Two Thursday night football games, two leagues, plenty of parlay value. Here are our best combinations for Sep 17.
Thursday Night Football Parlay Picks - September 17, 2026
We've got a rare double-header of football action on Thursday, September 17, with a College Football (NCAAF) opener followed by a marquee National Football League prime-time clash. Two games, multiple angles, and some genuinely interesting odds to exploit. Let's break it down leg by leg and build our best parlay combinations.
Game 1 (NCAAF): Syracuse Orange @ Pittsburgh Panthers - 8:30 PM ET
Pittsburgh opens as a hefty -10.5 favourite on their home turf, and that number feels justified. The Panthers have the talent and the home-field advantage to dictate the pace of this game. Syracuse arrives as a programme still searching for consistency, and double-digit road deficits against a motivated Pitt side are a tough ask.
The total sits at 51.5, which is a big number for a Thursday night college game. Both offences carry some explosive potential, but the presence of a large spread often leads to garbage-time scoring that inflates totals. Over 51.5 at -105 via theScore Bet is the play here - Pitt's offence and the likelihood of Syracuse throwing late to cover makes the over the lean.
Value Flag: Syracuse ML at +335 via Bally Bet is eye-catching, but the -400 price on Pitt tells the real story. Avoid the straight moneyline on Pitt - it's terrible value. The spread is the play.
Game 2 (National Football League): Detroit Lions @ Buffalo Bills - 9:15 PM ET
This is the marquee Thursday night National Football League matchup, and it's a cracker. The Buffalo Bills open as -4.5 home favourites, a line that reflects their status as one of the elite franchises in the AFC but also respects just how dangerous the Detroit Lions are as a road team. Detroit has been built to compete anywhere, and Jared Goff's system travels well.
The total of 54.5 is one of the highest on the board this week, which tells you everything about how oddsmakers view both offences. These are two of the most explosive passing attacks in the league, and with the game likely to be competitive and high-tempo, the over is the natural lean. Over 54.5 at -105 via theScore Bet is available and represents the best price on this side.
On the spread, Detroit +4.5 at -108 via Bally Bet is genuinely interesting. The Lions are built to stay competitive in big games, and a four-and-a-half point cushion on a team of Detroit's calibre offers real value. If you believe this game goes to the wire - and the total suggests oddsmakers do - then the Lions covering is very much in play.
Value Flag: Detroit ML at +190 via Bally Bet is generous for a team of their quality. If you want the Lions to win outright, that's a strong price - but for parlay purposes the spread legs offer better construction flexibility.
Parlay 1: The Thursday Night Double (Best Value)
- Pittsburgh Panthers -10.5 (-105, DraftKings)
- Over 54.5 - Lions @ Bills (-105, theScore Bet)
Pitt wins big at home against a struggling Syracuse side, and the Bills-Lions prime-time showcase delivers the fireworks both offences are capable of. Two -105 legs combine to approximately +210 combined odds. Clean, logical, and built on process rather than hope.
Parlay 2: The Totals Double-Up
- Over 51.5 - Syracuse @ Pitt (-105, theScore Bet)
- Over 54.5 - Lions @ Bills (-105, theScore Bet)
Both games should produce points. Pitt's offence at home against a vulnerable Syracuse defence, combined with two elite NFL units going at it on Thursday night, makes a both-games-go-over parlay highly compelling. Combined odds sit at approximately +210 - and both legs are available at theScore Bet for convenience.
Parlay 3: The Three-Legger (Higher Risk, Higher Reward)
- Pittsburgh Panthers -10.5 (-105, DraftKings)
- Detroit Lions +4.5 (-108, Bally Bet)
- Over 54.5 - Lions @ Bills (-105, theScore Bet)
Pitt covers big at home, Detroit stays close enough to cover the spread in a shootout, and the Bills-Lions total goes over. Three logical legs that don't conflict with each other - if the NFL game is high-scoring as expected, Detroit can absolutely cover +4.5 while the total still clears 54.5. Combined odds approximately +524. This is the higher-variance play but the reasoning is sound.
Best Bets Summary
- Pittsburgh Panthers -10.5 (-105) - DraftKings
- Over 51.5 Syracuse/Pitt (-105) - theScore Bet
- Over 54.5 Lions/Bills (-105) - theScore Bet
- Detroit Lions +4.5 (-108) - Bally Bet
Responsible gambling reminder: Please bet within your means and only wager what you can afford to lose.
