The New York Giants moved one step closer to securing a playoff spot with a massive 20-19 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football last week. Now they will look to push forward with little room for error as they take on their second division leader in a row when they host the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Moneyline: New York -200
Handicap/Spread Odds: Giants -4
Total O/U: 40.5
Last 5 Meetings: (Road/Home – Spread/Total)
| 09/08/14 | NYG 14 – DET 35 | DET -6.5 | O 46 |
| 12/22/13 | NYG 23 – DET 20 x | NYG 9.5 | U 47 |
| 10/17/10 | DET 20 – NYG 28 | DET 10 | O 45.5 |
| 11/18/07 | NYG 16 – DET 10 | NYG -3 | U 48 |
| 10/24/04 | DET 28 – NYG 13 | DET 7 | O 40 |
On The Lions Side of the Ball (9-4 Record, 8-5 ATS)
Detroit moved one step closer to clinching its first NFC North title in 23 years with a 20-17 win over the Chicago Bears last week that was a lot closer than most expected. The Lions might have been caught looking ahead to this showdown with New York a little bit and it didn’t help that Matt Stafford suffered a finger injury that likely affected his performance. Stafford completed just 15-of-29 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions, but he also broke a couple of tackles and muscled his way in to the endzone for the game-winning touchdown. With Stafford one week closer to full strength, Detroit should be in good position to challenge the Giants this weekend. The Lions defense has allowed 20 points or fewer in seven consecutive games for the first time since 1961 and that defense will be ready for the challenge that comes with going up against Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. this week.
Last 5 Results:
| 12/11/16 | CHI | W 20-17 | L -7.5 | U 42 |
| 12/04/16 | @NO | W 28-13 | W 6.5 | U 53 |
| 11/24/16 | MIN | W 16-13 | W -1.5 | U 42 |
| 11/20/16 | JAC | W 26-19 | W -5.5 | U 47 |
| 11/06/16 | @MIN | W 22-16 x | W 4.5 | U 42.5 |
On The Giants Side of the Ball (9-4 Record, 7-5-1 ATS)
The Giants will have momentum on their side after snapping the Cowboys’ win streak and improving to 2-0 against Dallas this season. The New York defense harassed Dak Prescott al game and finished with three sacks and a pair of interceptions. That was without star defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who will likely miss this week’s game as well. Romeo Okwara led the Giants with eight tackles and finished with a sack and three quarterback hits in place of JPP last week. Okwara and the rest of the Giants front will be eager to get after Stafford and really test whether or not he is at full strength. Meanwhile, Manning needs to be better after completing just 17-of-28 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown with an interception against the Cowboys last week. The lions defense ranks 20th in the NFL against the pass so it will be on Manning and Beckham Jr. to figure out how to take advantage this week.
Last 5 Results:
| 12/11/16 | DAL | W 10-7 | W 3.5 | U 47 |
| 12/04/16 | @PIT | L 14-24 | L 6.5 | U 49.5 |
| 11/24/16 | @CLE | W 27-13 | W -6.5 | U 46.5 |
| 11/20/16 | CHI | W 22-16 | L -7 | U 41.5 |
| 11/06/16 | CIN | W 21-20 | W 1 | U 49.5 |
Quick Analysis
New York is 5-0 straight up and 4-1 against the spread over its last five home games so they will represent a difficult challenge for the Lions this week. Detroit is 8-5 against the spread this season including a 3-3 mark as the visiting team. The under has hit in 19 of the 26 games between these teams this season and the winter conditions could make scoring that much more difficult in this contest.
Prediction
New York will be tough to beat at home but the Lions have a lot on the line in this game as well. The issue is that these are two teams that are hard to trust. The Giants might come out and lay an egg like they did two weeks again versus the Pittsburgh Steelers or they might play well like they did against the Dallas Cowboys last week. The Lions might look like a team that’s won five straight or they might play like a team that barely edged out the 3-10 Chicago Bears at home last week.
The difference here figures to be two things: home-field advantage and a finger injury to Matt Stafford. The Lions are 3-3 on the road while the Giants are 5-1 at home. Combined with the fact that Stafford is dealing with an injury on his throwing hand and that the weather could be frigid in New York, and this seems like it could be a good spot to bet the Giants.
Pick: Giants -4
Note: Lines subject to change leading up to kick-off, so please be aware of the possibility of line movements.
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