The NFL Week 13 schedule gets underway this Thanksgiving Thursday with a very strong 3-game slate, featuring the Detroit Lions hosting the Green Bay Packers, and a nightcap with Joe Burrow’s possible return for the Cincinnati Bengals against the Baltimore Ravens.
But the game we’re by far most interested in making our Thanksgiving football bets for is Kansas City Chiefs vs. Dallas Cowboys, who had Sunday’s most dramatic comeback wins. Let’s look at the latest odds and preview this matchup with our NFL expert picks.
Best Bets for Kansas City Chiefs vs. Dallas Cowboys
For our best Thanksgiving NFL bets, we’re dialed in on this big matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs (6-5) and Dallas Cowboys (5-5-1), as both teams desperately need this one with little margin for error left for the playoffs:
- The Chiefs needed an 11-point comeback in the 4th quarter to beat the Colts 23-20 in overtime
- The Cowboys tied their franchise record with a 21-0 comeback win against the Eagles at home
Both teams are going to be riding high coming into this one, and with the way the Chiefs struggle on defense on the road, Dak Prescott and George Pickens should be licking their chops to put up some points here.
Meanwhile, Patrick Mahomes didn’t throw a touchdown on Sunday, but he had almost 400 yards of total offense, and he should welcome the opportunity to face this Dallas defense that’s struggled all year.
It should be a fun matchup with a tight spread and a fair chance to be a close finish and shootout.
Thanksgiving Football Odds (Cowboys +3.5)
This matchup sees the Chiefs as a 3.5-point favorite after coming down from an opening line of 4.5 points on the road. The Chiefs are only 5-6 ATS this year, but they were able to win their first one-score game against the Colts, snapping a 5-game slide.
Kansas City’s other 5 wins this year were all by at least 12 points, so this team has won big this year while the Cowboys had their second walk-off field goal win of the year on Sunday against Philadelphia.
You can always bet on this game or other NFL Week 13 games at top-rated sportsbooks, where you’ll find the total has opened at 47.5 points and gone up to 52.5 points, with both teams certainly having the capability to score in the upper 20s or more.
We’ve already seen Dallas go to overtime in 37-37 games at home with the Giants and Packers this year, and Patrick Mahomes has a great history indoors against bad defenses.
Thanksgiving Football Picks (Chiefs -3.5)
For our Thursday NFL prediction, we’re going with the Chiefs to cover the 3.5-point road spread and get this winning streak really rolling as they may have to run the table just to make the playoffs as a 12-5 wild card this year because of Denver’s lead in the AFC West.
Mahomes should have great matchups with his speedy wide receivers, who did well against the Colts’ superior corners on Sunday, and Travis Kelce should have more room to operate, too.
The Cowboys were down 21-0 for good reason, and the Chiefs won’t fade away for 40 minutes the way the Eagles, who have a history of playing hard for just 30 minutes in 2025, did on Sunday.
The Cowboys are playing spirited football after the loss of teammate Marshawn Kneeland, but the Chiefs are still the better team and know exactly how to win in the big moments. It’s hard to bet against them, and you especially have to like them against a flawed defense.
Expert Pick: Chiefs -3.5 (-110) at BetMGM
Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce (Anytime Touchdown Scorer)
For our NFL player props on this game, we’re looking at Kansas City’s Travis Kelce as a touchdown scorer with better than even odds. It’s almost certainly his last chance to ever play on NFL Thanksgiving as Kelce announced he’ll have his decision on 2026 by March, so this could be his last season.
Kelce was quiet on Sunday, but he should have had a touchdown that was taken away by a phantom facemask penalty on the Chiefs. He’s playing very well since Week 2 and is still the team’s leading receiver and Mahomes’ most trustworthy weapon.
The Cowboys have only allowed 3 touchdowns to tight ends as they’re more vulnerable against wideouts. But in this matchup, Kelce is like an extra wide receiver for Mahomes, and the Chiefs can get very creative with him as the play wiped out by penalty against the Colts showed. Look for Kelce to score and join in on the Salvation Army celebration in Dallas on the holiday.
Expert Pick: Travis Kelce Anytime Touchdown Scorer (+110) at BetMGM
Your Thanksgiving NFL Betting Game Plan
For your Thanksgiving football bets, the top game we’re looking forward to is Chiefs vs. Cowboys in Dallas. We like the Chiefs to cover the 3.5-point spread and for Travis Kelce to score another touchdown.
Timing is everything in sports betting. Any news of a hamstring tweak for Rashee Rice could change the prop lines at a moment’s notice for a game like this.
That’s why you should download the free-to-use OddsTrader app where you’ll find the best odds and lines for your favorite Thanksgiving football bets. Be sure to sign up for multiple sportsbooks to make sure you book your wagers at maximum value.
Enhance Your College Football Betting with OddsTrader Turbo
Right now, you can try a 30-day free trial of OddsTrader Turbo, an exciting sports betting tool for college football and other popular markets.
Once inside, you’ll have full access to the BetStation, an AI-powered chatbot where you can ask for betting tips on games like Old Dominion vs. Troy and much more. You’ll also get 5-star picks with a 73% track record, live game alerts, and the ability to track your bets across multiple sportsbooks.
*21+ Seek help with a gambling addiction at 1-800-GAMBLER
*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
