Written by :
Published on :
This St. Louis Rams vs. New York Giants betting preview is courtesy of our good friends at Sportsbook.com and Yours Truly, Carrie Stroup. If you haven’t done so already, be sure to sign up for the Sportsbook.com $20,000 NFL Survivor Pool.
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: New York -7 (-115) & 44
Opening Line & Total: NYG -4.5 & 43
The Rams and Giants will limp into Monday Night Football when St. Louis visits New York.
Rams QB Sam Bradford (finger) will likely be close to 100 percent, as his injury was termed to be a bruise. However, it is on his throwing hand. And Bradford (or, if he can’t go, A.J. Feeley) will definitely be without slot receiver Danny Amendola (dislocated elbow) and will most certainly be without RB Steven Jackson too. Jackson suffered a strained quadriceps muscle on his first touch of the season, a 47-yard TD run. St. Louis will also be without at least one, if not both of its starting cornerbacks. Ron Bartell (neck) is on injured reserve, and Bradley Fletcher (toe) is questionable at best. If Bradford goes, he could have some success against an injury-plagued Giants secondary that struggled badly in their opener, to the point that they allowed Rex Grossman to torch them for 305 passing yards in Week 1.
The Giants normally have the weapons to take advantage of the Rams’ injury issues, but WR Hakeem Nicks (knee) is questionable. It would be a further hit to a Giants receiving corps that lost Steve Smith in free agency. And the Rams defense will be prepared; head coach Steve Spagnuolo was New York’s defensive coordinator in 2007 and ’08.
In addition to CB Prince Amukamara (foot) and LB Jonathan Goff (knee), who are out for several months, the Giants are dealing with injuries to two of their major pass-rush threats. DEs Justin Tuck (neck) and Osi Umenyiora (knee) are listed as questionable, but Tuck said that he could have played last week if he was cleared by doctors. Other than Nicks, who was targeted 11 times in the season-opening loss at Washington, New York’s offense is healthy. The RB duo of Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs combined for 73 yards on 19 carries (3.8 YPC) against the Redskins, and will likely have a larger role on Monday night. The Giants are 5-0 ATS (4-1 SU) in the past five meetings with St. Louis.
Although Steven Jackson is the Rams’ best player, backup RB Cadillac Williams filled in admirably in Week 1, running for 91 yards on 19 carries against the Eagles. He also caught five passes for 49 yards out of the backfield. If St. Louis is to win this game, it will have to figure out a way to stop New York’s running game. Last week against Philly, the Rams surrendered 237 rushing yards and 7.6 yards per carry.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
