NFL Football
2008-11-02 - DALLAS Cowboys at NEW YORK Giants
A Sports Betting Pick by Bodog
Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.
Sunday 2nd November 2008 - 4:15 p.m. ET, FOX
Weather Forecast 15% chance of rain, 55 degrees, light winds
Dallas: 5-3 SU, 3-5 ATS, Over 5-3
After going 1-3 SU (0-4 ATS) with losses at Arizona and St. Louis, the Cowboys went home and stopped the bleeding with an ugly 13-9 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+1).
But the win did nothing to shore up faith in QB Brad Johnson. He was 19-for-33 for just 122 yards and a single touchdown; however, Johnson went pick-free against his old team, and the defense held Tampa out of the end zone. It appears Johnson will start against the Giants, with Brooks Bollinger at the ready just in case.
It’s uncertain whether TE and top receiver Jason Witten (broken rib) will be able to join them. The offense will also be without RB Felix Jones (hamstring) until after next week’s bye.
The bigger problem for this Sunday’s matchup is in the Dallas secondary. CB Terence Newman is out until Week 11, SS Roy Williams is on injured reserve after breaking his arm for the second time this season, and CB Pacman Jones remains suspended until at least Week 12 and possibly much longer.
New York: 6-1 SU, 5-2 ATS, Over 4-3
The New York Giants are thriving, and they'll put the NFC's best record on the line Sunday at Giants Stadium in their first date with Dallas since January's playoff win.
QB Eli Manning, has been in good form this season and this is due to the amount of time he's had to survey the field. He's only been sacked twice in his last five games and wasn't kncked over once in last Sunday's 21-14 win at Pittsburgh against the blitz-happy Steelers.
Manning has has upped his completion percentage to 61.4 this season (from mid-50s), and after throwing at least 17 interceptions in each of his last three years, has only four INTS through seven games.
The Giants have the most efficient offense in the NFL; wideout Plaxico Burress could double his season total of three TD catches on Sunday.
HEAD TO HEAD
Dallas is 3-1 SU and 2-1-1 ATS in its past four meetings with the Giants. The one loss came in last year’s NFC Divisional round, which New York won 21-17 as a seven-point road dog.
THE VERDICT
I know that Dallas are beaten up. I know that New York are playing well and on a high after getting past Pittsburgh.But these Giants play their best on the road, and at home in a cold stadium, against a Dallas team that still has some very good players, I'm not sure that I want to give away NINE points.
The Pick :
Dallas 17-24 New York
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
Take DALLAS COWBOYS with a 9 point start to cover by 2-5 points.
