New York Giants vs. Carolina Panthers Pick

New York Giants (1-3 SU, 1-3 ATS) vs. Carolina Panthers (2-1 SU, 2-1 ATS)
NFL Football Week 5
Date and Time: Sunday, October 7th, 1:00pm EST
Where: Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte, NC
TV: FOX
By: Bob Clark, NFL Football Handicapper, Predictem.com

Point Spread: NYG +7/CAR -7
Over/Under: 44.5

NFC BATTLE THIS SUNDAY:

This Sunday in Charlotte, there is an NFC match-up between two teams that seem to be trending in opposite directions. The lowly 1-3 New York Giants will head south to take on the 2-1 Carolina Panthers. Carolina is coming off of a Bye week after a 2-1 start to 2018 while New York is heading into this game after a 33-18 loss to the New Orleans Saints. The Giants need a win to stay afloat to have ANY shot to salvage this season while Carolina needs a win to stay on pace in the highly talented and competitive NFC South Division.

New York will head into Bank of America Stadium as seven point underdogs to the Panthers. So far in 2018, the Giants and Panthers record against the spread matches their overall records. As for the total points, the number is 44.5 total. On Wednesday night, 59% of the public action was on the Panthers to cover the touchdown spread and 54% thinks that the game actually stays below the posted total of 44.5.

LITTLE GIANTS…HOW CAN THEY COVER?

Somewhere out there, Tom Coughlin is laughing his ass off. Remember when everyone wanted him gone? Remember when he was blamed for all of the Giants problems? Ha…ha..ha. Man is Karma real! For the last couple of years, the New York Giants have been a mess. A huge mess, especially on offense. Their offensive line is one of the worst in the NFL…if not THE worst. If what I have seen through the first few weeks keeps up, I could see this Giants team with a top five pick in the next draft, I could also see Eli Manning retiring or being killed because of an offensive line that hasn’t block anyone since 2016. The G-Men’s offense is not ranked in the top 20 of the NFL in passing or rushing yards. From a scoring standpoint, they only average 18 points a game which ranks them 29th in the NFL.

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Okay, yeah, you get it: I think the Giants suck. Well yeah, but there actually are some bright spots on this team and that is the defense mainly. New York’s defense even with the lack of offense is only allowing the 16th most points in the league. If the offense was better and if they could sustain longer drives, that would take pressure off the defense and I think this Giants defense could become close to a top ten unit. So how can New York win or cover on Sunday? I know it sounds easy but the key is simple…score and play defense. Yes, that is every teams goal every game but on a more serious note the Giants defense needs to pressure Cam Newton and not let him take over the game. The Giants need to keep this game as low scoring as possible. If Carolina gets into the mid 20s, it is over. Now, for the offense…they MUST MUST MUST sustain long drives. I don’t care if they take 17 plays to kick a field goal, that is a victory. The offense must give the defense a shot to rest and the offense also needs to keep Cam Newton and the Panthers offense on the sideline. If this game can end with both teams in the upper teens or low 20s, not only could the Giants cover, they COULD win.

KEYS FOR CAROLINA:

So we all know that the Carolina Panthers are the better team on paper…and on the field. But with that said, we have all seen many times in the past where in the NFL the better team struggles in games at home when they are a touchdown or more favorite. I could see the Panthers winning this game 30-10 but I could also see this being a hard fought and low scoring affair. In order for Carolina to cruise to a 3-1 overall record and a cover against the Giants, the plan is simple: Hit Eli in the mouth. Eli Manning in my opinion is still a top 10-15 quarterback talent in the NFL, he just has zero help right now…well zero help from an O-Line standpoint. Last season it was the same story now in 2018 the Giants have four new starters on the offensive line. The Panthers must take advantage of this. Get to the quarterback, stop the run, and let Cam take over on offense. With an A or hell, with a B+ effort on both sides of the ball this Sunday against New York, the Panthers could win this game and win it easily.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON SUNDAY?

So I rambled on about what was so bad about the Giants and what the Panthers could do to win this game so easily. Sometimes you have to just go with your gut. I think this game will be much closer than expected…at least on the scoreboard. The Carolina Panthers will more than likely get the win on Sunday but I can see New York keeping it somewhat close. I am predicting a late backdoor cover for the Giants. Carolina will win this game 24-20 after the Giants score a late and meaningless touchdown when the game has already been decided. So, Carolina will move to 3-1 and New York to 1-4, but I just like the Giants to keep it close. Yeah, bold prediction but whatever…its my article and my prediction. Good luck fellas!

Bob’s Pick to Cover the Point Spread: TAKE THE NEW YORK GIANTS +7 POINTS AGAINST THE CAROLINA PANTHERS

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