jeff benton monday
MONDAY'S ACTION
15 Dime NFL release on the GIANTS minus the points over the Vikings in a reschaduled game to be played at Ford Field in Detroit. New York is laying between 4 and 4 1/2 points here depeending on where you do your business. As always, shop around and be sure to get the best of the number, and I would recodmend getting in on this game ASAP as the Giants have been taking a ton of money since Sunday afternoon.
NEW YORK GIANTS
Ever since this game was postponed on Saturday (and then moved to Detroit on Sunday) we’ve heard all the talking heads arguing over what team benefits more from the game being rescheduled and relocated. Are you kidding me? That’s like debating whether 2+2=4 or 3!
Of course the Giants gained a HUGE advantage, particularly because of the venue switch. Now instead of having to deal with one of the loudest crowds in the NFL that’s 95 percent Vikings fans, New York gets to play this game in front of a mostly empty stadium in Detroit. Not only that, but two of the Giants’ most important offensive weapons – injured WRs Hakeem Nicks (who missed the last two games) and Steve Smith (who missed the last four) – got an extra day of rest. Nicks likely will still sit this one out, but now it’s very possible that Smith (who is Eli Manning’s favorite possession target) will return.
Back to the relocating of this contest. To fully understand how much it helps New York, consider this: The Giants haven’t won in the Metrodome since 2004, losing there in 2008 (20-19) and 2010 (44-7). In the latter contest, Manning went 17-for-23 but for only 141 yards with no scoring passes and one interception; he was sacked three times; and the Giants committed 13 penalties (they had a combined 20 penalties in the last two at Minnesota).
True, the Vikings are 2-0 SU and ATS under interim coach Leslie Frazier, whom the players no doubt respect and fight harder for than his predecessor, Brad Childress. That said, look at the competition: Buffalo and Washington. Yesterday, the Bills beat Cleveland to go to 3-13 on the season; the Redskins lost 17-16 to Tampa Bay, their third straight loss and fifth in the last six games.
On the other hand, after consecutive divisional losses to the Cowboys and Eagles, the Giants have regained their momentum with back-to-back wins over the Jaguars (24-20) and Redskins (31-7). In fact, since trailing Jacksonville 17-6 at halftime, New York has outscored the opposition 49-10 over the last six quarters (and while both squads beat Washington this month, the Giants’ 24-point thrashing was far more impressive than Minnesota’s 17-13 win).
The Giants have won seven of nine overall, including three of four on the road, and their defense must be salivating over the prospect of facing Tarvaris Jackson, who likely will start in place of the injured (and erratic) Brett Favre tonight. Jackson was picked twice in last week’s win over Buffalo and now faces a New York defense that’s forced eight turnovers in the last six quarters and 24 turnovers during its 7-2 run! And should Favre pull another selfish, look-at-me act and decide to pay with a busted up shoulder, all the better, as he’s tossed 18 INTs (vs. just 10 touchdowns) on the season!
Bottom line: The Giants were the superior team to begin with, and now with Minnesota (five straight non-covers as an underdog) losing all of its home-field advantage, New York – which has cashed in 21 of its last 30 away from home, including 10 of 13 as a road favorite – becomes an even stronger play.
MONDAY'S ACTION
15 Dime NFL release on the GIANTS minus the points over the Vikings in a reschaduled game to be played at Ford Field in Detroit. New York is laying between 4 and 4 1/2 points here depeending on where you do your business. As always, shop around and be sure to get the best of the number, and I would recodmend getting in on this game ASAP as the Giants have been taking a ton of money since Sunday afternoon.
NEW YORK GIANTS
Ever since this game was postponed on Saturday (and then moved to Detroit on Sunday) we’ve heard all the talking heads arguing over what team benefits more from the game being rescheduled and relocated. Are you kidding me? That’s like debating whether 2+2=4 or 3!
Of course the Giants gained a HUGE advantage, particularly because of the venue switch. Now instead of having to deal with one of the loudest crowds in the NFL that’s 95 percent Vikings fans, New York gets to play this game in front of a mostly empty stadium in Detroit. Not only that, but two of the Giants’ most important offensive weapons – injured WRs Hakeem Nicks (who missed the last two games) and Steve Smith (who missed the last four) – got an extra day of rest. Nicks likely will still sit this one out, but now it’s very possible that Smith (who is Eli Manning’s favorite possession target) will return.
