When it comes to sports betting spreads, Miami has yet to cover in 2011, and it doesn’t look promising as the Dolphins head to MetLife Stadium for the second time this season, this time against the New York Giants. The Giants are coming off a bye, so they’ll be prepared and it won’t be pretty for the Dolphins.
What: NFL Betting
When: Sunday, October 30th, 1:00 PM ET
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Pick: New York Giants -10
Why Bet On Miami Dolphins (0-6 SU, 0-6 ATS)
The Dolphins gave one away in an 18-15 overtime loss at home to Denver, allowing 15 points in the last 2:44 to tie the game, and then the Broncos kicked a 52-yard field goal in the extra period. Matt Moore didn’t have a bad game, going 22-of-33 for 197 yards and a touchdown, while Brandon Marshall had six catches for 61 yards, but it’s obvious that the Dolphins can’t go deep down the field with Moore as they averaged 5.2 yards per pass attempt. Miami’s defense was doing fine until the fourth quarter, and they put up some good numbers, sacking Tim Tebow seven times, but they couldn’t stop him down the stretch as the Dolphins took advantage of his running ability. Karlos Dansby had 13 tackles on the day, while Cameron Wake posted two sacks for the Dolphins.
However, games are four quarters long, not three, and Miami’s NFL betting chances aren’t going to improve until they learn to play for the full 60 minutes. Miami’s defense was torn apart down the stretch and that is simply unacceptable, especially against a quarterback getting his first start of the season. The Dolphins ran 31 times for 94 yards, which is awful against a team that can’t really stop the run, and they have to get that part of the offense going because Moore obviously isn’t going to win games by himself. Moore was also sacked four times, including twice by safety Brian Dawkins, and that is a lack of recognition by the line (as well as Moore, who has to see the safety and let the line know).
Why Bet On New York Giants (4-2 SU, 3-2-1 ATS)
The Giants are coming off a bye, and this is their third straight home game, so they’ve been comfortable for the last month. They have the No.6-ranked passing game in the league, led by Eli Manning, who is fourth in passer rating. With a group of receivers like Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham and Victor Cruz, Manning has a lot of targets who can go underneath or over the top. Rookie tight end Jake Ballard has been a pleasant surprise as he has managed to fill the void left by the departed Kevin Boss. Even a running game that is 30th in the league showed signs of life in Week 6’s 27-24 win over Buffalo, rushing for 122 yards. It’s surprising that the ground attack has been toothless this year, and they should have Brandon Jacobs back in the lineup as he seems to be recovered from a knee injury. Guard Chris Snee (concussion) also hopes to play against the Dolphins.
But the problem with the Giants, and this is an issue that NFL betting players have been struggling with over the last couple of years (essentially since they won the Super Bowl), is that they’re incredibly inconsistent and you don’t know which Giants team you’re going to get from week to week. For example, the same team that put a thorough beating on Philadelphia in Week 3 went on to barely beat Arizona the next game and they were manhandled by Seattle in Week 5 at home. A lot of it comes down to a defense that is 22nd in the league, and they’re 27th against the run. The Giants have the talent to be a top-10 defensive team, but they haven’t shown it. Look for end Justin Tuck (neck) in this week’s injury reports as he could return to the team, making the Giants stronger up front.
How It Will Play Out
The Giants are a 10-point NFL betting favorite at home against the Dolphins, who were beaten 24-6 at MetLife Stadium in Week 6 by the Jets. The Giants are 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS in their last five meetings with the Dolphins, with all five games going under the posted total. This should be a low-scoring affair, especially on Miami’s end because the offense is brutal.
He may work hard, but Moore just isn’t a starting NFL quarterback and this is a good chance for the New York defense to pick up some momentum before a massive trip to New England. The Giants have to be careful not to look past the Dolphins, and the bye probably helped them in that respect. Look for the Giants to flex their muscles and roll to an easy online betting victory.
Dolphins Giants Betting Pick: New York Giants