Note: If you’re looking for the 2012 week 1 game between these two teams, please go here: Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants Pick
Dallas Cowboys (8-3 SU, 6-5 ATS) vs. New York Giants (6-5 SU, 4-6-1 ATS), Week 13 NFL, 4:15 p.m. EST, Sunday, December 6, 2009, Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J. TV: FOX
by Ryno of Predictem.com
Point Spread: Cowboys -1.5/Giants +1.5
Over/Under: 45
NFC East implications are on the line when the Dallas Cowboys take on the New York Giants. The Cowboys are two games up on the Giants, so the Giants need a win to stay in the division race. The Cowboys, meanwhile, need a win to make sure they will still be in first place after this weekend.
The first time these teams played this season was in week two when the Giants won on a Sunday night, 33-31. It was an offensive shootout with not much defense played. The Giants got in done with their passing game while the Cowboys got it done on the ground.
Eli Manning threw for 330 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receivers Steve Smith and Mario Manningham emerged as legitimate wide receivers for the Giants. Smith had 10 catches for 134 yards and a touchdown, while Manningham had 10 catches for 150 yards and a touchdown. Tony Romo had an awful game, going 13-for-29 for 127 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions. But Marion Barber had 124 rushing yards on 18 carries and a touchdown, Felix Jones had seven carries for 96 yards and a touchdown, and the Cowboys had 251 rushing yards as a team.
After starting off 2-2, the Cowboys have won six of their last seven games. After scoring 101 points in a three-game span, the Cowboys offense hit a rough patch and only scored seven points in consecutive games against the Packers and Redskins. Both touchdowns came late in the fourth quarter of their respective games, but luckily the Redskins only managed six points so Dallas picked up a win in that one. Last week, the Cowboys won easily over the Raiders, 24-7. The Cowboys defense actually has been excellent this season, especially as of late. They’ve given up 13 combined points in their last two games, no more than 17 points in any of their last five games, and they’ve only allowed more than 21 points once and that was in the loss to the Giants.
The Giants have gone in the opposite direction as the Cowboys. The Giants started the season 5-0 but since then they have lost five of their last six games. That one win was two weeks ago in an overtime 34-31 victory over the Falcons. Last week, the Giants lost on Thanksgiving to the Broncos, 26-6. The Giants have scored 20 or fewer points in four of their last five games after scoring at least 23 points in each of their first six games.
The Giants have been competitive in every home game this season. They haven’t lost by more than a touchdown in any of their home games. They will have to step up their game to knock off the Cowboys because the Cowboys are rolling right now. Manning cannot turn the ball over. He has to make sure throws to Smith, Manningham and the rest of his receivers, and Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs must establish a solid running attack. If the Giants can control the clock and win the turnover battle, they can win this game. The Cowboys were able to win last time without a passing attack and with turning the ball over. They have to focus on running the ball and Romo has to make the easy throws. The Giants secondary is not looking great right now, so Miles Austin should be able to have a big game as long as Romo gets him the ball.
The Cowboys are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 road games. The total has gone under in four of their last five games. The Giants are 0-5 ATS in their last five games and 1-4-1 ATS in their last six home games.
Ryno’s Pick: Sure, the Giants need this game more than the Cowboys do. But the Cowboys are playing much better than the Giants right now. The Giants offense is very inconsistent and their defense is playing poorly. The Cowboys offense has not been great the past three weeks, but all they need to do is follow their game plan from last time they played the Giants. If they run the ball the same way and Romo doesn’t throw three interceptions again, then the Cowboys will win this game. Take the Cowboys -1.5.
