NFL lines, Week 3 2018: 5 best bets
Giants: 2-0 (0-2 Over). Texans: 1-1 (0-2 Over). NYG at HOU, Pick: under 41.5. 5. player. 31.
The Giants have totaled 28 points of offense in two losses to start the year. Their defense has kept them in games by allowing only 20 points to both the Jaguars in Week 1 and Cowboys in Week 2.
Even with the highest paid receiver in the league in Odell Beckham, Jr. and standout rookie running back, Saquon Barkley, the Giants offense has been anemic. Their patchwork offensive line has so far allowed Eli Manning to be sacked eight times (on pace for 64 sacks). They’ve been equally bad when it comes to run blocking. Giants running backs have totaled just 149 yards on the ground through two games and are averaging 0.8 yards before contact, by far the worst in the league. (The Saints are second worst at 1.44 yards before contact.)
To make matters worse on the O-line, it was announced earlier this week that starting center Jon Halapio will miss the remainder of the season with a broken leg. For the third time in three games, the G-Men will have a different starting five along the offensive line and this week, they’ll be starting two backups.
The Texans have been better than the Giants on offense so far but not by much. They’re averaging 18.5 points a game while giving up 23.5 in two games against the Patriots and Titans. Houston, like New York, has also struggled with protection. DeShaun Watson who is coming back from a major knee injury has already been sacked seven times. Unlike the Giants, the Texans have been able to run the ball though. Led by Lamar Miller (34 carries for 166 yards), Houston has the NFL’s top rushing offense, totaling 315 yards through two games.
Linebacker Jadaveon Clowney missed last week’s game against the Titans with a back injury and his status is still uncertain for Week 3 at this point. Getting Clowney back would be a nice boost for the Texans’ pass rush, but even without him, Whitney Mercilus, J.J. Watt and the rest of the Texans’ front seven should be more than capable of putting pressure on Manning and making Barkley fight to elude tackles in the backfield.
Eli Manning will be running for his life (in slow motion) when the Giants are on offense. As DeShaun Watson works to regain confidence and rhythm after missing the final nine games with an ACL tear, he’ll be facing a Giants’ defense whose strength is its secondary. Bank on an ugly game and on the under.