Free Picks and Premium Service Plays for Monday, October 3rd, 2016 from some of the nations best and worst handicappers.
Mike Anthony
Giants vs. Vikings
Play: Under 43
In back-to-back weeks we've seen the Vikings perform like an elite defense against two of the best offenses in the league. This week they face a less potent offense at home on Monday Night Football. I have a hard time seeing the Giants break 20 points here, and expect to see a lot of FG's.
Randall the Handle
Giants (2-1) at Vikings (3-0)
This is only the second time in Minnesota’s previous 20 games that they are being asked to give away four or more points. The first time was on a Sunday night this past December when spotting 7-points to none other than these Giants. That game ended in a 49-17 drubbing of the G-Men, the Vikes dominating throughout. Even though Minny has not lost a regular season game since, the line here has been reduced. What gives? Are the Giants that much better? They slipped by the winless Saints two weeks ago, scoring just 16 points against New Orleans’ putrid defense before losing to the then winless Redskins last Sunday. Meanwhile, Minny 16-2 versus spread past 18 but the marketplace continues to undervalue this very good team. That’s fine, we’ll just keep cashing tickets. TAKING: VIKINGS –5
David Banks
Giants @ Vikings
Pick: Under 43
Minnesota remains one of five unbeaten teams in the NFL after three weeks and looks to continue its winning ways as the Vikings welcome the New York Giants to U.S. Bank Stadium on Monday night. Head coach Mike Zimmer will stick to the script that has led the Vikings to a 3-0 record – stifling defense.
The Vikings defensive unit wreaked havoc on Carolina quarterback Cam Newton last week in a 22-10 win over the Panthers. Minnesota sacked Newton eight times and forced three interceptions. Zimmer will attempt to rattle Giants QB Eli Manning in similar fashion. Minnesota leads the NFL with 15 sacks through three games.
Manning has thrown for 925 yards and four touchdowns thus far this season for the Giants, who are 2-1 after losing 29-27 to Washington last week. New York is much improved on defense and had allowed just 32 points prior to the Week 3 loss. The Giants finished dead last in total defense last season and new head coach Ben McAdoo, along with the Giants front office, worked hard in the offseason to revamp the unit.
The Giants may have to rely on Manning and leading receiver Odell Beckham Jr. even more now that running back Shane Vereen is out. Vereen suffered a torn triceps that will require surgery and may miss the rest of the season. McAdoo has said that the Giants will use a running-back-by-committee approach to the running game.
New York will have to have some semblance of a ground game to take some heat off of Manning. The Vikings allow just 84 yards a game on the ground and they are even better against the pass. In three games, Minnesota has allowed just 633 passing yards. Giants’ fans may recall Week 16 of last season when the Vikings picked off Manning three times on their way to a 49-17 victory. If that happens again, the Vikings will remain unbeaten and the Giants will go home 2-2 heading into back-to-back games with Green Bay and Baltimore, which also happens to be unbeaten.
Brad Wilton
Monday comp play winner is to side with the Under in tonight's Giants-Vikings meeting.
Since Minnesota has held opponents to 16 points or less in all 3 this season, and 17 points or less now in 7 straight dating back to last season, the Under appears to have a pretty strong chance at cashing.
In fact, 2 of their 3 games this season, and 4 of their last 5 games overall since last year have held Low.
As for New York, they did play Over last week at home against Washington, but their first pair of games this season did hold Under, and for them to have a chance tonight against the Vikings, I think they will need to figure out a way for their defense to match Minnesota's vaunted stop unit, stop for stop tonight.
Percentage play tonight on the Under.
2* N.Y. GIANTS-MINNESOTA UNDER
Bob Balfe
Vikings -4.5
The Vikings are the very best team in the NFL in the turnover ratio department. This team doesn’t hand the ball over and it forces turnovers. The Giants are the opposite as they hand the ball over and generate nothing on defense. This is a big problem for the GMen heading into tonight’s game. Last year Minnesota crushed this team. It’s worth noting Victor Cruz and Odell Beckham were not on the field in that contest, but I don’t think it would have made much of a difference. Xavier Rhodes, Andrew Sendejo, Harrison Smith and Captain Munnerlyn all baited Eli Manning into bad throws and caused his to throw interceptions. You can’t win in this league when you turn the ball over more than your opponent. The NY Giant secondary is a mess right now and I just don’t see their defense becoming elite overnight in this league. Minnesota might not have the big names on offense this season, but they have the best defense in the NFC and that by itself is worth its weight in gold in this league.
Harry Bondi
Giants / Vikings Under 43
We’ve got two improved defenses and a ton of trends in our favor here tonight that call for a low-scoring game. First off, the Vikings have been an under machine in recent history, going under in 24 of their last 35 games overall, 20 of their last 28 games when the total is less than 49 points, and 19 of their last 27 against NFC foes. In addition, these two teams have combined to go 4-2 to the under this season. with neither team scoring more than 27 points in a single game.
Zack Cimini
Giants at Vikings
Play: Vikings
Trading for Sam Bradford was mocked throughout the NFL and amongst football fans. Yet, the Vikings were seeking someone capable of being a true game manager to rely upon their defense. That's exactly what Bradford has done with huge wins against the Packers and Panthers. New York on the other hand could easily be in the same position as the Vikings at 3-0. Yet, they've also been fortunate to not be 0-3 with narrow week one and two wins. There's a personnel disparity between these two teams and it's one-sided with the Vikings. Latch onto Minnesota whose disciplined style on both sides of the football will be too much for the Giants.