NFL Picks – Giants Host Eagles Amid Burress-Fueled Media Circus
The Philadelphia Eagles (6-5-1 SU, 7-5 ATS, 6-6 O/U) bounced back nicely from a disheartening loss in Week 12, routing the Arizona Cardinals 48-20 as a 3-point home favorite in the BetUS Sportsbook on Sunday. The New York Giants (11-1 SU, 10-2 ATS, 7-4-1 O/U) have won seven straight games, including Sunday’s convincing 23-7 win over the Washington Redskins as a 7.5-point road favorite.
Both teams will be trying to pick up a win on Sunday when they battle at Giants Stadium, but the biggest story surrounding the matchup may be the media circus surrounding the arrest of Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress.
“I don’t know if it’s just being in New York or what causes it, but it always seems like there’s something going on, there’s a distraction and we’ve had our share of them,” quarterback Eli Manning said. “I think myself, the players, the coaches have just learned how to cope with them.”
Manning completed 21 of 34 passes for 305 yards with one touchdown and one interception while running back Brandon Jacobs added 71 yards and one touchdown on 21 carries.
Head coach Tom Coughlin said the team will try its best to continue its winning ways without Burress who has been suspended by the team for the final four regular season games.
“When you lose a player of Plaxico’s ability, it is incumbent that everybody step up and fill the void,” Coughlin said. “In the last two seasons, this team has done an outstanding job of that.”
Quarterback Donovan McNabb completed 27 of 39 passes for 260 yards and four touchdowns while running back Brian Westbrook ran for two touchdowns, and caught another pair while rushing for 110 yards as the Eagles soared past the Cardinals.
Here is a look at tonight’s key sports betting trends, followed by my in-depth analysis and NFL Free Pick:
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Philadelphia’s last 11 games when playing on the road against NY Giants
Philadelphia is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Philadelphia’s last 11 games on the road
Philadelphia is 2-3-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
NY Giants are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games
NY Giants are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games
NY Giants are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games at home
NY Giants are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games at home
NFL Odds
Philadelphia Eagles +6½ -110
New York Giants -6½ -110
Over 43 -110
Under 43 -110
Analysis: While the Giants narrowly beat the Eagles in Philadelphia and the Birds are coming off a big win over Arizona, I just don’t think very highly of the Eagles at this point as they have shown me they are mediocre at best when they face really good teams.
Playing at home – and seriously focused because of the Burress debacle, I say take the G-Men to lay an emphatic ‘smackdown’ on the Eagles while covering the spread with just a bit of room to spare.
