NFL Betting Underdog Detroit In Bad Shape Versus the New York Giants

The Detroit Lions are once again NFL online betting underdogs by double-digits, but unlike in past weeks when the Lions would cover the spread while still losing straight up, the Lions don’t appear set to cover the spread on Oct. 17th.

The reason has to do with the basic NFL harbinger of doom, injuries. Detroit is banged up nasty on the offensive side of things.

Since they’re not a very good defensive team, injuries on the offense has to considered particularly hurtful to their chances of keeping Sunday’s game within the 10-point NFL betting against the spread odds.

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Detroit Lions at New York Giants

Where: New Meadowlands Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

When: Oct. 17th, 2010 at 1:00 pm EST

TV: FOX

Radio: Sirius – 155 (DET) 126 (NYG)

NFL Betting Lines

Detroit Lions +10 -110 O 44 -110

New York Giants -10 -110 U 44 -110

The NFL betting game trends say that the Lions cover the spread in this one.

• The Detroit Lions are 4 and 1 ATS in their last 5 games versus the NFC.
• The Detroit Lions are 3-1-1 ATS versus a team with a winning record.
• The New York Giants are 5 and 11 ATS in their last 16 games overall.
• The New York Giants are 1 and 4 ATS in their last 5 games following an ATS victory.

There are few teams in the NFL that have been as good of an NFL betting prediction as the Detroit Lions to cover the spread. Detroit is 4 and 1 ATS on the season because many football handicappers have failed to realize how awesome their offense is.

Well, Detroit’s offense is awesome when everybody’s healthy. It usually averages 25 points per game, 6th in the NFL, but I doubt that happens this week because of those aforementioned injuries.

Although QB Shaun Hill has filled in admirably for injured QB Matthew Stafford, nobody has been able to replace RB Jahvid Best’s pre Week 3 production. Even Jahvid Best, who has been playing, hasn’t even been able to match his own production. There are two reasons for that. First, Best isn’t entirely over the turf toe that he suffered before Week 3. Second, teams have figured out to defend against Best.

Things wouldn’t be so bad for Detroit in this game if Hill’s favorite target, WR Calvin Johnson, wasn’t banged up. Because Detroit is on a bye next week, it’s doubtful that they will put Megatron into the game on Sunday even though he’s listed as questionable, not doubtful, on the NFL injury report.

Without Johnson, Hill won’t have the same success through the air that he did versus Philadelphia, Green Bay and St. Louis.

Even with Megatron, the Detroit passing game might have difficulty moving the ball this week because the Giants D is absolutely sensational. New York has turned into the best team in the NFC in my opinion because of their #1 ranked defense.

The Giants allow only 245 total yards per game. The 245 yards includes allowing only 146 yards through the air and less than 100 yards on the ground.

The G-Men should have no trouble shutting down Detroit’s offense and that’s why the NFL betting latest lines on this game list the New York Giants at -10.

When Giants’ QB Eli Manning takes the field, things could get rough for Detroit’s D. The Lions’ D gives up 369 yards per game and allows 22 points against them per game. Philadelphia, Minnesota and Green Bay all scored 24 points or more against the Lions’ D. The New York Giants average 21 points per game.

Any way I look at this contest, I come to the same conclusion: the New York Giants should cover the 10-point spread. They G-Men are playing better than any team in the NFL right now and the Lions are suffering through injuries.

The New York Giants are the team to back in the NFL betting sports book.

NFL Betting Pick: New York Giants -10 -110

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