With their win over the Detroit Lions this past online football betting weekend, the New York Giants have come one step closer to punching their playoff ticket. With that win the Giants have advanced to 10-4 and are sitting comfortably on the NFC’s 5th seed. If New York can rack up another win this Thursday night, the Giants will clinch their first playoff berth in 5 years. In fact, it was 5 years ago that New York won their second Super Bowl against the New England Patriots. No doubt the Giants will be fired up to cash in on this opportunity Thursday, but their opponent will be equally riled up to spoil Big Blue’s night.
In Week 16 the Giants will be making the trip to the Brotherly City to face off against the Philadelphia Eagles, a team that hasn’t been to the Super Bowl in 12 years, at Lincoln Financial Field. This will mark the second time these two have faced each other with New York getting the better of the Eagles the first time they faced each other. The Eagles have enjoyed a 4-2 record at home this season while the Giants have been 3-3 on the road. With that in mind, let’s see how much the sportsbooks are favoring the 10-4 Giants over the 5-9 Eagles.
NFL Odds – Week 16 – Thursday, December 22nd
New York Giants -2½ (-115) 41½ (-110)
Philadelphia Eagles +2½ (-105) 41½ (-110)
Interestingly enough, the online football betting lines aren’t siding with the Giants as heavily as one would expect. However, this is a divisional rivalry and just how the Packers-Bears contest proved this past weekend, anything can happen when rivals face each other. Philadelphia will be itching to avenge their earlier season loss, but with so much on the line the Giants will be on their guard against Doug Pederson’s Eagles.
Oddly enough, both of these team’s came into the season with 1st year head coaches. The Eagles were happy to put the blunder that was Chip Kelly behind them and Pederson has done a decent job in his first year. On the other side, Ben McAdoo was brought in to replace legendary coach Tom Coughlin. Although he had some big shoes to fill, McAdoo has been doing an outstanding job and has the Giants on track to compete in this year’s Super Bowl.
Thanks to McAdoo’s efforts, the Giants have the 5th best rushing defense, and the 3rd fewest points scored per contest. However, the Giants are 23rd against the pass and their offense is lackluster at best. New York will be coming into Thursday’s contest with the 30th worst rushing offense, 17th best passing offense, and 27th worst total offense. But even with those maculate numbers, Eli Manning has been able to lead his team to a victory and is on the verge of leading them into the postseason. Manning and the Giants have a history of defying the online football betting odds, and it looks like they’ll be doing it again in 2016.
