By Blessing 
Vegas didn’t waste a second showing how strongly it feels about this matchup. Fresh off a tough 16-9 loss to the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, the Detroit Lions return to Ford Field in Week 12 — and the oddsmakers still have confidence in them. Detroit opened as 10.5-point favorites over the New York Giants, according to DraftKings Sportsbook, signaling expectations for a bounce-back performance.
The Lions enter the week at 6-4, still frustrated after an uneven offensive outing in Philly. But facing a 2-9 Giants team that has struggled to stop anyone and is coming off a loss to the Packers, this is exactly the kind of game Dan Campbell’s squad should control from start to finish.
DraftKings’ opening numbers paint the picture:
Lions -10.5 (-110)
Giants +10.5 (-110)
Over/Under: 50.5
Moneyline: Detroit -550, New York +410
Simply put, Vegas anticipates this matchup leaning heavily in Detroit’s favor.
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Why such a strong line? On paper, the disparity is obvious. Detroit’s defense just held the Eagles to 16 points despite injuries. The Giants, meanwhile, field one of the least explosive offenses in the league. The Lions are also getting healthier, with D.J. Reed, Malcolm Rodriguez, and possibly others trending toward returning. And at home, Detroit plays faster, more confident, and more efficient football.
Add in the fact that the Lions nearly knocked off the Super Bowl champs despite going 0-for-5 on fourth down, and it’s clear why Vegas believes the offense won’t repeat that kind of collapse.
Dan Campbell said after the loss that Detroit is “so close” and expects his group to hit its stride late in the season. The Giants provide the ideal chance to begin that push. If the Lions want to reassert themselves as NFC contenders, this is their moment to make that statement.