Theres nothing like NFL Football on Thanksgiving Day, NOTHING! All Across America, families get together to enjoy the holiday , and the great food.

It seems like it happens in just about every household , the men crowd around the TV, a cold beer in hand, to watch the first game right around noon , the wives and girlfriends storm the kitchen in a frenzy of cooking and food preparation. The great aromas of turkey in the oven , stuffing , mashed potatoes , veggies , and a whole lot more, fill every room in the house.

But, the guys arent paying attention to the food. The first game in Detroit has started ,

This year, like all the years before it, promises to play out the exact same way. There are three big games on the schedule ,at least 10 hours of non-stop football action on the tube , lots of great betting opportunities, too.

Start with Game No. 1. In keeping with a longstanding tradition, the Detroit Lions are at home to kick off the long day of football. Last years 0-16 doormat-of-a-team figures to be better this year they cant be worse, but will they be good enough to knock off Green Bay, their turkey-day opponent?

Bet on this: Las Vegas odds makers should have the Packers winning this game, BIG! And that may make the Lions a live underdog bet. As is always true with NFL Football, if you go with a live dog, you have a chance to make some decent cash.

Game #2 offer s up some more Thanksgiving tradition. It features the Cowboys, at home, against the upstart Oakland Raiders. Last years Raiders werent that good. This years edition: you should have a handle on this team by the time this game is played in late November. The Cowboys are going to be favored, but will Oakland be good enough to cover the spread? What you need to do is follow the odds in the days leading up to the game. Find out where the money is going , and react accordingly.

One thing to remember: Thanksgiving Day games present teams with a very short week of preparation. Moreover, the teams that have to travel to the game, the visiting teams, are at a further disadvantage. Generally, home teams do better on Thanksgiving Day.

Game #3 is a night game. Big Blue will be traveling to Denver to do battle with the defensively-challenged Broncos. Can Denver score enough to topple the Giants? The smart money says , probably not. But November is a long way off. Injuries always play a big role in deciding NFL football games. Which means this: the healthier team is going to win this game. Who knows , that could be the Denver Broncos.

Thanksgiving Day, 2009. There are three big games , 10 hours of non-stop action , maybe more. Turkey , stuffing , pumpkin pie , more good stuff to eat.