NFL Preseason Week 1 Game Preview, Odds & Picks: Giants vs. Patriots (8/11)
Let’s take a look at a preview of tonight’s NFL Week 1 preseason game between the Giants and Patriots. Here are our top odds and picks for the contest.
Matthew Freedman’s Guide to Betting the Preseason >>
New York Giants -3 vs. New England Patriots, Total 34.5, 7 p.m. ET
Preseason means wild line movement, and that’s exactly what happened in this game. The Giants originally opened as 2-point underdogs but now sit as a field goal favorite against the Pats.
In most situations, I’d back Bill Belichick as a home underdog. However, news has emerged that most of New England’s starters, including QB Mac Jones, won’t play tonight.
Meanwhile, Giants head coach Brian Daboll has already made it clear that his starters will play in his unofficial head coaching debut.
“I anticipate all of our guys playing on Thursday,†Daboll said per the New York Post.
It makes sense as Daboll looks to implement new systems on both sides of the ball. Although it’s unclear how long New York’s starters will play.
Because of that uncertainty, I’d rather make a play on the first half than the full game. New York should have the advantage on at least the first series on both sides, and the hope is they put at least a field goal up on the board before turning the game to the backups. If you want to isolate this game even more, take the first quarter spread assuming New York’s starters don’t play more than a series or two.
The pick: Giants -2 first half, Giants -1 first quarter
Matthew Freedman’s NFL Win Total Projections & Bets >>
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