NFL Christmas Day Odds & Picks (2024)

Last Updated December 18, 2024 8:53 am PST
Odds & Picks for NFL Christmas Day text centered, Lamar Jackson in background

Houston is a slim favorite over Baltimore in the early NFL Christmas Day odds. The Texans host the Ravens in the second of the two Christmas Day games this year. The games kick off with a different AFC showdown, as Pittsburgh hosts Kansas City.

Netflix is pulling out all the stops for the event, including having celebrity hosts and a highly-anticipated halftime performance from Beyonce. This guide will break down the NFL Christmas Day schedule and highlight the best betting options for the special holiday doubleheader.

Latest 2024 NFL Christmas Day Game Odds

The top football betting sites make it easy to wager on this year’s NFL Christmas Day games. Here are the latest odds for this year’s Christmas football doubleheader on Netflix, courtesy of Bovada.

TeamPoint SpreadMoneylineGame Total
Kansas City Chiefs -2 (-110) N/A Over 42.5 (-110)
Pittsburgh Steelers +2 (-110) N/A Under 42.5 (-110)

The NFL Christmas Day schedule opens with an AFC matchup between the Chiefs and the Steelers. There isn’t a moneyline for this game yet, which has everything to do with the pending status of Patrick Mahomes.

Both teams could be without their best players, as Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes and Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt both suffered ankle injuries in Week 15.

This will be both teams’ third game in 11 days, but the Steelers will be at a unique disadvantage.

Kansas City has to face Houston in Week 16, while the Steelers have a hard-hitting matchup with the Ravens just four days before facing the defending Super Bowl champions.

Ravens vs. Texans Odds

TeamPoint SpreadMoneylineGame Total
Baltimore Ravens-1.5 (-110)-125Over 45.5 (-115)
Houston Texans+1.5 (-110)+105Under 45.5 (-105)

The Texans will host the Ravens in Houston in the second game of this year’s holiday doubleheader. Bovada has Houston as a 1.5-point home underdog for this matchup of two playoff teams.

The Texans clinched the AFC South in Week 15, guaranteeing a spot in the playoffs. Baltimore, on the other hand, is neck-and-neck with the Steelers for the AFC North title.

A loss could cost the Ravens the division lead and knock them out of the postseason altogether in the highly competitive AFC playoff race. The total points for this matchup are set at over/under 45.5 points.

If you’re ready to bet on the NFL Christmas Day games, feel free to head to Bovada now. I’ve included some more information below, though, while you also can learn more at our Bovada review.

Bovada Best Site for Betting on NFL Christmas Day Games

Bovada is the best NFL Christmas Day betting site. They’re usually the go-to option for sports bettors in general, and that certainly applies to football betting as well.

One big reason is because they have a rock solid welcome bonus (seen to the right), as well as solid promos and a nice reward system. In addition, Bovada has more than your run of the mill NFL Christmas Day wagers, as they’re one of the few sites that also let you bet on Beyonce props for these contests.

Overall, this is the site to use for betting on Christmas Day NFL games. Not convinced? See for yourself by checking out our full Bovada review or visiting the site.

Full 2024 NFL Christmas Day Schedule

  • Kansas City Chiefs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers at 1:00 p.m. EDT on Netflix
  • Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans at 4:30 p.m. EDT on Netflix

Kansas City needs to win to secure the top seed in the AFC. Likewise, Pittsburgh and Baltimore must win their respective matchups to keep pace with each other in the AFC North division race.

Houston has already won its division, but the Texans need a win to build momentum for the playoffs.

Both Christmas matchups have major playoff implications, with at least two of these teams (if not all four) looking like viable options at Super Bowl betting sites.

Of course, football is not the only reason to tune in on Wednesday.

Netflix has brought in significant stars to help with the event. Former NFL stars, including Drew Brees, and celebrities like comedian Nate Bargatze are part of the festivities.

As is often the case with holiday games, the halftime shows for this year’s Christmas Day games feature major superstars. 32-time Grammy Award-winning artist Beyonce headlines the halftime show in the Ravens vs. Texans game in her home state of Texas.

