NFL Against the Spread Picks: New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles

New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday, 9/25/11, 1:00 PM EST, TV: FOX
Opening Point Spread: Philadelphia -9
Current Betting Line: Philadelphia -8.5
Opening Total: 48
Current Total: 48
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy is off to a great start in 2011

New York bounced back from an opening week loss with a convincing 28-16 win over the St. Louis Rams as seven-point favorites on Monday Night Football. The Giants are hoping that quarterback Eli Manning can continue his strong play against the Eagles, as he’s tallied a 100-plus passer rating in two his past three games against them. The last time he faced Philadelphia, he completed 23 of 39 passes for 289 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. He will be missing many of his top targets from a year ago, including wide receiver Domenik Hixon, who will miss the rest of the season after tearing his right ACL. New York is 7-9 ATS on the road the last two-plus campaigns.

The Giants defense is incredibly banged up and has allowed consecutive 300-yard passing games to Washington’s Rex Grossman and St. Louis signal-caller Sam Bradford. Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora is likely to miss his third-straight game to open the season, as he recovers from knee surgery that he underwent during the preseason. New York leads the all-time series, 79-71-2, but has dropped six in a row.

Philadelphia returns home off a disappointing 35-31 loss to the Atlanta Falcons as 2.5-point road favorites. The Eagles actually finished with a 129-yard advantage in the statistics, but quarterback Michael Vick was knocked out after suffering a concussion. He’s expected to start this week after being cleared to resume football-related activities. “If he’s OK on game day,” coach Andy Reid stated of him playing. “Then he plays on game day.” Mike Kafka replaced Vick last week due to Vince Young also being out with an injury, completing 7 of 9 passes for 72 yards. Philadelphia is 14-12 ATS as a favorite the last two-plus seasons.

The Eagles have been very happy with their ground attack early in the year, as running back LeSean McCoy has 217 rushing yards, which is the most for the franchise in two games since 1992. Philadelphia obviously wants Vick back in action, as he led an improbable 21-point fourth-quarter comeback last year, throwing for three touchdowns and gaining 130 yards on the ground. He will find a lot of room facing a Giants’ secondary that has allowed 300-plus yards in the first two games. Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin will have another chance to have a career-type game, as the Giants will likely focus on stopping fellow wideout DeSean Jackson.