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A playoff-style atmosphere is building at Ford Field as the Detroit Lions host the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night in what feels like an NFC elimination game. Both teams are sitting on the edge of the wild-card picture, and with tiebreakers looming large, this matchup could define their postseason fate. For a full market view across the slate, including this matchup, you can compare numbers on the league-wide NFL odds and scores board. This line reflects the balance between Detroit’s home field and offensive pedigree and Dallas’ current form and passing-game surge. The context around this game is as important as the matchup itself. Detroit is 7-5 after losing three of its last five, including a damaging 31-24 home defeat

Josh Norris’ return could not have been scripted any better. Buffalo activated him Monday after a 24-game absence and he delivered two goals and an assist in a 5-1 win over Winnipeg. His line drove play, and the Sabres extended a strong run of six wins in their last nine. The organization views Norris as a foundational piece and his immediate impact highlighted why. Buffalo has also strung together convincing wins over Edmonton, Chicago and Carolina. Their offense looks sharper, their forecheck creates turnovers and their balance throughout the lineup has tightened. The Sabres have not reached the postseason since 2011, but the roster looks more complete with Norris back. Philadelphia faces the opposite situation. The Flyers lost top scorer

Butler rides into this one at 6-1 after a wild split personality performance against Wright State: flat and disjointed without starting point guard Jalen Jackson in the first half, then erupting for 65 points after halftime once they finally found their offensive rhythm. Eastern Michigan comes in at 5-3, on a two-game winning streak and fresh off a controlled 73-55 win over NJIT that suggested their physicality and rebounding can travel. Jackson’s likely absence is the central storyline. Thad Matta has already admitted Butler has to “find its way” offensively when he is out, and that means heavier creation duties for Finley Bizjack and Michael Ajayi, plus more responsibility on Azavier Robinson to manage the game as a starter. Eastern

Maryland returns to College Park looking to re-establish its trademark toughness on the boards after getting manhandled in back-to-back blowout losses to Gonzaga and Alabama at the Players Era tournament. Over those two games, the Terrapins were outrebounded 88-59, a far cry from the elite rebounding margins Buzz Williams posted during his last two seasons at Texas A&M. Wagner arrives with just one win but some renewed belief after a wild 103-101 overtime victory at Manhattan. Nick Jones erupted for 35 points and the Seahawks saw six players hit double figures in a game that also delivered interim head coach Dwan McMillan his first win since taking over amid the investigation into Donald Copeland. This is a clear step down