2012 Week 13 NFL Picks: New York Giants @ Washington Redskins Vegas Odds and Predictions – Free NFL Picks 12/3/2012: A crucial matchup in the NFC East is on tap for Monday night when the New York Giants (7-4) visit the Washington Redskins (5-6). With a victory, the defending Super Bowl champs can take a commanding lead in the division and all but lock up a playoff spot. Washington on the other hand has knocked off fellow division rivals Philadelphia and Dallas in consecutive weeks to climb back into the playoff conversation, but with little margin for error, the Redskins need to extend their NFC East winning streak to keep their hopes alive. The Giants won the first meeting between these two teams 27-23 at home in October, and New York is a three-point favorite on the road in the rematch.
Offensively, the Giants have been much more balanced this year than in recent seasons. Quarterback Eli Manning leads the ninth-ranked passing attack, and while he has been reckless at times, he remains one of the best in the business in crunch time. Receiver Victor Cruz is Manning’s top target, but fellow receiver Hakeem Nicks is a big play option in his own right. Meanwhile, Ahmad Bradshaw and the ground game have come to life this year, ranking 13th in the NFL. The more balanced attack has paid dividends, and the Giants currently own the fifth-ranked scoring offense. On the defensive side of the ball, the Giants have given up a lot of yardage, but they have been solid where it counts. New York has the ninth-best scoring defense, and after a slow start, the pass rush has climbed into the top 10 in terms of sacks.
When talking about the Redskins, the discussion starts with rookie QB Robert Griffin III. He is just shy of 2,500 passing yards and has already topped 600 rushing while combining for 22 scores. Meanwhile, fellow rookie Alfred Morris has rushed for almost 1,000 yards, helping give Washington the top rushing offense in the NFL. Overall, the Redskins rank sixth in points per game. Defensively, Washington has been stout against the run and horrible against the pass. Entering Monday night’s showdown, the Redskins own the third-ranked rush defense but rank 31st against the pass. While injuries to its two best pass rushers have undoubtedly caused some of Washington’s issues in the secondary, the bottom line is that the Redskins are allowing almost 27 points per game to opponents.
The Giants Win If:
At their best, the Giants are probably the best team in football, but focus remains an issue. If the big stage that is Monday Night Football is enough to bring out the best in them, the Giants are going to be in good shape. On the field, Manning needs to take advantage of a matchup with a porous Washington secondary. Meanwhile, New York’s defensive front can take a big step towards shutting down Griffin by putting plenty of pressure on the rookie. Griffin has actually excelled when defenses send five or more rushers, but the Giants have the personnel to get pressure with just their defensive front. If Manning has a big game throwing the ball while avoiding turnovers and New York pressures Griffin without having to blitz, the Giants are going to be in great shape in this game.
The Redskins Win If:
While Griffin’s big play ability is well known, it is Washington’s rookie running back that could be the great equalizer in this matchup. If Morris has a strong game running the ball, New York’s defensive front will have to focus on more than just rushing the passer. If Griffin has time in the pocket, he has proven time and time again that he can dissect a defense with either his arm or his legs. Defensively, Washington isn’t really equipped to shut down Manning and the New York passing attack, but if the Redskins can at least create a few turnovers, they can minimize the damage. If Washington prevents Manning from having a monster game and gives Griffin time to create big plays of his own, the Redskins can avenge their earlier loss to New York.
Bottom Line:
Manning and the Giants have certainly had some bad losses this year, including two within the division to Dallas and Philadelphia. However, they have also had some big wins, dominating San Francisco and Green Bay. Plain and simple, New York plays its best on big stages. Facing a player with the hype of Griffin on Monday night with a chance to take a big step towards a division title definitely qualifies as a big stage. More importantly, Manning shredded the porous Washington secondary for more than 300 yards in the first meeting while the Giants sacked Griffin three times. New York’s pass rush has been even more effective lately than it was the last time these two teams met, and while both offenses are likely to hit some big plays, the clutch play of Manning along with New York’s defensive front will allow them to complete the season sweep of Washington for the fourth time in the last five years.
Prediction: New York Giants (-3) Cover the Spread
New York Giants @ Washington Redskins
Line: NY Giants -2.5
Total: Over/Under 50
Time: 8:30 PM EST on ESPN
Check the odds to win 2013 Super Bowl XLVII plus daily NFL vegas odds and lines updated daily throughout the year at NSAwins.com!
| 2 EASY STEPS to BET on 2012 NFL Football Odds! STEP 1: CLICK HERE to OPEN YouWager Sportsbook Account STEP 2: Deposit with Credit Card or Deposit by Check and get upto 135% in BONUSES upto $10,000 FREE added to your YouWager Player Account Funds. |
Need Expert Winning NFL Predictions and Picks? Be sure to check out NSAwins.com’s award-winning NFL Football Season Picks Packages for expert winners against the vegas spreads and totals in NFL Football this season including 2012 NFL Football Picks and Predictions to beat the vegas point spreads and totals!