New England Patriots vs. New York Giants: Pro Football Betting Odds and Picks

New England Patriots vs. New York Giants
Thursday, 8/28/14, 7:30 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: New York -3
Current Betting Line: New York -3
Opening Total: 42
Current Total: 41
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Redskins vs. Giants NFL Game Preview — The New York Giants are 4-0 SUATS in the 2014 NFL preseason

New England has won and covered the number in back-to-back games, including a 30-7 victory over the Carolina Panthers as six-point favorites last week, while going UNDER the betting total for the second time in three opportunities. The Patriots and Giants will be meeting for the 24th time in the preseason, which is important to consider when making your pro football picks, especially since this is the 10th straight year of this matchup being on the schedule.

The Patriots begin life without offensive linemen Logan Mankins, who was traded earlier this week to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which means that second-year guard Josh Kline is the leading candidate to fill that role. New England has already announced that rookie quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will start in this affair, which can’t be ignored when looking over the pro football odds page. On the other side of the ball, head coach Bill Belichick is interested to see how his young linemen perform with the recent release of tackle Tommy Kelly.

New York is 4-0 SUATS during the 2014 preseason, with no edge in terms of the betting total (2-2 Over/Under). The Giants own a 14-9 advantage against the Patriots when facing off in exhibition play. Starting quarterback Eli Manning doesn’t typically play in three preseason games, but he’s expected to participate in his fifth, with the first-team offense looking to move past its sluggish ways in August. Pass protection has been a major reason why Manning’s struggled in 2014, which is another reason why head coach Tom Coughlin is electing to play some of his starters.

The Giants are looking for playmakers at the wide receiver position, with Mario Manningham being the main focus due to his previous work with the organization. Defensively, the team is hoping to see a burst from defensive end Jason Pierre-Pual, who is still working on his technique and getting off the football faster in his ongoing recover from back surgery before the 2013 campaign.