New York Giants (2-12 SU, 6-8 ATS) vs. Arizona Cardinals (6-8 SU, 4-9-1 ATS)
NFL Week 16
Date/Time: Sunday, December 24th, 2017 4:25 PM ET
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium Glendale, AZ
TV: FOX
by Keith, Expert Football Handicapper, Predictem.com
Point Spread: NYG +3.5/ARI -3.5
Over/Under Total: 40
The New York Giants will travel to the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona to take on the Arizona Cardinals in a NFC West versus NFC East collision on Christmas Eve. The two teams last met in 2014 when the Cardinals travelled to the Meadowlands to square off with Big Blue. The Cards would earn a 25-14 victory. Overall, the two parties have split the last six meetings overall to demonstrate the balance between the duo in this conference clash. The activities are set to kick off at 4:20 PM EST and will be broadcasted on FOX.
For the New York Giants, the G-Men are looking to get this season over and done with. From the firing of their former Head Coach to the controversial benching of their franchise quarterback, the Giants have had plenty of negative press generated in the last month. Coupling this with a slew of injuries and a disappointing loss to wrap up the 2016 post-season, the Giants have been the proverbial dumpster fire for the last calendar year. Undoubtedly, the Giants will look the re-shuffle the deck in the off-season and cannot wait for this campaign to be done and dusted with just two games left on the schedule. The Giants enter off a 34-29 loss at home against arch nemesis Philadelphia, last Sunday.
The Cardinals have an opportunity to finish 8-8 despite looking dead in the water after losing their signature offensive piece, running back David Johnson early in the campaign. The injury bug is a motif that plagued the Cardinals locker room all season long. In addition to Johnson going down, the Cardinals also lost their quarterback Carson Palmer, acquisition and decorated rusher Adrian Peterson, and safety Tyvon Branch for the season as well. All of this had produced many setbacks for the organization. The Cardinals are 3-1 SU in their previous four contests at home. The Cards were taken down on the road last Sunday when they travelled to D.C. to be handed a 20-15 loss by the Washington Redskins.
Out of the gate, we have seen heavy action on the Giants in this market from the opening bell in against the spread scenarios. The point spread has diminished by a point and is furthered by the G-Men getting 85% of the cash and 75% of the tickets in this spot. In Over/Under markets, the number has risen by just half of a point to reveal action on the Over. We have seen some contrasting analytics in this market as 77% of the cash is on the Under whilst 90% of the tickets are on the Over. It is worth noting that 60% of the consensus also like the Giants in this contest from a forum perspective.
There are several moving parts to this situation that make the Cardinals a prime play here in this market. First, we mentioned the importance of home field advantage in particular given the holiday season in the Oakland/Philadelphia contest. The Giants like Oakland will be travelling cross-country to play a game that means nothing to them instead of spending it at home with their families. This in itself could result in the Giants coming in flat. Secondly, any time we see the public smother an underdog in the manner which we see the Giants taking action a red flag is raised. Usually this is a tell-tale sign that the underdog is actually overvalued and appears to be too easy. Lastly, the number on the table currently is a favorite-conducive number. The -3.5-point spot is one that is designed to entice action on the underdog by virtue of the fact a field goal generates a cover. It is a charade that often results in many ripped tickets on those backing the pooch and we would not be surprised if the market parked on this number with such a significant lean on Big Blue. All in all, what we do have here is an opportunity to take back a short-priced favorite who will have an emotional edge in this contest. Swallow the points.
Keith’s Pick to Cover the Point Spread: ARIZONA -3.5 – Bet this game for FREE by taking advantage of a 100% bonus (Deposit $100, get $100 FREE!)at the web’s oldest sportsbook: Intertops!
