NFL Odds - Patriots vs. Giants

Thank you, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. He's the one who ultimately decided to put the historic Patriots-Giants game on national TV for American viewers when it appeared much of the country would be shut out when it was only on the NFL Network.

So will we see history? The Patriots go for 16-0, but is that worth risking a big injury for the playoffs?

The Giants are locked into the No. 5 seed in the NFC as a wild card and literally have nothing to play for - other than momentum. New England is a 13.5-point favorite on WagerWeb.com (over/under of 46.5).

If you believe both coaches, the starters will play this week, which is as it should be with history on the line.

"Our objective is to win," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "That's what we work for, that's what we prepare for, that's what we practice for. And it will be no different this week.

"We are all aware of the circumstances," Coughlin said. "We have won 10 games. We are in the playoffs. We are all aware of that."

Thus, all the starters are practicing and are expected to play. They view Saturday's game as a serious dress rehearsal for the playoffs.

"We're in the mind-set that we've got to get better," QB Eli Manning said.

And Pats coach Bill Belichick, constantly reminding his team of its flaws, will play to win - as usual.

"I'll do what's best for the football team," Belichick said. "This week, I hope we can go on a one-game winning streak."

"I think we all realize what a win would mean," QB Tom Brady said. "Being 16-0 would be a very special achievement, one that no other team has ever achieved. We're finally at that point."

The matchup to watch, obviously, is whether the Giants defense can shut down the New England offense.The Patriots have scored 551 points, a touchdown short of breaking the record of 556 set by the 1998 Vikings.

Randy Moss' 21 touchdown receptions leave him one shy of the season record set by Jerry Rice in 1987.

And Brady has 48 touchdown passes - one behind Peyton Manning's 2004 record - and only eight interceptions.

The Patriots have surpassed 30 points 11 times this season, but the Giants have one key advantage: They lead the league with 52 sacks, 13 by Osi Umenyiora.

"We can rush the passer," he said. "That is what we've done all year. Any time you go up against an offense that likes to pass the football a lot, you also have to have a strong pass rush in order to match up well.

They are the best passing team in the league, and we're probably the best defensive rushing team in the league, so it's a pretty good matchup."

The Patriots offensive line has only given up 20 sacks on the season.

On offense, the Giants would need a perfect game from Manning, who has completed only 45.4 percent of his passes in the past five games, throwing four touchdown passes and eight interceptions.

The Giants are averaging 138.1 yards rushing and you know they would like to pound the ball. In fact, they rushed for 291 yards last week in a win at Buffalo, their most since 1959. Brandon Jacobs ran for a season-high 145 yards, one week after rushing for 130 against Washington. And the Pats, while allowing only 99.5 yards rushing on average this season, have weakened, allowing an average of 136.3 yards per game and 5.0 per carry this month.

Prediction: The Giants could be the perfect team to try and gash the Patriots and play ball control, which would be perfect especially in inclement weather.
That, unfortunately, will not be the case. And New York has not won a home game since Oct. 21 against San Francisco, losing three in a row. In fact, at 3-4, New York is the only team to have qualified for the playoffs that does not have a winning home record.

Expect Belichick to make sure Brady gets his record and for the Giants to begin resting starters in the second half. New England 31, Giants 21.

Betting Trends

The Patriots are 10-5 ATS.
The Patriots are 5-2 ATS away.
The Patriots are 10-5 ATS as the favorite.
The Patriots are 5-2 ATS as an away favorite.
The Giants are 9-6 ATS.
The Giants are 3-4 ATS at home.
The Giants are 4-2 ATS as the underdog.
The Giants are 1-1 ATS as a home underdog.

More NFL Trends.