Cowboys vs. Lions prediction, odds: Week 14 'Thursday Night Football' NFL picks by proven model

Teams battling for a playoff spot meet when the Dallas Cowboys face the Detroit Lions in a key NFC matchup on 'Thursday Night Football.' Dallas is coming off a 31-28 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, while Detroit dropped a 31-24 decision to the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving Day. The Cowboys (6-5-1), who have won three in a row, are just 1.5 games behind Philadelphia for the NFC East lead. The Lions (7-5), who have lost three of five, have fallen two games behind Chicago in the NFC North. Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle) did not practice on Monday or Tuesday. 

Kickoff from Ford Field in Detroit is set for 8:15 p.m. ET. The Cowboys lead the all-time series 19-13, but the Lions won last year's meeting 47-9. The Lions are 3-point favorites in the latest Cowboys vs. Lions odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 54.5 via SportsLine consensus. Before making any Cowboys vs. Lions picks, check out the NFL predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model. 

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The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up well over $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception. The model entered Week 14 on a 49-33 run on top-rated picks dating back to 2024. Anybody following its NFL betting picks at sportsbooks and on betting sites could have seen strong returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Cowboys vs. Lions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the FBS college football odds and trends for Lions vs. Cowboys:

Why the Lions can cover

Veteran quarterback Jared Goff helps power the Detroit offense. In 12 games this season, he has completed 69.8% of his passes for 3,025 yards and 25 touchdowns with five interceptions and a 110.2 rating. In last week's loss to the Packers, he completed 20 of 26 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns. He also carried once for 24 yards. In a 34-27 overtime win over the New York Giants on Nov. 23, he completed 28 of 42 passes for 279 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.

Another weapon on offense is running back Jahmyr Gibbs. In 12 games, he has carried 175 times for 1,019 yards (5.8 average) and 10 touchdowns. He has had 10 explosive plays of 20 yards or more, including a long of 78, with 46 first-down conversions. In the win over the Giants, he carried 15 times for 219 yards (14.6 average) and two touchdowns. He also caught 11 passes for 45 yards and a score. See which team to back at SportsLine. 

Why the Cowboys can cover

Ten-year veteran quarterback Dak Prescott leads the Dallas offense. In 12 starts, he has completed 69.3% of his passes for 3,261 yards and 25 touchdowns with eight interceptions and a 102.4 rating. He has also rushed 41 times for 124 yards and two touchdowns. In the win over Kansas City, he completed 27 of 39 passes (69.2%) for 320 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.

His top target is fourth-year veteran wide receiver George Pickens. In 12 games, he has 73 receptions for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns. In the win over the Chiefs, he caught six passes for 88 yards. He caught nine passes for 146 yards and one touchdown in a 24-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 23. See which team to back at SportsLine.

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How to make Cowboys vs. Lions picks

SportsLine's model is going Over on the total, projecting 55 combined points. It also says one side of the spread is the better value. You can only get the pick at SportsLine. 

So who wins Cowboys vs. Lions, and which side of the spread is the better value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Cowboys vs. Lions spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that finished up over $7,000 on its NFL picks since its inception, and find out.