Two teams heading in opposite directions meet up in the Cardinals at Giants pick. New York has won four in a row including a road upset of Seattle last week, but are still +2.5 home underdogs vs. an Arizona squad that has dropped three straight. 60% of the public still backs Arizona – does this game have trap written all over it?
It’s hard to pull the trigger on the Cardinals as they travel to the East Coast for an early game. Arizona is a Deandre Hopkins Hail Mary catch against Buffalo away from being on a 5-game losing streak, and defenses seem to have figured out Kyler Murray. The Giants meanwhile have held three straight opponents to 17 points or less.
Can Arizona Offense Get Right?
Arizona is in a rut offensively heading into the Cardinals at Giants pick. Opposing defenses have altered how they play the run-pass option from Murray, and as a result the exciting young QB has been held to 15, 31, and 15 yards rushing the last three games.
What hurts Arizona is that they haven’t been picking up the slack in the passing game. Murray did have 3 TDs last week, but has also thrown for less than 200 yards the last two games while also tossing an interception in both. Murray has one game with a QB rating over 100 in the past month, while Deandre Hopkins has been held to 55 yards receiving or less in three straight.
Can the Cardinals be expected to turn things around against a Giants defense that held Russell Wilson and the Seattle offense to just 12 points at home last week? New York has somewhat quietly put together a top 10 defense, and are allowing only 22.1 ppg, which is 9th best in the NFL.
Giants Going Back to Jones
Colt McCoy did just enough last week, going 13/22 for 105 yards with a TD and an INT to help the Giants get the 17-12 win in Seattle as +11 point road underdogs. Joe Judge is going back to Daniel Jones vs. the Cardinals however, after he missed the last game-and-a-half with a hamstring injury.
Even with Jones back under center, the Giants still aren’t going to remind anybody of the 1999 Rams, as he hadn’t thrown a TD in his last two starts. Arizona does have a middle of the pack defense though, and allowed 351 yards to Jared Goff last week. New York’s strategy is still going to be a heavy dose of Wayne Gallman, who had 135 yards on just 16 carries last week.
The ability to run the ball and play strong defense makes New York look good as +2.5 home underdogs on Sunday. The Giants sacked Wilson five times last week, and held the Bengals to under 160 total yards the game prior.
Free Cardinals at Giants Pick
Yes they play in the abysmal NFC East and are just 5-7 despite being in 1st place – but the Giants showed some legitimacy last week winning on the road in Seattle. New York gets their QB back on Sunday, and has stepped things up defensively over the past month.
Arizona did get the 27-21 win in a visit to MetLife Stadium last season as +3.5 underdogs. Murray had just 104 yards passing and 28 on the ground though as three turnovers doomed New York. This may be a slip-up, or trap game, but New York getting points from the traveling Cardinals is too good to pass up.
Giants 24 – Arizona 17
Free Pick: Giants +2.5
