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New York Beats Las Vegas in a Game of Defeated Teams

· Nov 03 - 5 minutes read

This matchup between the New York Giants (2-6) and Las Vegas Raiders (3-5) could be one of the worst games this week. Neither team is coming into this game with any rhythm after horrible losses, making it a questionable option for NFL picks this week.

Last week, the Giants lost the battle for New York, losing 13-10 to the Jets in overtime, in a demoralizing way, having had a lead until the final play of regulation in terrible weather. Then the Raiders lost 26-14 to the Detroit Lions, ultimately the last straw for head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler, who were both fired.

New York Beats Las Vegas in a Game of Defeated Teams

New York Will Run the Ball

Once the Giants lost the opening game of the season to the Dallas Cowboys 40-0, everything since then has been in a tailspin. The newest iteration of this comically bad season was the Giants’ passing for a total of -9 yards last week. If the Giants had knelt the ball every time they decided to pass, they would have had better stats.

Quarterback play is a big reason why NFL lines are moving away from the Giants. Last week, backup Tyrod Taylor started the game, but after completing four passes on seven attempts for eight yards, he left the game with an injury. He was replaced by Tommy DeVito, who attempted seven passes with two completions for -1 yards.

Coach Daboll says Daniel Jones is “ready to go”

📰: https://t.co/STWITwQ1jN pic.twitter.com/mA0JJ9OKVF

— New York Giants (@Giants) November 1, 2023

However, it seems like Daniel Jones could be starting this week against the Raiders, which could bring back some life for NFL picks. Jones has been out since suffering a neck injury in Week 5, but he is at least a decent quarterback who knows the offense.

On top of that, Jones can at least be somewhat of a distraction when the Giants hand off the ball to Saquon Barkley. He can be a threat running the ball, which could be significant with leading receiver Darren Waller out with an injury.

In the loss to the Jets, Barkley somehow had 128 yards in 36 carries, with the opposing defense knowing he was getting the ball every play. He will be running against a defense that probably has more to worry about with Jones playing and allowed 222 rushing yards, 5.2 per carry, last week.

Las Vegas Enters New Era

Last week’s performance by the Raiders against the Lions quickly prompted the firing of the head coach, offensive coordinator, and general manager. Owner Mark Davis left no stone unturned to show his displeasure with the team, headlining NFL news by promoting former Giants player Antonio Pierce to the interim head coach role.

Often, with a clean sweep of a hierarchy within a team, that has the potential to boost NFL odds. There is a good chance that does not happen, with the Raiders immediately deciding to bench quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and will now start rookie Aidan O’Connell.

Garoppolo deserved to be benched after his showing against the Lions, completing 10 of 21 passes for 126 yards and an interception while consistently missing wide-open receivers.

Starting O’Connell is the Raiders accepting they are beginning to call it a season. But there is a chance that with him starting, the Raiders offense could move in the right direction, or at least better than what Garoppolo was doing. In his only start this season, for an injured Garoppolo, O’Connell threw for 238 yards, with an interception, despite being sacked seven times.

O’Connell leaned heavily on his two main offensive threats, with Josh Jacobs and Davante Adams combining for 16 receptions and 156 yards. On top of that, Jacobs had his first consistent game running the ball last week, going for 61 yards on 15 carries and a score. He averaged over 4.0 yards per carry in a game for the first time this season.

However, it is worth noting that while the Giants’ defense overall has not looked great and could get worse after trading Leonard Williams, they have been decent recently. New York has held opponents under 15 points in three straight games.

New York vs Las Vegas Best Bet

This game is challenging for NFL expert picks today because neither team is playing well. The Giants lost while doing less than nothing in the passing game. Then, the Raiders cleaned house, firing essential members of the team’s hierarchy, and benched the starting quarterback.

However, it does seem like the Giants do have an advantage. Their defense has played well in the last few weeks, and the offense could get a boost from Jones’ return. Plus, Barkley could be in for a big game against a Raiders defense that can’t stop the run.

NFL Best Bet: Giants ML +105

Bet on Giants vs Raiders

Giants vs Raiders Game Information

Game: Giants (2-6) vs. Raiders (3-5)
Location: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
Day/Time: Sunday, Nov. 5, 4:25 p.m. ET
Giants vs Raiders Live Stream: FOX, NFL Game Pass

Questions Of The Day

Which Raiders player has the best value for moneyline bets?

With the Raiders benching their starting quarterback, the offense will rely heavily on Josh Jacobs and Davante Adams. That could make them prime options for player probs.

Which team is more likely to cover the spread in the Giants vs. Raiders game?

Theoretically, the Giants should have a better chance of covering the spread. They have the better-performing defense, along with their starting quarterback back from injury.