2014 N.Y. Predictions
Anytime you start a new season with six-straight losses, the prospect for turning things around becomes extremely bleak. Give credit to Giants’ head coach Tom Coughlin for circling the wagons with a 7-3 record down the stretch to end the 2013 campaign with a respectable record of 7-9.
2013 Record: 7-9
ATS: 7-9
Giants Odds to win the NFC East: +300
Giants Odds to win the NFC Conference: +2200
Giants Odds to win Super Bowl XLIX: +4000
This has been the nature of this team during his 10-year tenure that boasts two Super Bowl titles as well as four seasons with eight or fewer wins.
Let’s take a look at the numbers
The biggest number that New York has to be concerned with heading into 2014 is -11. This was its turnover ratio in 2013 that was ranked 29th in the NFL. The good news is that the Giants’ ratio was -16 after their first six games and they were able to clean up their act from there.
Eli Manning accounted for 31 of the team’s 40 turnovers in one of his most disappointing seasons as the Giants’ starting quarterback. He completed just 57.5 percent of his throws for 3,818 yards and 18 touchdowns while ending the season with an overall QB rating of 69.4 percent. This was his lowest rating since his rookie year in 2004.
The blame for the Giants’ demise in 2013 after posting three-straight winning season has to be spread around with a ground game that averaged just 83.2 yards a game and a defense that was a respectable eighth in the league in total yards allowed (332.2), but ranked 18th in points allowed (23.9).
They did finish the season on a strong note with back-to-back victories against Detroit and Washington, but it still was a case of too little, too late after a disastrous start.
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The road to recovery got off to a solid start with the free agent signings of tackle Charles Brown and running back Rashad Jennings on offense and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and defensive end Robert Ayers on the other end of the ball.
Coughlin used the draft to address some team concerns on offense by selecting wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. with the 12th pick of the first round. He could be just the thing that Manning needs to improve a passing game that was ranked 19th in the league last year.
The biggest strength that this team has is the ability to bounce back from adversity and this should serve the Giants well in a division that does not contain a prohibitive favorite.
Two more wins in 2014 could be more than enough to win the NFC East as long as they win the majority of their division games.
Giants Betting Outlook
New York, along with Dallas at +300, is the second-favorite behind Philadelphia to win the NFC East this season and there is some solid value in those odds given the past history of this team. Manning is due to play much better than he did last year and some of the offseason additions should go a long way towards turning things around.
The best bet with this team is the OVER on a projected win total of eight wins despite the -120 moneyline. As far as reclaiming the division title, it will be a tight race to the bitter end, but I have New York coming up just short at 9-7.
With training camps next up for the NFL betting offseason Cappers Picks NFL Football handicappers have been hard at work putting out the team by team Football Predictions and NFL Season Previews for those of us who can’t wait.
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