If a walk is as good as a hit, is a tie as good as a win? That’s the question New York Giants fans had to be asking themselves after last week’s 20-20 stalemate against the Washington Commanders.
On the “yes” side, the Giants lost no ground to the Commanders, but on the “no” side, the Seahawks, with their victory, pulled within a half-game of the Giants. Chances are, when the season ends one of these teams will be on the outside looking in.
Of course, if the Giants had taken care of business last week, things would be looking a lot brighter, especially because of a tough test coming up Sunday when they face the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium.
While the Giants have received little respect from America’s sportsbooks thus far this year, this week it seems like the books are giving the Giants a puncher’s chance against what may be the best team in the NFL.
One year ago in MetLife Stadium, the Giants defense picked off Jalen Hurts 3 times in a 13-7 victory over the Eagles.
Can the Giants create these turnovers again this weekend? pic.twitter.com/EmuClWI9ei
— Doug Rush (@TheDougRush) December 9, 2022
The Giants are touchdown underdogs, with the best price on the Giants side residing at -107 at PointsBet. (The Eagles are +100 to cover at Caesars.) If you’re willing to give up a half-point, the Giants are getting 6.5 points at FanDuel at -102.
On the moneyline side, FanDuel is offering them at +260, with the consensus hovering at +250.
Over/under-wise, the sportsbooks see this as a bit of a slower-paced game, with the number between 44.5 and 45.5, depending on the book. PointsBet splits it at 45, with a -107 line on other side.
In short: 26-19 Eagles, or so say the books.
Can the Giants prevail?
This game has potential to get wacky, especially if the Eagles decide to come out aggressive against Wink Martindale’s predominantly man-coverage tendencies. A.J. Brown can beat anyone in the Giants secondary, and if too many backs are turned to Jalen Hurts, he may have 100 yards on the ground by the second quarter.
If the above happens, and if the Giants are forced to abandon what they want to do — namely feed Saquon Barkley — this game can start getting offensive in a hurry.
One interesting way to play this angle is to bet on the first half over/under, which is pegged at 22.5 at -110 at Caesars. Take that down to 20.5, and PointsBet is offering the over at -150.
Another Eagles-centric way to capitalize on the above scenario: Jalen Hurts’ rushing yardage prop, which is set at 47.5, with -110 on the over at bet365. While he’s only hit that number five times this year, the Giants have only faced two dual-threat quarterbacks: Lamar Jackson, who rushed for 77 yards, and Justin Fields, who rushed for 52 yards, and this was before the Bears let him loose. Hurts really could smash this number on the first drive if he desires.
Jalen Hurts today:
380 passing yards
74% (29/39)
3 passing TDs
1 rushing TDJust more MVP stuff. pic.twitter.com/2WR9dItnqc
— Aidan Doc🧸 (@AidanDoc_) December 4, 2022
On the other side of the coin is Barkley’s rushing prop, which is set at 71.5, with the odds at -110 at BetRivers. If the Giants hope to keep this game competitive, it will be through Barkley. A bet on Barkley is, almost by definition, a bet on the Giants covering the spread.
One last fun one? Daniel Bellinger, anytime touchdown, +500 at PointsBet. Bellinger didn’t leave the field last week, his first game back from his scary eye injury, and Daniel Jones is going to have trouble with the boundary defense of the Eagles. Ergo, Bellinger for short gains, maybe even a short one into the end zone.
Photo: Brad Penner/USA TODAY
