Thursday Football Trends

Washington at NY Giants, 7:00 ET NBC
Washington: 28-11 ATS as a road underdog of 3.5 to 7 points
NY Giants: 4-0 Over at home the total is between 38.5 and 42 points

Redskins @ Giants-- Defending champs always open on the first Thursday of season; Giants won first meeting of season with the division rival Redskins in each of last seven years, taking three of last four played here. Totals in last eight series games in Swamp were all 36 or less. Under is 6-1-1 in Skins' last eight openers on road, 6-2 in last eight Giant home openers. Washington is 8-4 as underdog in road opener; Giants are 7-3 as fave in home opener.

Trend Sheet

7:00 PM WASHINGTON vs. NY GIANTS
Washington is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Washington is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
NY Giants are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games when playing at home against Washington
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the NY Giants last 5 games when playing at home against Washington

S CAROLINA (1 - 0) at VANDERBILT (1 - 0) - 9/4/2008, 7:45 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
VANDERBILT is 1-1 against the spread versus S CAROLINA over the last 3 seasons
VANDERBILT is 1-1 straight up against S CAROLINA over the last 3 seasons
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

South Carolina at Vanderbilt, 8:30 ET ESPN
South Carolina: 6-1 ATS off home win
Vanderbilt: 2-11 ATS off a win by 21+ points

8:30 PM SOUTH CAROLINA vs. VANDERBILT
South Carolina is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Vanderbilt
South Carolina is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt is 6-12 SU in its last 18 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Vanderbilt's last 7 games at home

South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Vanderbilt Commodores

- The South Carolina Gamecocks and the Vanderbilt Commodores will both be gunning for a victory on Thursday when they meet at Vanderbilt Stadium.

Oddsmakers currently have the Gamecocks listed as 10-point favorites versus the Commodores, while the game's total is sitting at 41.

Team records:
South Carolina: 1-0 SU, 1-0 ATS
Vanderbilt: 1-0 SU, 1-0 ATS

South Carolina most recently:
When playing in September are 7-3
When playing on grass are 4-6
After outgaining opponent are 5-5
When playing within the conference are 3-7

Vanderbilt most recently:
When playing in September are 6-4
When playing on grass are 4-6
After outgaining opponent are 2-8
When playing within the conference are 2-8

A few trends to consider:
South Carolina is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing Vanderbilt
South Carolina is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Vanderbilt
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of South Carolina's last 5 games on the road
South Carolina is 9-2-1 ATS in its last 12 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Vanderbilt's last 7 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Vanderbilt's last 12 games
Vanderbilt is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Vanderbilt is 6-12 SU in its last 18 games at home

Next up:
South Carolina home to Georgia, Saturday, September 13
Vanderbilt home to Rice, Saturday, September 13

Washington Redskins vs. New York Giants

- The fans at Giants Stadium will be treated to a game between the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants when they take their seats on Thursday.

Oddsmakers currently have the Giants listed as 4½-point favorites versus the Redskins, while the game's total is sitting at 41.

Team records:
Washington: 9-7 SU, 7-7-2 ATS
New York: 10-6 SU, 10-6 ATS

Washington most recently:
When playing in September are 5-5
When playing on turf are 4-6
After outgaining opponent are 4-6
When playing within the division are 4-6

New York most recently:
When playing in September are 5-5
When playing on turf are 6-4
After outgaining opponent are 8-2
When playing within the division are 5-5

A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Washington's last 5 games when playing on the road against NY Giants
Washington is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Washington is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington's last 7 games on the road
NY Giants are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the NY Giants last 5 games when playing at home against Washington
NY Giants are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of the NY Giants last 6 games at home

Next up:
Washington home to New Orleans, Sunday, September 14
NY Giants at St. Louis, Sunday, September 14

Tips and Trends

Washington Redskins at New York Giants [NBC | 7 PM ET]

Redskins: Jim Zorn begins his coaching career on the road against the defending Super Bowl Champions. He?s installed a new West Coast offense that had mixed results in the preseason. Young quarterback Jason Campbell will have to orchestrate that offense behind a reshuffled offensive line. Veteran Jon Jansen has been benched in favor of Stephon Heyer, an undrafted free agent in 2007. Zorn has said that he wants his offense to play fast, so don't expect any pre-snap motion from the Redskins this year, something that former coach Joe Gibbs used a lot. The Redskins defense should be stout once again, especially with the addition of future Hall of Famer Jason Taylor. The Giants may get a break though, as Taylor is a game-time decision after spraining his knee in the preseason.

Redskins are 28-11 ATS as a road underdog of 3.5 to 7 since 1992.
Redskins are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. NFC.

Key Injuries - S LaRon Landry (hamstring) is probable.
DE Jason Taylor (knee) is questionable.
WR Malcolm Kelly (knee) is OUT.

PROJECTED SCORE: 20 (Side Play of the Day)

Giants (-4.5, O/U 41): The Giants defense that tormented Tom Brady and the mighty Patriots in the Super Bowl won?t look the same in their opener versus the Redskins. Michael Strahan retired, Osi Umenyiora is out for the year, while LB?s Kawika Mitchell and Reggie Torbor, along with S Gibril Wilson, signed with other teams this offseason. Mathias Kiwanuka was moved from linebacker back to defensive end to replace Umenyiora. Justin Tuck, who had 10 sacks as a reserve last season, will replace Strahan. Expect the Giants to blitz a lot early in the year to get more pressure on the quarterback. While the Giants have won 11 straight games on the road, they need to learn how to win at home. New York has gone 3-5 at home in each of the last two seasons.

Giants are 9-4-1 ATS in their last 14 vs. NFC East.
Favorite is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.

Key Injuries - LB Antonio Pierce (back) is day-to-day.
WR Plaxico Burress (ankle) is probable.
DE Osi Umenyiora (knee) is OUT.

PROJECTED SCORE: 21

South Carolina at Vanderbilt [ABC | 3:30 PM ET]

South Carolina (-10, O/U 41): Steve Spurrier went with junior Tommy Beecher at quarterback in the opener against NC State but after Beecher tossed four interceptions and injured his shoulder, sophomore Chris Smelley came in and led three touchdown drives. It's Smelley who gets the start tonight but while all the talk surrounds the quarterback position at South Carolina, it's the Gamecocks defense that deserves the attention. South Carolina held the Wolfpack to just 138 yards and pitched a shutout, despite being put in bad spots because of the offense?s turnovers. The Gamecocks will be looking to avenge a 17-6 home loss to Vandy last year when South Carolina was ranked sixth in the country.

South Carolina is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 road games.
South Carolina is 4-0 ATS in its last 4 Thursday games.

Key Injuries - QB Tommy Beecher (concussion) is doubtful.

PROJECTED SCORE: 21 (UNDER - Total Play of the Day)

Vanderbilt: This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Vanderbilt but the Commodores started the season off on a high note by blasting Miami, OH, 34-13, in their opener. The story for Vandy in Week 1 was QB Chris Nickson, who ran for 166 yards on 20 carries. Nickson will probably have to throw the ball more tonight against a South Carolina defense that smothered NC State?s rushing attack in their opener. However, Vandy has a pretty impressive defensive unit of its own. Considered the strength of the team coming into the year, the Commodores held Miami to under 100 yards rushing. One negative is head coach Bobby Johnson is 0-7 ATS at Vanderbilt when coming off a win of 21 points or more.

Vandy is 10-2 ATS in its last 12 games in September.
Vandy is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games following a SU win.

Key Injuries - RB Jeff Jennings (shoulder) is questionable.
LB Brandon Bryant (leg) is doubtful.

PROJECTED SCORE: 14