Favre, Harvin could both miss Sunday's game
NEW YORK GIANTS (8-4)
at MINNESOTA VIKINGS (5-7)
Kickoff: Sunday, 1:00 p.m. EDT, Line: New York -3, Total: 43
Two injury-riddled teams meet Sunday at the Metrodome in search of a third straight win. The Giants have some good news with their banged-up receiving corps, as Steve Smith (pectoral) is expected to return to the starting lineup and Hakeem Nicks (leg) will also try to play Sunday, albeit on a limited basis. The Vikings injury situation is much more bleak. QB Brett Favre (shouler/elbow) will be a game-time decision and top WR Percy Harvin (migraines) is doubtful to play this week.
Smith has missed the past four games and will give a huge boost to Eli Manning and the Giants’ passing game. Smith has at least four catches in each of his eight games this year, gaining 517 yards in his half-season of play. Nicks, who has missed the past two games, should be limited to playing roughly half of his usual workload. The big-play receiver has 62 catches for 800 yards and nine touchdowns in 10 games this year. Manning, whose 17 interceptions are surpassed only by Favre’s 18, saw his seven-game, multi-touchdown streak end last week in the 31-7 blowout win over Washington. Manning has only thrown 49 passes in the past two weeks as the Giants continue to improve their rushing attack with 332 yards in two games. New York rushed for 197 yards on 36 carries against the Redskins and rank sixth in the NFL with 143 rushing YPG. However, the Vikings rank fourth in the league in run defense at 92 YPG, so the Giants may try to throw the ball more, especially with their top two receivers back on the field.
For Minnesota, Favre practiced on a limited basis with the first team Friday, but Tarvaris Jackson received the majority of quarterback reps this week. Favre only has 10 touchdowns this season and his 69.6 quarterback rating is third-worst among qualified players, ahead of only Derek Anderson and Jimmy Clausen. Jackson was also plagued by interceptions last week, throwing three in just 22 pass attempts. But Jackson did complete 15 of those attempts for 187 yards and two touchdowns. RB Adrian Peterson (ankle) and WR Sidney Rice (hip) will both start Sunday and will get the majority of touches in this offense. Peterson scored three times and rushed for 107 of the team’s 210 yards last week against Buffalo, while Rice had five catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns against the Bills.
The Giants are 4-2 ATS (3-3 SU) in their last six trips to Minnesota, but the FoxSheets show a highly-rated reason to play against New York, and side with home underdog Minnesota on Sunday.
Play Against - Road favorites (NY GIANTS) - outrushing their opponents by 40 or more yards/game on the season, after outrushing opponent by 100 or more yards last game.(40-13 over the last 10 seasons.) (75.5%, +25.7 units. Rating = 3*).
The FoxSheets also lean towards the Over.
NY GIANTS are 8-0 OVER (+8.0 Units) after leading in their previous game by 14 or more points at the half over the last 3 seasons. The average score was NY GIANTS 26.9, OPPONENT 28.9 - (Rating = 3*).
NEW YORK GIANTS (8-4)
at MINNESOTA VIKINGS (5-7)
Kickoff: Sunday, 1:00 p.m. EDT, Line: New York -3, Total: 43
Two injury-riddled teams meet Sunday at the Metrodome in search of a third straight win. The Giants have some good news with their banged-up receiving corps, as Steve Smith (pectoral) is expected to return to the starting lineup and Hakeem Nicks (leg) will also try to play Sunday, albeit on a limited basis. The Vikings injury situation is much more bleak. QB Brett Favre (shouler/elbow) will be a game-time decision and top WR Percy Harvin (migraines) is doubtful to play this week.
Smith has missed the past four games and will give a huge boost to Eli Manning and the Giants’ passing game. Smith has at least four catches in each of his eight games this year, gaining 517 yards in his half-season of play. Nicks, who has missed the past two games, should be limited to playing roughly half of his usual workload. The big-play receiver has 62 catches for 800 yards and nine touchdowns in 10 games this year. Manning, whose 17 interceptions are surpassed only by Favre’s 18, saw his seven-game, multi-touchdown streak end last week in the 31-7 blowout win over Washington. Manning has only thrown 49 passes in the past two weeks as the Giants continue to improve their rushing attack with 332 yards in two games. New York rushed for 197 yards on 36 carries against the Redskins and rank sixth in the NFL with 143 rushing YPG. However, the Vikings rank fourth in the league in run defense at 92 YPG, so the Giants may try to throw the ball more, especially with their top two receivers back on the field.
For Minnesota, Favre practiced on a limited basis with the first team Friday, but Tarvaris Jackson received the majority of quarterback reps this week. Favre only has 10 touchdowns this season and his 69.6 quarterback rating is third-worst among qualified players, ahead of only Derek Anderson and Jimmy Clausen. Jackson was also plagued by interceptions last week, throwing three in just 22 pass attempts. But Jackson did complete 15 of those attempts for 187 yards and two touchdowns. RB Adrian Peterson (ankle) and WR Sidney Rice (hip) will both start Sunday and will get the majority of touches in this offense. Peterson scored three times and rushed for 107 of the team’s 210 yards last week against Buffalo, while Rice had five catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns against the Bills.
The Giants are 4-2 ATS (3-3 SU) in their last six trips to Minnesota, but the FoxSheets show a highly-rated reason to play against New York, and side with home underdog Minnesota on Sunday.
Play Against - Road favorites (NY GIANTS) - outrushing their opponents by 40 or more yards/game on the season, after outrushing opponent by 100 or more yards last game.(40-13 over the last 10 seasons.) (75.5%, +25.7 units. Rating = 3*).
The FoxSheets also lean towards the Over.
NY GIANTS are 8-0 OVER (+8.0 Units) after leading in their previous game by 14 or more points at the half over the last 3 seasons. The average score was NY GIANTS 26.9, OPPONENT 28.9 - (Rating = 3*).
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