Detroit Lions quarterback Nate Sudfeld (10) makes a pass against New York Giants during the first half of a preseason game at Ford Field in Detroit on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023.
- The Detroit Lions and New York Giants kick off their NFL Preseason Thursday night at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
- The Giants and Lions have held joint scrimmage and practice this week and things have gotten quite chippy. Thursday’s game starts at 7 p.m. ET.
- Keep scrolling for a further look at the latest odds, best picks and a prediction for Thursday’s preseason opener.
The New York Giants host the Detroit Lions Thursday night to kick off their respective NFL Preseasons. It’s unlikely that starters get much run for either team, but as always it’ll be a good look at some players vying for a spot on the full roster come September.
Dan Campbell, the Lions head coach, said earlier in the week that the Lions would not start their first team on Thursday while Brian Daboll announced Thursday via SportsCenter that starters will not see the field this week either. The Lions and Giants have been holding joint practice this past week and things became chippy, to say the least.
Giants are officially 1-0 after this fight with the Lionspic.twitter.com/GigqlR61SJ
— Marshall Green (@MarshallGreen_) August 5, 2024
New York Giants vs Detroit Lions Picks, Prediction
- Lions ML +158
- O 34.5 points
Preseason matchups, with or without starters, is often hard to judge. Usually, the team that has the better 3rd string QB play wins the game, and I like the Lions QB situation more than New York.
Hendon Hooker is super talented and will be facing the Giants’ 3rd and 4th teams in the 3rd and 4th quarter, which gives Detroit just a massive advantage. The former QB out of Tennessee hasn’t gotten much shine at all with the Lions since he was recovering from a knee injury upon being drafted. Now is truly his time to shine.
At the same time, I’d expect the offense for both teams to be able to move the ball well, especially in the later stages of the game. 34.5 is a high total, but I think these teams surpass it with some comfort.
Detroit 24, New York 17
Giants vs. Lions Odds (Caesars)
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lions | +3.5 (-115) | +158 | O 34.5 (-110) |
| New York Giants | -3.5 (-105) | -190 | U 34.5 (-110) |
Odds above via Caesars Sportsbook. Check out our Caesars Promo Code for a look at one of the best welcome offers in the business.
The Giants are considered home favorites for tonight’s preseason matchup, with a 3.5 point spread and -190 odds to win straight up. Taking Detroit to win outright sits at +158 while Detroit to keep the game within 3 points sits at -115.
The Over/Under for Thursday’s game is 34.5 on Caesars.
New York Giants vs. Detroit Lions Names to Watch
- Dyontae Johnson, Giants LB
- Theo Johnson, Giants TE
- Hendon Hooker, Detroit QB
Preseason is a time for true nerds of the game to give close eye to positional battles within teams. The 3 guys listed above all most likely have an NFL job come September, but some could be big pieces for their respective team sooner rather than later.
Johnson is a perfect example. He’s been splitting first team reps as a 2nd year undrafted linebacker out of Toldeo, and word is that he’s been raising eyebrows in camp. Words like “thriving” have been thrown around to describe his fit in the Giants’ defensive system, and fans will get a look at the supposed knack for the defense on Thursday.
Johnson is another Giants player that has been seeing first-team reps and is considered in contention to earn a larger role. The former Penn State tight end hails from Canada and was drafted in the 4th round of this season’s draft.
Hooker has been mentioned before, but I think he has a chance to be the best quarterback on the field tonight. It’ll be his first NFL snap, and there’s plenty of reason to believe he could be a stout player on Day 1.
Ethan Stone was an editor for his student newspaper at the University of Tennessee and is now a News Manager for Saturday Down South and contributor with SBD!
The NFL preseason is officially underway, and fans are eager to see how their favorite teams will perform in the upcoming season. One of the most anticipated matchups in Week 1 of the preseason is between the Detroit Lions and the New York Giants.
Both teams have undergone significant changes in the offseason, with new coaching staff and player acquisitions. The Lions, under new head coach Dan Campbell, are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2020 season and make a statement in the NFC North. On the other hand, the Giants, led by head coach Joe Judge, are hoping to build on their promising finish to last season and compete for a playoff spot in the NFC East.
In terms of predictions, it’s always difficult to gauge how teams will perform in the preseason as coaches often use these games to evaluate their roster and make final roster decisions. However, based on early reports from training camp, the Lions seem to have a slight edge over the Giants in terms of overall team chemistry and performance.
As for the odds, sportsbooks currently have the Lions as slight favorites to win the matchup, with odds of -2.5 points. This means that if you were to bet on the Lions, they would need to win by at least 3 points for you to win your bet. On the other hand, the Giants are underdogs with odds of +2.5 points, meaning that if you were to bet on them, they could lose by up to 2 points and you would still win your bet.
Ultimately, preseason games are unpredictable and anything can happen on any given day. However, based on early reports and odds, it seems like the Lions have a slight advantage heading into their matchup against the Giants in Week 1 of the preseason. Fans will have to tune in to see how both teams perform and get a glimpse of what they can expect in the upcoming NFL season.