Cowboys vs. Lions Prediction & Opening Odds for Thursday Night Football: NFL Week 14

In my Cowboys vs. Lions prediction for Thursday Night Football at Ford Field in Detroit (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video), I'm backing Dallas to keep things tight and cover for a fourth successive game. 

The Lions are the 3-point betting favorite despite a litany of offensive injuries and their 1-3 ATS record in the previous four games. The analysis below is part of the NFL predictions for Week 14. 

🏈 Early Cowboys vs. Lions prediction & betting preview

Stay ahead with the rest of our early NFL picks for Week 14.

🤠 Cowboys +3 (+100) ⭐⭐⭐

At this point, it's impossible to overlook the Cowboys' surge. They have won three in a row, two of which were against last season's Super Bowl combatants. They covered the spread in all three, improving to 7-5 ATS.

The primary reason for the impressive uptick is the collective improvement in defense.

While Quinnen Williams' arrival is the most obvious factor, getting starting safety Donovan Wilson back from injury is another. He returned against the Las Vegas Raiders, coinciding with the start of the team's three-game win streak. 

Lions ravaged by injuries to offense

Dallas rolls into Detroit to face an injury-ravaged Lions team that is almost unrecognizable from the squad they started the season with. The offensive line is battered and bruised, and the Lions will be forced to start third-string center Trystan Colon after Frank Ragnow's comeback bid failed due to a Grade 3 hamstring strain found in a routine physical. 

The team's top two tight ends are out. Amon-Ra St. Brown suffered an ankle injury in the Week 13 loss to the Green Bay Packers and is listed as week-to-week. And star safety Kerby Joseph won't be ready for Thursday's game. 

The offensive injuries have shone a light on Jared Goff's issues under pressure, and with Dallas' stark improvement in getting to the quarterback, I can't see Detroit breaking it open. And while the atmosphere will be inhospitable, Dak Prescott and Co. will feel at home playing on pristine turf in idyllic dome conditions. 

If the Cowboys can keep it close and cover for a fourth straight game, you'll earn a $10 profit on a bet of the same amount.

📊 Live Cowboys vs. Lions odds: Week 14

See the latest NFL odds for every game in Week 14.

🔢 Cowboys vs. Lions opening odds

• Moneyline: Cowboys +139 | Lions -204
• Spread: Cowboys +3.5 (-128) | Lions -3.5 (-108)
• Over/Under: Over 54.5 (+103) | Under 54.5 (-120)

↔️ Cowboys vs. Lions line movement

The betting lines for the favorite -3 Lions range from -115 to -120 at the best sports betting sites, with DraftKings offering the latter. Those betting lines indicate the line will likely move to -3.5. If you're backing the underdog Cowboys, you might want to hold off for the more favorable number of +3.5. 

📈 Cowboys vs. Lions trends & betting notes: TNF

• The Cowboys have won and covered three straight
• Dallas is 3-0 since Williams arrived and Wilson returned to the lineup
• The Lions have allowed at least 27 points in the last three home games
• The Lions are 1-3 ATS in the last four games
• The Cowboys have scored at least 27 points in three of the previous four away games

📺 How to watch Cowboys vs. Lions: Thursday Night Football

• Date: Thursday, Dec. 4
• Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET
• Location: Ford Field (Detroit)
• TV: Prime Video