as early as the late 1880s. As of now, three NFL games are played each Thanksgiving along with various college football rivalry matchups. Different teams have traded hosting responsibilities over the decades.
Which Team Has Had The Most Thanksgiving Wins In The NFL?
The Detroit Lions have the most total Thanksgiving wins with 37. The Dallas Cowboys are in second with 30 wins.
What Is NCAA Thanksgiving Football Like?
NCAA Thanksgiving football is made up of rivalry games. These games are usually the end of the regular season for most programs.
Can I Have An Account With Multiple Sportsbooks?
Yes. There is no limit to how many offshore sportsbook accounts you can have. In fact, having accounts with multiple sportsbooks grants you full access to different betting lines, bonuses, and wagering types, allowing you to shop around for the best odds depending on what team you want to bet on.
What Is The Most Popular Type Of Bet?
Betting on or against the point spread is arguably the most popular wagering type amongst US bettors, but money line bets have emerged as another option for sports betting newcomers.

Point spread betting lines give bettors a range of points that a team must win or lose by. For example, if you bet on the Patriots to beat the Giants by 7 points or more and they end up doing so, you have won your bet. Money line betting lines allow you to pick a winner outright with no recognition of the point spread.

What Is The Online Sports Betting Experience Like?
Betting via the offshore sportsbook outlined in this guide is like betting with a Las Vegas sportsbook. You will find the same betting lines and wagering types online as you would in Vegas, but also an expanded range of lines, wagering options, and odds.

Another primary difference between betting in Vegas and betting online comes in the form of bonuses and other promotional offerings that brick-and-mortar sportsbooks cannot match.

Copyright © 2025 Thanksgiving Football Games Log in