G-Men are down, but not out
Football Betting Lines
12/20/2006 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Philadelphia entered the Meadowlands on Sunday and punched the Giants square in the mouth, beating them at their own game.
Even Giants head coach Tom Coughlin said during a radio interview on Monday that stopping the run is vital to winning in the NFL. Coughlin, whose repertoire generally includes stuffing the run down opponents' throats, watched in agony as the Eagles racked up 161 yards on the ground en route to a 36-22 win.
The Giants had trouble stopping Brian Westbrook, who ended with 97 yards and two TDs on 19 carries, and backup Correll Buckhalter. Buckhalter ran for 48 yards and a score on eight touches to keep New York's defense on its heels.
"They did a great job," Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce said. "They did a great job running up the middle. It was not the typical Philadelphia style. But they did a good job at exploiting our defense."
New York is 7-7, and fell to third place in the NFC East standings, two games behind the division-leading Dallas Cowboys and one game back of the Eagles. The Giants are not mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, but jeopardized their chances for a Wild Card berth. They still hold the tiebreaker over Atlanta for the sixth and final playoff spot in the NFC, but have two tough games left, against New Orleans at home and Washington on the road. Win them both and New York will be in the playoffs for the second straight year, barring a scenario in which the Falcons and Eagles both finish 9-7 as well (the Giants would be the odd team out in this scenario).
To survive in the NFL, teams must take care of business at home. The Giants have lost three in a row in front of their fans, and five of six overall. They get one more chance this week when the playoff-bound Saints come to town.
"We're definitely a playoff team," Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey said in the locker room. "We've got talent in this locker room. There's no doubt about it. We've just got to fix what's going wrong and move on from there."
That's easier said than done, Mr. Shockey.
But Shockey has the right attitude during this tense time for his team and its fans. I imagine many of the Big Blue faithful were pulling their hair out when the Giants twice kicked field goals after squandering 1st-and-goal situations. Or when Eli Manning was pressured into throwing a pair of interceptions, including one which was returned 19 yards for a touchdown.
Manning, Brandon Jacobs and Visanthe Shiancoe helped contribute to four turnovers, matching the four New York gave up against Seattle in Week 3. After two straight weeks of almost flawless football, Manning didn't throw a TD pass for the first time since a Week 10 loss against Chicago. Now he must focus on a Saints squad coming off a loss at home and hungry for a first-round bye.
The New Orleans defense is much better than Philadelphia's, and has a front four capable of giving Manning a migraine by the second quarter. The Saints have the 12th-best defense in the league, and are fifth against the pass.
Even though New Orleans is 25th against the rush, Manning must get into a rhythm in the aerial attack. He tried late against the Eagles, but was hit by cornerback Sheldon Brown forcing the ball to pop into the air before landing in DE Trent Cole's hands. Cole sealed the win with his subsequent touchdown, following which the crowd began to disperse.
New York did have a 22-21 lead with about eight minutes to go in the game, but allowed 15 points in 10 seconds to surrender that edge. The Giants also failed to take advantage of 12 Philly penalties worth 103 yards.
If Manning has trouble finding Plaxico Burress and Shockey this week, then Coughlin will be forced to use Tiki Barber more than expected.
Barber was expected to have a great day on the ground against Philadelphia, but ended with just 75 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. He gained only 24 yards on 11 touches in the second half. Barber could be playing the final two games of his NFL career unless he and the rest of the offense can respond with a better showing this week. Barber, who is retiring at season's end, was stuffed on a two-point conversion try with 7:05 to go in the fourth quarter.
"It's about winning," Barber said. "It's not about me having two games left, it's about us trying to find a way to win. That's what my creed is and that's how I've always played."
Barber's creed is also leading the team in rushing, and he has done that an NFL-record 78 consecutive times. His TD on Sunday was just his second of the season, and gave him 65 for his career, tying him with Joe Morrison for second on the team's career list. Frank Gifford is first with 78 touchdowns.
The records and accolades are nice, but Barber and the rest of his teammates must regroup from this loss because they are not dead yet. Coughlin is a stickler for detail and will do all he can to keep his players focused on the ultimate goal of reaching the playoffs and making a run at the Super Bowl.
UP NEXT: SAINTS MARCH INTO BIG APPLE
As mentioned, the Giants will try to vent their frustrations against the New Orleans Saints this weekend at Giants Stadium. They lead the all-time series by a 14-9 edge, including an 11-3 mark in games played at the Meadowlands.
