[h=1]Best bets for Giants-Falcons[/h]
Warren Sharp & Preston Johnson
ESPN PLUS ($ MATERIAL)
Where does the betting value lie in Monday's prime-time matchup? Warren Sharp and Preston Johnson provide their picks to help you place your bets.
Note: All odds courtesy of the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook as of Sunday afternoon.
[h=3]New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons(-3.5)[/h]Total: 53
PickCenter public consensus pick: 67 percent picked Atlanta
Johnson: I mentioned earlier this week in my Tuesday column that I agreed with the move on the Falcons from -4.5 up to -6. My projection for the game is Atlanta -6.8, so the immediate move lined up with where my numbers are at. Since then, however, Giants money flooded the market and pushed this to Atlanta -3.5.
The market seems to dislike the Falcons for whatever reason (we made a bet on them to win the Super Bowl at 70-1 Tuesday as well). I consider the line at -3 (EVEN) against the Buccaneers last week really short. I'm going to fire right back against this move on New York and lay the points with Atlanta.
Atlanta has been without multiple defenders due to injury, but the most important piece, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, is returning here in Week 7. Standout rookie wide receiver Calvin Ridley and wide receiver Mohamed Sanuwere both cleared to play as well. Atlanta is getting healthy at a time I consider them to be undervalued. Sign me up.
Pick: Falcons -3.5
Sharp: I've been in line to knock the Giants for drafting Saquon Barkley No. 2 overall when they needed a QB, but I am excited to finally watch a successful Barkley show on Monday night. That is because the Giants have played the second-most difficult schedule of run defenses to start the season, and finally get to face a below-average run defense this week (Falcons are No. 31). Atlanta also ranks very poorly defending RB passes, and the Giants rank No. 5 in usage of RBs in the pass game.
On the other side of the ball, I'm interested to see if this Giants defense looks better with one more week of Olivier Vernon into the mix and the team coming off of the mini-bye. This defense hasn't looked great against three straight capable quarterbacks, in Drew Brees, Cam Newton and Carson Wentz in successive weeks. Now they must face Matt Ryan and the No. 6-ranked pass offense. I have concerns about that matchup, but I think the overall Giants offense should see a big boost with the improvement in their run game.
Pick: Giants +4
Warren Sharp & Preston Johnson
ESPN PLUS ($ MATERIAL)
Where does the betting value lie in Monday's prime-time matchup? Warren Sharp and Preston Johnson provide their picks to help you place your bets.
Note: All odds courtesy of the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook as of Sunday afternoon.
PickCenter public consensus pick: 67 percent picked Atlanta
Johnson: I mentioned earlier this week in my Tuesday column that I agreed with the move on the Falcons from -4.5 up to -6. My projection for the game is Atlanta -6.8, so the immediate move lined up with where my numbers are at. Since then, however, Giants money flooded the market and pushed this to Atlanta -3.5.
The market seems to dislike the Falcons for whatever reason (we made a bet on them to win the Super Bowl at 70-1 Tuesday as well). I consider the line at -3 (EVEN) against the Buccaneers last week really short. I'm going to fire right back against this move on New York and lay the points with Atlanta.
Atlanta has been without multiple defenders due to injury, but the most important piece, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, is returning here in Week 7. Standout rookie wide receiver Calvin Ridley and wide receiver Mohamed Sanuwere both cleared to play as well. Atlanta is getting healthy at a time I consider them to be undervalued. Sign me up.
Pick: Falcons -3.5
Sharp: I've been in line to knock the Giants for drafting Saquon Barkley No. 2 overall when they needed a QB, but I am excited to finally watch a successful Barkley show on Monday night. That is because the Giants have played the second-most difficult schedule of run defenses to start the season, and finally get to face a below-average run defense this week (Falcons are No. 31). Atlanta also ranks very poorly defending RB passes, and the Giants rank No. 5 in usage of RBs in the pass game.
On the other side of the ball, I'm interested to see if this Giants defense looks better with one more week of Olivier Vernon into the mix and the team coming off of the mini-bye. This defense hasn't looked great against three straight capable quarterbacks, in Drew Brees, Cam Newton and Carson Wentz in successive weeks. Now they must face Matt Ryan and the No. 6-ranked pass offense. I have concerns about that matchup, but I think the overall Giants offense should see a big boost with the improvement in their run game.
Pick: Giants +4
