New York Giants (3-3 SU, 2-3 ATS) vs. Los Angeles Rams (3-3 SU, 3-3 ATS)
NFL Week 7
Date/Time: Sunday, October 23, 2016 at 9:25 AM EST
Where: Twickenham Stoop Stadium
TV: FOX
by Keith, Expert Football Handicapper, Predictem.com
Point Spread: NYG -2.5/LA +2.5
Over/Under Total: 43.5
The NFL will once again set across the pond to the UK, as the Los Angeles Rams (3-3) will face off with the New York Giants in Twickenham Stoop Stadium in Twickenham, England with a scheduled kick-off of 9:25 AM. The game is set to be aired on FOX for national audiences. For the Rams, they have lost their last two after getting off to a robust 3-1 start. The Rams were ransacked by the Buffalo Bills in Los Angeles and ensued to fall to Detroit on the road 31-28. For New York, they come in off a 27-23 win against Baltimore after they lost their last three previous, falling to the Washington Redskins and the strength of the NFC North, as they fell in back-to-back outings against both the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers on the road.
This market has likely reflected a propensity towards the team traveling less to England. Initial money has come in on Big Blue as a marginal favorite spotting points in a neutral site environment away from the Meadowlands. The Giants have been tasked with facing a premiere defense in Minnesota followed by being outgunned by the Pack at Lambeau Field. This certainly shifted a bit when the Giants were tasked with taking on an inconsistent team overall in the Baltimore Ravens. The Birds are an up and down team on offense and on defense for that matter. Los Angeles prides themselves on being a defense-oriented football club but it seems in the past two weeks both Buffalo and Detroit have exposed them.
The Los Angeles Rams still retain their status as a potential wildcard contender for the playoffs. As long as Todd Gurley is on the field for the Rams, they are simply a different football team as Gurley has the capability to strike at any given point. Gurley came to the NFL by way of the University of Georgia, he was drafted in the first round at number 10 overall and that investment has yielded dividends for the recently relocated Rams. As stated, the Rams have had little trouble scoring with the combination of Gurley and quarterback Case Keenum at the helm. The issue has been their defense who simply cannot get off the field against teams that are not renowned for their offensive supremacy. Against a team like New York who does have some solid weapons in their arsenal, this can be a haunting narrative.
The Giants have shaken off the losing streak and upset bug as they have been a snake-bitten bunch by some bitter losses overall as of late on the road. Once Big Blue came back to East Rutherford, the Giants resumed their winning ways. As we have championed vehemently, the Giants have an offensive armed and ready to explode at any given juncture. Eli Manning has compiled 4,000 passing yard campaigns and he does have Victor Cruz and Odell Beckham, Jr. split wide at his disposal. Against a Los Angeles defense that may be even more jet-lagged than New York, Big Blue may open this up with some early fireworks.
We are going to tackle this one from the angle much of the public has taken and stay clear of a fade in this scenario. Los Angeles defense looks out of sync and it is a dangerous preposition to lay money on this team at this point be that they are on a hideous skid. As stated, the jet-lag for this team will likely be more severe with a greater time difference when you couple this with the fact the Giants have a more experienced quarterback and perhaps a more potent aerial assault, the Giants have more equity in their stock at this point. For Over/Under markets we wont make any suggestions but given the fact this game is taking place in England and jet-lag is a strong possibility, the game may be a bit more sloppy and thus the Under is more of an optimal play. The question remains the fact that the Rams defense looks far worse than the Giants and that is why we are willing to spot the points this time around.
KEITHs Pick to Cover the Point Spread: NEW YORK -2.5
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