Sport: NFLPick Selection: New York Giants -4.5 -108
New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons 8:30 PM ET
New York Giants -4.5 -108
The Falcons are a mess right now and there is a lot of squabbling going on which is never good for a team that is already packing it in. Joey Harrington gets the start tonight after getting benched last Sunday and he publicly spoke out about it. Having him in there is a good sign for the Giants considering the troubles he has had on the field. Atlanta does have issues elsewhere on offense, mainly the offensive line and with the way the Giants defense has been playing, they should dominate.
Left for dead after losing their first two games, the Giants are now 3-2, just hitting their stride, and still giving chase in the NFC East. They have rediscovered their defense and gotten just enough offense to mount two second-half comebacks. Their confidence is obviously sky high and they have talked about how important this game is and not downplaying Atlanta. Hosting San Francisco next week and then traveling to Miami could mean a 6-2 record at the halfway point.
The line of scrimmage is the key for tonight and the Giants have a huge edge in that category. The offensive line for the Falcons is in trouble as Atlanta is set to lean on two players who never have started an NFL game at tackle. Rookie Renardo Fosterfills is in for Wayne Gandy, who is done for the season with torn knee ligaments. Foster draws the unenviable task of blocking NFL sack leader Osi Umenyiora. The Falcons also go in without their right tackle, Todd Weiner, who is set to miss 2-6 weeks.
On the other side, the Giants running game is getting better and better. They are averaging 4.4 ypc which is 12th in the league and should be able to have success yet again. With Rod Coleman and Jonathan Babineuax missing from the middle of the defense, the Falcons are giving up 4.0 ypg and they have been outrushed by a combined 148 yards this season which would normally be unheard of after leading the NFL in rushing the last three seasons.
Last year in Atlanta, the Giants recorded seven sacks and that was with the Falcons' starting tackles in the game and against the elusive Michael Vick. They have been sacked 18 times this season which is 27th in the league. The Giants are 32-8 ATS in their last 40 games after accumulating more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game and getting to 150 is the key as they are 11-1 ATS when gaining more than that over the last three years. The Falcons are 3-13-1 ATS in their last 17 games as a home underdog of 10 or fewer. Play New York Giants 2 Units
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