Back to the relocating of this contest. To fully understand how much it helps New York, consider this: The Giants haven’t won in the Metrodome since 2004, losing there in 2008 (20-19) and 2010 (44-7). In the latter contest, Manning went 17-for-23 but for only 141 yards with no scoring passes and one interception; he was sacked three times; and the Giants committed 13 penalties (they had a combined 20 penalties in the last two at Minnesota).
True, the Vikings are 2-0 SU and ATS under interim coach Leslie Frazier, whom the players no doubt respect and fight harder for than his predecessor, Brad Childress. That said, look at the competition: Buffalo and Washington. Yesterday, the Bills beat Cleveland to go to 3-13 on the season; the Redskins lost 17-16 to Tampa Bay, their third straight loss and fifth in the last six games.
On the other hand, after consecutive divisional losses to the Cowboys and Eagles, the Giants have regained their momentum with back-to-back wins over the Jaguars (24-20) and Redskins (31-7). In fact, since trailing Jacksonville 17-6 at halftime, New York has outscored the opposition 49-10 over the last six quarters (and while both squads beat Washington this month, the Giants’ 24-point thrashing was far more impressive than Minnesota’s 17-13 win).
The Giants have won seven of nine overall, including three of four on the road, and their defense must be salivating over the prospect of facing Tarvaris Jackson, who likely will start in place of the injured (and erratic) Brett Favre tonight. Jackson was picked twice in last week’s win over Buffalo and now faces a New York defense that’s forced eight turnovers in the last six quarters and 24 turnovers during its 7-2 run! And should Favre pull another selfish, look-at-me act and decide to pay with a busted up shoulder, all the better, as he’s tossed 18 INTs (vs. just 10 touchdowns) on the season!
Bottom line: The Giants were the superior team to begin with, and now with Minnesota (five straight non-covers as an underdog) losing all of its home-field advantage, New York – which has cashed in 21 of its last 30 away from home, including 10 of 13 as a road favorite – becomes an even stronger play.
THE DUKE SPORTS
Houston (+3) for 2 Units
Houston is still in the hunt for a playoff birth in the sluggish AFC South. They have talent, especially offensively, and because of late game collapses they're sitting at an underachieving 5-7. We'll jump on them here where they're a dangerous home dog as a sub .500 team. The Texans are 14-2 ATS at less than .500 against an opponent off a home game. And the Texans have a solid history in December at 9-1 ATS at home off a SU loss and 8-1 ATS as a sub .500 team at home against a .600 or greater team. Houston has covered 7 of their last 10 as a small home dog. Their offense is potent with Schaub surrounded by talented skill players (Andre Johnson, Arian Foster) and a pretty decent offensive line. They'll need the defense, which has been poor defending the pass all season, to step up its game tonight. Baltimore's offense has struggled in three of the last four weeks to move the ball consistently. And because of Houston's offensive potency and Baltimore's offensive inconsistency, we'll steer away from the Ravens, which are 4-11 as a road favorite, including 0-4 in this spread range. Houston is well aware of the beating the Ravens gave them the last time they hosted this matchup (41-13); tonight, we'll look for a more focused Texans team.
Houston (+3) for 2 Units
Houston is still in the hunt for a playoff birth in the sluggish AFC South. They have talent, especially offensively, and because of late game collapses they're sitting at an underachieving 5-7. We'll jump on them here where they're a dangerous home dog as a sub .500 team. The Texans are 14-2 ATS at less than .500 against an opponent off a home game. And the Texans have a solid history in December at 9-1 ATS at home off a SU loss and 8-1 ATS as a sub .500 team at home against a .600 or greater team. Houston has covered 7 of their last 10 as a small home dog. Their offense is potent with Schaub surrounded by talented skill players (Andre Johnson, Arian Foster) and a pretty decent offensive line. They'll need the defense, which has been poor defending the pass all season, to step up its game tonight. Baltimore's offense has struggled in three of the last four weeks to move the ball consistently. And because of Houston's offensive potency and Baltimore's offensive inconsistency, we'll steer away from the Ravens, which are 4-11 as a road favorite, including 0-4 in this spread range. Houston is well aware of the beating the Ravens gave them the last time they hosted this matchup (41-13); tonight, we'll look for a more focused Texans team.
