Ravens at Giants: Game preview, odds, prediction
By John Buhler
The New York Giants will host the Baltimore Ravens at MetLife Stadium in Week 6. Here is a game preview, the betting odds, and a prediction of the score.
Week 6 features an inter-conference game between two teams that are trending down in the New York Giants and the Baltimore Ravens. New York has lost three straight since starting the year out 2-0 and will host Baltimore who is on a two-game slide after beginning 2016 at 3-0. Kickoff from MetLife Stadium is at 1:00 PM ET and CBS will have the telecast.
The Ravens had many fooled in the first part of the year with their impressive 3-0 start. However, only their home win in Week 1 over the Buffalo Bills is impressive. The Cleveland Browns and the Jacksonville Jaguars have combined to go 1-8 through five weeks. Baltimore has since fallen to the Oakland Raiders and the Washington Redskins to be at 3-2 on the season. The Ravens currently own the second AFC Wild Card spot.
New York looked like a division champion with its first two wins over the Dallas Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints. Then, New York proceeded to drop its next three games in succession to the Redskins, the Minnesota Vikings, and the Green Bay Packers. The Giants are 2-3 on the year and in last place in the NFC East.
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According to OddsShark.com, the Giants will be laying three points at home to the Ravens. The associated money lines are New York -165 and Baltimore +140. The over/under comes in at a combined 44.5 points.
Odds
Point Spread: New York -3
Moneyline: New York -165, Baltimore +140
Over/Under: 44.5
These are two evenly matched teams in the eyes of Las Vegas. Baltimore may be on the road, but take the three points the Ravens are getting. With New York struggling to do much offensively and Baltimore firing former offensive coordinator Marc Trestman after Week 5 means take the under.
This will be one of the closest margins of victory on Sunday afternoon. It will come down to the last possession. Both teams have reliable field goal kickers in Josh Brown and Justin Tucker. New York and Baltimore have two quarterbacks that are completely comfortable with going vertical in Eli Manning and Joe Flacco, respectively.
Though Baltimore made a coaching change in promoting Marty Mornhinweg as Trestman’s replacement, it actually helps the Ravens in this one. The last time the Ravens fired an offensive coordinator mid-season, Baltimore won the Super Bowl back in 2012.
Mornhinweg isn’t going to be light years better than Trestman, but he will be okay with the Ravens running the football. With tailbacks like Terrance West and Kenneth Dixon, Baltimore will be a better team with a more balanced attack offensively.
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The coaching change galvanizes the Ravens to win a close one on the road over New York, an NFC team that will continue to spiral out of control in 20126.
Pick: Ravens 21, Giants 20