Picks and props for your New York flops…
Meadowlands Moneymakers is a weekly series where I tell you my favorite bets on the upcoming N.Y. Giants and N.Y. Jets games.
In this edition, we’re bringing you game picks and top player props for two Week 8 road games – Sunday’s Jets-Jaguars and Giants-Lions.
Jets @ Jaguars
Sunday, 1:00 PM
“Seeing Ghosts.”
A week after returning from a bout of mono to lead Gang Green to its first victory of 2019, Jets QB Sam Darnold had the worst game of his young career in a 33-0 loss to the visiting New England Patriots. In the midst of throwing four interceptions and losing a fumble (while passing for only 86 yards), ESPN microphones captured Darnold’s sideline comment that he was “seeing ghosts,” in regards to his quality of play against New England’s pressure defense.
Now, a short week culminates in a road game against the 3-4 Jacksonville Jaguars. Once again, injuries are piling up for New York – including defensive lynchpin, MLB C.J Mosley, whose nagging groin injury iwas aggravated in Monday’s loss. Less serious, but notable, was the removal of a damaged toenail from Darnold’s foot, which caused him to limp slightly in practice.
Doubles Game Pick:
I think the Jaguars will win, but that these underwhelming team won’t total many points. So, I’m going to the Doubles market at Unibet, where I’m taking the Jags to WIN and UNDER 41.5 total points in the game. This Money Line/Total double play pays out +165 ($100 bet wins $165).
Jets Vs. Jaguars – Top Prop Bets
Now, lets find some palatable player props within Week 8’s North Florida feast:
Top Prop #1 – Leonard Fournette will rush for 100+ yards
$100 to win $120 (+120) @ PointsBet
Jacksonville’s top running back is having a good ground yardage season on the road, but his home totals (66, 66, 72) have left a lot to be desired. However, a week after pounding out 131 yards against the NFL’s worst rushing defense in Cincinnati, I think Mr. Fournette’s primed for a North Florida breakout game against a demoralized opponent. Even though the Jets still have the NFL’s 11th ranked run defense on the season, the piling-up losses and declining defense morale will allow Fournette to run wild for more than 100 yards.
Top Prop #2 Le’Veon Bell will rush for 100+ yards
$100 to win $200 (+200) @ PointsBet
New York’s most talented offensive player has yet to top 100 rushing yards in a game this season, but he is coming off his best effort (70 yards on 15 attempts) against the league’s #2 run defense. This week, he faces Jacksonville’s 24th-ranked rushing D on the road, and stands as Gang Green’s most reliable offensive option not “seeing ghosts” in the opposing backfield. I think this is finally the week Bell surpasses the century mark on the ground.
Giants @ Lions
Sunday, 1:00 PM
“Everyone is Frustrated.“
What was supposed to be an air battle, thanks to Arizona and New York’s horrible pass defenses, turned out to be a ground game romp for the Cardinals in their 27-21 victory over the Giants in Week 7. Arizona RB Chase Edmonds stepped in for David Johnson, and ran for 126 yards and three touchdowns, while QB Kyler Murray threw for a season low 104 yards. That lack of passing didn’t matter, because the Cardinals defense overwhelmed Giants QB Daniel Jones (223 yards 1 TD), sacking him eight times, intercepting him once, and forcing him to fumble three times (losing two of them). Afterward, Jones told reporters “Everyone is frustrated.”
This week, that frustration is likely to continue with a road game against the 2-3 Detroit Lions. Those Lions have dropped three straight. Also, they’ve just placed their starting running back Kerryon Johnson on the IR. Still, make no mistake, Detroit is a pass-first offense which Matt Stafford has led to #6 NFL ranking of 277.2 yards per game.
Teaser Pick:
With Johnson gone at RB, I think the Lions will air it out at home even more than usual, and overwhelm a Giants team that’s in clear disarray on both sides of the ball – regardless of the talent they’ll put on the field. So, I’m returning to the Doubles Market at PointsBet and taking a 6 pt Teaser with the Lions to win by – 1/2 point and the total staying UNDER 55 points in the game.
Giants Vs. Lions – Top Prop Bets
There are going to be some tempting payer props under the roof of Ford Field this week:
Top Prop #3 Marvin Jones Jr. will get 100+ Receiving Yards
$100 to win $145 (+145) @ PointsBet
The Giants pass defense did a statistically good job of holding Kyler Murray to just 104 yards through the air last week. But one bad week by a rookie, is very different than facing a seasoned slinging QB like Stafford on his home field. Especially when he has an incentive to air it out. And I think Detroit’s top wide receiver, Marvin Jones Jr. will be the beneficiary. After a significant uptick in targets during last week’s loss to Minnesota resulted in 93 receiving yards, I think he’s on track to to tack on at least seven more to surpass 100.
Top Prop #4 – Detroit will score between 21-30 points
$100 to win $142 (+142) @ PointsBet
In five of their six games in 2019, whether they win or lose, Matt Stafford (using his 1,751 passing yards and 13 TDs) has led the Lions to score between 21 and 30 points. This week, playing at home, and facing a poor Giants defense (and despite not having their top RB), I expect Detroit’s offense to hit that 21+ range once again.
Top Prop #5 – Golden Tate will get 100+ receiving yards
$100 to win $230 (+230) @ PointsBet
The last two weeks have gone pretty well for Golden Tate, having gotten plenty of quarterback attention (9 and 11 targets) and decent results (6 catches both games for 102 and 80 yards). In Week 8, Tate returns to face his former team as New York’s healthiest receiver, and likely its most motivated to inflict maximum damage. All that adds up to a recipe for 100+ yards as Danny Dimes’ top target.
The Props Network is the place for weekly betting picks.
Must be 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER if you have a gambling problem.