In the last meeting, on September 19, 2005 the Giants posted a 27-10 victory as the guest at Giants Stadium. The Saints were designated as the home team after the Superdome was damaged by Hurricane Katrina and they were forced to play the game in Jersey.
New Orleans already wrapped up the NFC South Division and a playoff berth, but a first-round bye is still up for grabs.
Giants end and future Hall-of-Famer Michael Strahan could make a huge impact if he returns from a foot injury that has sidelined him for six straight weeks. Rookie defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka and Osi Umenyiora will take over again if Strahan is unable to go.
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - "Just when I thought that I was out, they pull me back in." There is not much to like, or remember, about Godfather III, but Michael Corleone's signature line in that movie pretty much sums up my feelings towards the New Y
<< Nets continue homestand vs. Cavs
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New Jersey Nets continue their homestand tonight
as they welcome the Cleveland Cavaliers to town for a battle at Continental
Airlines Arena.
New Jersey is 1-1 on its four-game homestand and defeated Golden State by a
<< Bobcats, Knicks battle at MSG
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Knicks continue their homestand tonight when
they welcome the Charlotte Bobcats to Madison Square Garden.
New York is 1-1 on the homestand and defeated Utah, 97-96, in overtime on
Monday night. Stephon Marbu
<< Status Quo for Lions
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Lions have never beaten Brett Favre in Lambeau
Field, and despite the veteran quarterback's three interceptions, nothing
changed this past Sunday. Detroit lost for the 12th time this season (and
seventh time in se
<< Streaking Mavs wrap up road trip in Seattle
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The streaking Dallas Mavericks close out a three-game
road trip when they visit the struggling Seattle SuperSonics tonight at
KeyArena.
Dallas enters tonight's contest on a four-game winning streak. All-Star Dirk
Nowit
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The last time Philadelphia and Dallas met on a holiday was almost 20 years ago, on Thanksgiving. The Eagles were donning their popular Kelly green uniforms on November 23, 1989, and smacked the Cowboys around to the tune o
No end in sight for LT's dream season >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - LaDainian Tomlinson has been busy shattering records all
season long, but this year it is clear that the superstar running back's
ambitions go well beyond personal achievements.
Tomlinson's legend is growing with each pass
Man U inks Saha to four-year deal >>
Manchester, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Despite his current contract not
expiring for another two full years, Manchester United forward Louis Saha
signed a deal on Wednesday that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2010,
further
Leinart loses battle of rookie quarterbacks >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Arizona's Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler of Denver will
probably be compared to each other for years to come.
Both were taken in the first round of the 2006 draft; Leinart was grabbed 10th
overall, Cutler one pick later.
N
Bucs prove they'll fight to the bitter end >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jon Gruden is not into moral victories. Neither are his
players. However, the hard-nosed Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach and his
troops had to feel at least some sense of satisfaction after nearly pulling
off the biggest upse
Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson
JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.
Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.
MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .
''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''
Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.
He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.
''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''
Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.
Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.
With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.
Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
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SPORTS BETTING
NFL Football Betting OnlineIn terms of sports wagering, the NFL is "the most popular game in town." The explanation behind that is easy.
It is called the "pointspread."
Many years ago, NFL games, as well as the more popular college games, used straight odds as a vehicle for betting. For example, if the Bears were playing the Giants, and it shaped up as a competitive contest, the Bears might be, say, a 7/5 favorite. If they were playing an also-ran, it might be 10/1. Well, there is a point where a line becomes prohibitive, as far as betting the favorite. And who would waste money betting an underdog that has virtually no chance? Such a setup did not contribute to promoting betting action.
But in modern sports betting, a "pointspread" is used.
A NFL pointspreads are exactly that, a pre-established point difference between the two sides that will, for all intents and purposes, create a handicap that evens things out, and in doing so, produces comparable wagering activity on both sides of that proposition. So in lieu of a odds figure in which to bet the team to win outright, the Bears might be a three-point favorite over the New York Giants, and a 17-point favorite over the also-ran. Now that the team that is the underdog can "get" points, there can be equal action on both sides.
In sportsbooks, this is usually done with efficiency by charging the losing bettors 10% extra - in effect, bettors are laying 11/10 on those games. So they are actually betting $110 to win $100. If they lose, they pay the "vig." If they win, they simply collect.
The establishment of the pointspread as the corner stone around which team sports like football can be wagered upon was truly what brought gridiron betting into the stratosphere for online football betting .
Don't believe it? Just take a look at what happens around the Super Bowl.
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