Sixth Sense
Opinion
NY GIANTS -6 St Louis 44
St. Louis ran into the talent of the Eagles last week and they simply didn’t have enough of their own talent to beat Philly. They were out gained 6.1yppl to 5.0yppl, out rushed 7.6ypr to 5.9ypr and out passed 4.8yps to 4.4yps. Even if you take away the Michael Vick rushes and LeSean McCoy’s long touchdown run, they still allowed 4.6ypr to Philadelphia. And, if you take away Steven Jackson’s 47 yard touchdown rush, the Rams only averaged 4.3ypr. But, they did put pressure on Vick by sacking him three times and holding them to just 4.8yps.
The Giants lost 28-14 at Washington last week. The final numbers look competitive for NY as they out gained Washington 5.6yppl to 5.2yppl, out rushed the Skins 3.8ypr to 2.8ypr and were out passed 6.8yps to 6.7yps. But, NY completed a 68 yard pass that accounted for a large portion of their numbers. Without that pass play, they would have averaged 4.5yppl and 4.9yps.
Both teams qualify in situations in this game. The Rams qualify in an early season situation, which is 182-98-10 as well as 126-56-5. They would also qualify in another situation, which is 56-25-1 if there were getting more than six points. The Giants qualify in a fundamental rushing situation, which is 527-388-23. This game also qualifies in an under situation, which is 80-41-4, if the total is less than 45. Not much of an opinion on this game. Too many question marks with the injuries for St. Louis as well as the Giants. NY GIANTS 23 ST LOUIS 17
Pointwise Phones
3* NY Giants
Fantasy Sports Gametime
Play Philadelphia (-215) over St. Louis (Top Play of the Day)
Philadelphia has won 22 of the last 24 home games as a favorite of -200 to -225 and they have also won 29 of the last 39 home games when the total posted is between 7 and 7.5 runs. Roy Halladay has won 22 of the last 27 games as a favorite of -150 or higher and he has also won 12 of the last 14 home games when the total posted is 7.5 runs or less.
Play New York Yankees (-230) over Minnesota (Bonus)
Play Arizona (-240) over Pittsburgh (Bonus)
Al DeMarco
5 Dime Teaser New York & Under
Talk about a difficult game to handicap. They should be flying the Red Cross flag at MetLife Stadium considering the injury woes of these two clubs.
For St. Louis, Steven Jackson is a game-time decision as I'm writing this. True, Cadillac Williams replaced the injured Rams star in last Sunday's home loss against the Eagles with 95 yards on 19 carries, but he's not Jackson and the running room will be a lot harder to find against a bigger, more physical New York front seven that held the Redskins to 2.8 yards per carry.
Jackson isn't St. Louis' only injury concern. Receiver Danny Amendola (85 catches last year), who is also a valuable return specialist, is out. And although quarterback Sam Bradford is probable, you've got to wonder if that finger injury will affect him.
For the Giants, it's been one injury after another since the start of the preseason. Two key contributors, DE Justin Tuck (DNP in Week One) and WR Hakeem Nicks, are listed as questionable, but both say they intend to play.
Bigger issue for New York is the myriad of injuries that left its secondary vulnerable. It showed as Washington's Rex Grossman threw for 305 yards in last week's 28-14 road loss.
The Rams were defenseless in their 31-13 home loss to the Eagles last Sunday. That's not what coach John Spagnduolo wanted to see as he returns to New York for the first time after guiding leading the Giants defense during their Super Bowl season of 2007.
In the trends department, the Giants are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 as a home favorite. But the Rams are 7-3 ATS as a road dog in their last 10 outside of the NFC West.
Key in this game for New York is the establishment of a strong ground game against a St. Louis stop unit that allowed the Eagles to average 6.3 ypc last week. If Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs get it going, the Rams won't be able to cheat and bring their considerable heat against Eli Manning.
I like the Giants, but not enough to lay a full touchdown. At the same time, I don't expect either of these teams to light up the scoreboard, either. Thus the teaser, making New York a one-point home favorite while raising the total to 50 and then playing the Under to complete the two-teamer.
Brandon Lang
15 Dime Rams +7
You can't discount Steve Spagnola's knowledge of what offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride wants to do tonight.
These two know one another about as well as two coordinators can. You can't discount that in this game tonight.
Now, neither team can stop the run so both will be successful getting into play action. However, this is where the dynamics change.
Once the Redskins got the play action established last week Rex Grossman torched the Giants secondary for over 300 yards passing.
After watching Grossman's performance for most of the game yesterday against a Cardinals secondary that allowed Cam Newton to throw for over 400 yards in week one I kept saying to myself how bad the Giants secondary must be to allow this bum to throw for over 300.