Best Bets for NFL Christmas Day 2024

  • Baltimore Ravens -1.5 (-110) – Bet Now
  • Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans over 45.5 points (-115) – Bet Now

The Ravens have, for better or worse, played to the level of their opponents this season. This has cost Baltimore against teams like the Raiders and the Browns. However, I think the Ravens will bring their “A” game against another playoff-caliber team like Houston.

Baltimore will win and cover the 1.5-point spread on Christmas Day, but it will be a high-scoring game. The Ravens and Texans have struggled against the pass this season, allowing 24 (7th) and 27 (T-1st) passing touchdowns, respectively.

Wagering on bad defenses playing poorly is usually a winning NFL betting strategy. With that in mind, I think Baltimore and Houston will combine for over 45.5 points on Christmas.

2024 NFL Christmas Day Predictions

  • The Chiefs beat the Steelers – Bet Now
  • The Ravens beat the Texans (-125) – Bet Now

It will be a Merry Christmas in Kansas City, even if Patrick Mahomes cannot play. This season, Mahomes and the offense have relied on their defense to bail them out of tight spots. Carson Wentz is not great, but if the Chiefs’ defense shows up, he should be able to operate a simplified offense that can beat Pittsburgh.

The same cannot be said about the Steelers’ defense if T.J. Watt misses this game. Pittsburgh is 1-10 in the 11 games Watt has missed in his career. KC can cursive without Mahomes, but the Steelers cannot compete without Watt on the field.

Pittsburgh could have an especially bad Christmas this year. The Ravens, led by MVP candidate Lamar Jackson, will beat the Texans in the second game of the holiday doubleheader. A Ravens win and a Steelers loss could lock up the division for Baltimore.

Houston’s offensive struggles have cost them multiple times already this year, and they will rear their ugly head again on Christmas. Jackson and company will have a field day against Houston’s porous passing defense, leading the Ravens to a big win over the AFC South champions.

Top NFL Prop Bets for 2024 Christmas Day

Prop betting is another fun way to join in the festivities this Christmas. Here are a few of my favorite NFL Christmas Day prop bets.

Ravens Score First (-115)

Bovada lists the Ravens and Texans at -115 each to be the first to score in their Christmas Day matchup. The type of score is not specified, so a field goal, touchdown, or safety would all satisfy this bet.

Houston’s offense has struggled this season, and I think the Ravens will strike first on Christmas. Baltimore’s defense has played better lately, and I think they can stop Houston if the Texans get the ball first.

If the Ravens start with the ball, Lamar Jackson will lead a scoring drive to start the game.

Brittney Spencer Performs With Beyonce (-250)

Bovada has multiple betting markets for Beyonce’s performance, including the color of her outfit and which song Queen Bey will perform first. My favorite bet for Beyonce’s Christmas Day halftime show is which artists will appear on stage with her.

Shaboozey (-200), Miley Cyrus (-140), Jay Z (+500), and other well-known stars are available in this market. Beyonce could have multiple stars appear on stage with her, but I think Brittney Spencer, a rising country star, is the best bet.

Spencer was one of several artists who worked on Beyonce’s hit “Blackbiird” on Beyonce’s album Cowboy Carter. Reyna Roberts (-250), Tanner Adell (-250), and Tiera Kennedy (-250) also worked on the song and are equally great betting options in the prop wager.

Betting on NFL Christmas Day Games in 2024

Two exciting AFC showdowns headline the NFL Christmas Day schedule. You can find the latest odds for Chiefs vs. Steelers and Baltimore vs. Houston in the guide above, along with my preferred NFL Christmas Day picks.

My best bet for this year’s Christmas games is for Baltimore to beat Houston (-125). If you’re still wondering where to bet on NFL Christmas Day games, sign up at Bovada Sportsbook to wager on this year’s doubleheader.

Remember, you can use the code BV1000 to get up to $1,000 in bonus funds if you are a new member. Also, make sure you check the latest injury reports for all teams involved before betting on any of the NFL Christmas Day odds above.

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Shaun
Stack
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Shaun Stack is new to GamblingSites.com but has been a professional gambling writer since 2021. His writing covers a broad spectrum of sports betting and casino topics. Shaun has been featured on over a dozen websites, including The New Jersey Digest, Space Coast Daily, and Gamble Critic. He is originally from Kansas City and has a bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh Bradford.
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