Detroit Lions vs New York Giants Point Spread Picks

Combine the Lions (-900) and the Cowboys (-900) and the Thunder (-1300) into a 3-team parlay at -303 odds.

Detroit is loaded with offensive talent, ranked No. 3 and No. 4 in total yards in each of the last two seasons. The defensive secondary is still their biggest weakness. The Lions are on a 6-2 preseason run OVER the total. New York upgraded the offensive line significantly in the offseason and added speedy WR Malik Nabers. The defense looks weak in the secondary with the loss of safety Xavier McKinney to free agency. The defense won't be as blitz-happy as new coordinator Shane Bowen is aboard and it will take time to work on the new schemes. These teams met last preseason in Week 1 in a game that went OVER the total in a 21-16 final. Play Detroit/New York OVER the total. 

Somehow the NY Giants are 7-2 without having scored more than 27 points in any game. I guess the reason is they have not allowed more than 27 points in either game. That has left the Giants as a strong under team at 7-1-1 ATS to the under on the season. The Detroit inconsistency has been on display over their last 5 games. The Lion's games have seen a team score fewer than 10 points in 3 of them. I would certainly think there s a chance of one of these teams not reaching 10 in this one, but regardless, I think the total is too high here as just 1 Giant's game has reached this total all season. Make the play under the total.

Detroit began yet another new coaching era, this time with Matt Patricia, but it looked like the same old Lions in their first preseason game against Oakland. The game was filled with penalties and Matt Cassel failed in a two-minute offense, which sealed the win for the Raiders. The Lions managed 88 rushing yards on 23 carries and Jake Rudock finished 12-of-19 for 84 yards and no touchdowns while Cassel went 10-of-18 for 81 yards and no TDs. The game went UNDER by 10 points as both teams were constantly stymied by penalty flags. Matt Stafford is too valuable to play more than a series or two, so it will be mostly Rudock and Cassel again for this matchup. New York also went UNDER in its 20-10 loss to Cleveland in Pat Shurmer's first game as coach of the Giants. Shurmer played four quarterbacks with Davis Webb getting the bulk of playing time and completing 9-of-22 for 70 yards. Alex Tanney, rookie Kyle Lauletta and Eli Manning finished up but none of them threw a touchdown pass. The Giants defense held the Browns to 1.5 yards per carry as the spotlight was on top draft pick Baker Mayfield. Look for these two weak offenses to keep the game UNDER the total.