NFL Picks: The Detroit Lions mercifully ended the Jim Schwartz era as the former head coach proved out of his element and was unable to instill team discipline which was a key reason that the Lions young and talented roster failed to win consistently. Jim Caldwell now leads the Lions as a proven head coach that led the Indianapolis Colts to a Super Bowl. The New York Giants and head coach Tom Coughlin are facing a win or else season after failing to make the playoffs in the two seasons that followed their 2011 season Super Bowl Championship.
The Detroit Lions will host the New York Giants at Ford Field on Monday night with coverage on ESPN starting at 4:10 PM ET. BetDSI opened with the Lions as 4.5 point home favorites with a total of 47.
Next Year’s Team
The Detroit Lions are not lacking for ability and talent and yet have just one playoff appearance in the QB Matt Stafford era. Caldwell knows how to win from his days with Tony Dungy and the Colts and he just may be the perfect remedy for the Lions erratic ways. Caldwell himself said “I believe the time is now.” It had better be as the Lions title window won’t continue to stay open in a sport where NFL stands for Not For Long.
Forlorn Days at Camp Coughlin
The Giants have missed the playoffs the past two seasons based in large part on trying to rely solely on QB Eli Manning who is coming off the worst two seasons of his career and last year was a real debacle with 27 interceptions. The Giants ground attack ranked 29th last year but the good news is that offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride has retired with Ben McAdoo arriving from Green Bay under Mike McCarthy to jump start the attack.
Matchup and Pick
The Giants have struggled to maintain their betting value on the road with just four payouts in their last 12 away games as 14 out of their last 18 away games have gone under the total. The Lions have been a poor home value through the past three seasons with just seven payouts in their last 19 home games as 12 out of their last 20 home games have gone over the total. The Giants have covered the spread in their last four meetings at Detroit against the Lions with four out of the last five games at Ford Field between the Giants and Lions going under the total. We like a fresh approach of the Caldwell-led Lions team in this one and Detroit gets the call.