He had guys running wide open in the Giants secondary all day long. I look for Sam Bradford to be able to have great success in the passing game tonight.
As for the Giants, they just aren't the same Giants and once we accept that, once we pull them off that pedestal of their super bowl win years ago we can begin to see them for what they are: an average football team.
As poorly as their defense is playing they can't be trusted laying a touchdown to anybody right now.
For my dollar I don't see this Rams team getting blown out tonight. I just don't. Not with Spagnola and his complete knowledge of the Giants personnel and playbook on the offensive side of the football.
I understand both teams are banged up. I understand you have a ton of injuries all over the field on both sides but the difference in this game will be a play or two possibly in special teams.
Everyone is leaving the Rams for dead as this line has moved at least 2 1/2 to 3 points and public line moves of this magnitude don't usually win on Monday night.
And on paper they should be left for dead but something tells me this game is going down to the wire and the value is going against the inflated favorite.
All about the points tonight.
Jimmy Boyd
5* Rams / Giants Under 44.5
3* Braves
KB Hoops
4* NY Giants -7
Lenny Del Genio
Colorado -120
The Rockies were just swept in terrible fashion by a Giants team desperate to get back in the pennant chase, getting outscored by a 35-16 margin in the four games. Look for them to bounce back tonight at Coors Field vs. last place San Diego. The Padres are not a team that will score a lot of runs as we've noted several times throughout the season. They are averaging just 2.7 rpg the last week while the Rockies are still strong offensively here at home averaging 5.6 rpg. San Diego has been terrible all season in night games (34-66) and has scored three runs or less in six straight games. No team in MLB has been shutout more times this season than have the Padres, who are off a 5-1 home loss yesterday to Arizona. This season, they are 0-10 on the road if they are off a division loss where they scored 1 run or less. Kevin Millwood has fared very well vs. SD in his career w/ a 12-4 TSR, including a 3-0 win earlier this year where he threw seven scoreless innings. He's been solid in his 7 starts so far for the team and has been getting better with a 2.89 ERA L3. The Padres are 0-4 in Cory Luebke's last four starts. Take Colorado.
Paul Leiner
100* Jays/Angels Over 8.5
KELSO
50 Units NY Giants -7
25 Units Milwaukee Brewers -140
15 Units Toronto Blue Jays -145
10 Units Colorado Rockies -125
Scott Spreitzer
St Louis Rams +7
This line has gone up a couple of points, partly on the injuries suffered by the Rams last weekend. Sam Bradford is expected to play with a special glove on his hand that he has worn in practice. If for some reason Bradford can't go, the Rams do have a veteran and capable backup in A.J. Feeley. RB Steven Jackson (quadriceps) is not likely to play since he didn't practice on Saturday. But Cadillac Williams is no chopped liver. Last week, Williams tore through the Eagles for 91 yards on 19 carries (4.8 ypr) to go along with 5 receptions for 49 yards. The team with the injuries that are likely to hurt the outcome is the NY Giants, who're still a shell of their former selves in the defensive backfield. Glove or not, Sam Bradford, his receivers (sans Danny Amendola), and Williams ought to have a field day in this one. Defensively, the Rams like to put pressure on the opposing QB with multiple blitz schemes. The Giants offensive line is shaky right now and Eli Manning is not the same QB without Steve Smith to throw to. Victor Cruz and Domenik Hixon don't look like the answer and the Giants were forced to go out and sign Brandon Stokely just five days ago. Injuries and Smith's departure will hamstring the Giants' offense in my opinion. The Giants are in a divisional sandwich this week having played the Redskins last week and with the Eagles up next. Tom Coughlin has not fared well off a divisional upset loss as a favorite with his team covering just 4 of their last 17 in this role. They're also on a 0-4 ATS slide going back to last season. Meanwhile, the Rams are on an 8-2 ATS run off a spread loss. I believe the Rams will give the Giants all they can handle and I'm taking the points. St. Louis on Monday.
MARK FOX
Rams at Giants
Pick: Giants
Gottta believe this is the perfect spot for the GIANTS as they are 4-0 ATS in the L4 games vs. the Rams!!!
4-1 ATS in their L5 Monday games!!!
8-3 ATS in their L11 games in Week 2!!!
The RAMS are 1-4 ATS in their L5 overall games!!!
1-3-1 ATS in their L5 Monday Night games!!!
3-7-1 ATS in their L11 games in Week 2!!!
BONUS: The FAVORITE is 5-2 ATS in the L7 games in this series!!!
Great Lakes Sports
4* New York Giants
4* Florida Marlins
3* Colorado Rockies
Maddux Sports
10 Units Rams +7
Ben Burns
10* St Louis Rams +7