subject: Monday Night Football: NY Giants at Dallas Cowboys [print this page] Monday Night Football: NY Giants at Dallas Cowboys
The picture in the AFC West division is similar to the scene in the NFC South where right is left, up is down and first place teams from 2009 are completely out of place.
If it were not for the Giants' current three-game win streak, the NFC East would fall into the same mix because last year's champs, the Cowboys, are doing an awful job defending the title. Let's breakdown this week's Monday nighter.
NEW YORK GIANTS (4-2) AT DALLAS (1-4)
Line: Cowboys -3
Over/Under: 44
Dallas is 0-3 SU/ATS vs. teams from the NFC this season but has faced only one divisional opponent, the Redskins, in Week 1 on Sunday Night prime-time. Sportsbook listed the Cowboys as -3.5 point favorites for that contest and Washington won 13-7 straight-up (SU) but that was on the road.
The Cowboys had an impressive 5-2 SU record vs. teams from the East last season including a playoff win against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Both of the losses, however, were against New York and after finally conquering his December Demons' in `09, it won't take long before Cowboys QB Tony Romo's next round of skeptics bring up the Coughlin Curse'.
New York has won four of the past five meetings in this series but are 4-11 against the spread (ATS) in their past 15 games against other teams; perhaps the pundits are on to something.
SERIES QUIRK
The Giants and Cowboys have traded wins and losses in games played at Dallas 12-straight years and if that holds up, it's the Cowboys turn to shine.
GET DEFENSIVE
Coming into Week 7 the Giants are ranked second in total defense and second in QB sacks but with only six games played bettors have to be careful putting too much stock into rankings. Any team that has faced a team with an O-line such as the Chicago Bears will have severely skewed numbers and New York fits the bill.
- The Giants have 21 total QB sacks this season, but it is worth noting that 10 were in Week 4 against those Bears.
Chicago has, arguably, the worst O-line in all of football and if you subtracted the eight to 10 sacks from New York's total their ranking becomes very pedestrian.
BY THE NUMBERS
31 Number of games between Giants and Dallas that have been decided by less than a touchdown. This is the 96th regular season meeting between the teams.
PREDICTION
Touting games as a Must Win' is becoming very clich for Dallas, but the Cowboys are running short on time. Dallas has beaten themselves through foolish penalties and it does show an element of disrespect towards HC Phillips, but back in Jerry's Palace tonight we are expecting a disciplined effort (or somewhat disciplined at least).
Eli Manning leads the league in interceptions and while some of that has been thanks to his receivers, Manning will be under pressure all night. Dallas has outgained its opponents in every game this season and if they can execute on offense tonight, which we think they can, we are projecting them to get the cover.
