Written by :
Published on :
The Giants-Redskins spread opened at -3 in favor of New York and has barely moved. The total dropped from 38.5 to 37.5.
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: New York -3 & 37.5
Opening Line & Total: NYG -3 & 38.5
One of the NFL’s classic rivalries resumes in Week 1 when the Giants visit Washington.
To say New York has dominated the Redskins recently would be an understatement. The Giants are 9-1 SU and 8-2 ATS against the ‘Skins over the past five seasons, including 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS at Washington (where they’ve outscored them by 13.0 PPG, 143-78).
For better or worse, the Giants kept head coach Tom Coughlin and his staff on for another year. If nothing else, it gives them some stability. QB Eli Manning is coming off a career-high 31 touchdown passes, but also threw 25 interceptions. The loss of two of his security blankets—WR Steve Smith and TE Kevin Boss—doesn’t bode well. But Manning typically plays his best football when the weather is warm in September (89.6 career passer rating in September, highest of any month), and the Giants are 7-2 SU and 6-3 ATS over the past three Septembers.
The G-Men pretty much kept their defense, which improved under coordinator Perry Fewell last year, intact. DE Osi Umenyiora will not play because of a knee injury, but it’s not a huge concern for the Giants with his replacement, second-year DE Jason Pierre-Paul, poised for a breakout year. A bigger absence will be DE Justin Tuck who is doubtful to play Sunday because of a neck injury.
After the unceremonious benching of Donovan McNabb last season, the Redskins are still searching for an answer at quarterback. As of now, Rex Grossman is the starter, but it would not be surprising to see journeyman backup John Beck relieve him at some point in this game. After benching McNabb in a Halloween loss in Detroit last year (McNabb would re-gain his job later), the ‘Skins went 2-7 SU and 4-4 -1 ATS to finish the year.
Head coach Mike Shanahan has gotten by with mediocre quarterbacks before, but he’s also relying on fumble-prone RB Tim Hightower and injury-prone RB Ryan Torain to carry the load behind Shanahan’s vaunted zone-blocking scheme.
The defense should be slightly improved after a rough transition to coordinator Jim Haslett’s 3-4 alignment, but pass defense will be an issue. Washington needs to replace CB Carlos Rogers, arguably its most talented cover corner (in an admittedly weak group). The Redskins are relying heavily on rookie Ryan Kerrigan, a college defensive end, to make the transition to outside linebacker and improve an anemic pass rush (tied for 25th with 29 sacks in 2011). They did upgrade at free safety with former Ram O.J. Atogwe.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
