NFL Week 2 Predictions: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New York Giants

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New York Giants
Sunday, 9/16/12, 1:00 PM EST, TV: FOX
Opening Point Spread: New York -8.5
Current Betting Line: New York -7
Opening Total: 44.5
Current Total: 44
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

New York Giants QB Eli Manning needs to take some shots down field to loosen up the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense

Tampa Bay earned a 16-10 season-opening victory over the Carolina Panthers as three-point home underdogs last week, as rookie running back Doug Martin was the focal point offensively, gaining 95 yards on the ground and catching four passes. “It was a lot of touch yardage,” commented Martin after the game. The Buccaneers will be meeting the Giants for the 18th time, posting a 6-11 mark in the first 17 contests. Tampa Bay is 0-4 ATS in its last four road games, while the “under” is 7-3 when playing in Week 2.

The Buccaneers coaching staff will have a homecoming of sorts when playing inside MetLife Stadium, as head coach Greg Schiano grew up in New Jersey, while also turned around the Rutgers football program. Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator spent eight years with the Giants, while the defensive coordinator has experience working for the defending Super Bowl champions as well. Quarterback Josh Freeman will need to build off last week’s mediocre performance, as he hit four of his 10 passes to close the game versus the Panthers.

New York suffered a 24-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys during a mid-week contest to open up the 2012 NFL season last Wednesday, as the squad was completely dominated in the trenches. “I haven’t slept well,” commented Giants defensive linemen Justin Tuck. The Giants can’t afford to lose their first two games, especially with the rest of the NFC East division starting off 1-0. The defense will need to create a couple turnovers, as it forced seven of them in the final three games of last year’s playoff run. New York is 9-3 ATS in Week 2, with the “under” going 7-0 in the last seven meetings in this series.

The Giants need to create pressure on Freeman, as Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul and Osi Umenyiora failed to register a sack against the Cowboys. New York needs to take some shots down field to potentially open up the running game, throwing deep on just 6 of 32 passing attempts in the opener. Quarterback Eli Manning will need to make quick decisions in facing a defense that sacked Carolina’s Cam Newton three times.