GREEN BAY PACKERS @ NEW YORK GIANTS 
Vegas Line: Giants + 6
Rob’s Line: Giants + 7.5
Whatever’s happened to the New York Giants? After the euphoria of beating the Patriots in their own back yard four weeks ago, the schedule has caught up with them, but it is a brutal run of games and what can be more difficult than facing Green Bay when you’re desperately trying to get your season back on track? They do have to play Dallas twice yet so all is not lost, but they really need a win here, particularly with the Cowboys facing the Cardinals this week.
The Packers’ juggernaut moves on relentlessly as they look to emulate the ’72 Dolphins by going through the season undefeated and what else is there to say about this proud franchise? There are a couple of things to note because, as much as they look invincible right now, strangely they’re ranked 28th offensively when running the ball and 31st when defending the pass. There are mitigating circumstances to both, namely that quarterback Aaron Rodgers has such a grasp of the offense that he can move the ball at will through the air and that because of this, the Packers are often leading games so opponents end up having little option but to throw the ball against them.
The day they do finally lose will almost be front page news, but will it be this Sunday? I want to say that despite the Giants’ recent struggles they always find ways to motivate themselves for the big teams, but they’ve not done so against the 49ers, Eagles and Saints since winning in Foxboro so what makes this week any different? It doesn’t of course, but an intangible could be that as it’s the world champion Packers coming to town, MetLife stadium could have a different feel to it and the Big Blue may be able to tap into that.
The Giants own the league’s worst rushing offense and as Green Bay defend the run well, it’ll surely fall to quarterback Eli Manning to dig his team out of what could be a sizeable hole at some point after half time. He’s in good shape and last week’s 49-24 shambles in New Orleans masks the fact that he was 33 of 47 for 406 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT with a quarterback rating of 101.9. In a game such as it was, they are fine stats to have posted and why wouldn’t he have the opportunity of perhaps shredding the Packers’ secondary this week? He could, but it may be late on.
I’m loath to go against Green Bay here so take them to cover and win by at least a touchdown.
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