Free NFL Pick: Giants vs Cowboys
Scott Morris | September 16, 2018
Week 2 of the NFL regular season features a huge rivalry in the NFC East when the New York Giants visit the Dallas Cowboys. Both started the season with losses in Week 1 and neither want the hurdle of overcoming an 0-2 start, which makes this game all the more important for both.
The current line has Dallas favored by -3 points with the over/under total on 42.5.
Last season Dallas won both head to head games with New York outscoring the Giants 49-13.
Giants defenders, such as safety Landon Collins have told the media the team plans to shut down the running game of the Cowboys and make Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott beat them with his arm. Prescott has responded to that by saying he accepts the challenge.
Both teams nevertheless will look to the running game early and often. Dallas will give the ball as much as possible to Ezekiel Elliott, who led the NFL in rushing his rookie season in 2016, while the Giants will hand it off to this year’s No. 2 pick overall in the draft Saquon Barkley.
The Giants struggled offensively last week in a 20-15 loss to Jacksonville. Although, Barkley did show why the Giants drafted him No. 2, rushing for 106 yards including a 68-yard touchdown run
New York’s top wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. caught 11 passes for 111 from quarterback Eli Manning. Beckham in six career games against the Cowboys has caught five TD passes.
Defensively, the Giants could not stop the Jaguars running game even though top Jacksonville back Leonard Fournette went down in the second quarter with an injury.
Dallas failed to score against Carolina until the fourth quarter and eventually lost 16-8, after only gaining 232 yards on offense and giving up six sacks. Elliott rushed for 69 yards against the Panthers.
The Dallas passing game missed longtime receivers Dez Bryant and Jason Witten with Prescott passing for just 170 yards. Cole Beasley led all Dallas receivers with seven catches for 73 yards.
In Prescott’s last game against the Giants, the Dallas QB passed for 332 yards and three touchdowns.
Dallas defensive end Randy Gregory did not practice late last week due to a concussion and DT Datone Jones sat out with a bad knee. Both are questionable for Sunday’s game.
Prediction: Dallas has the better defense while both offenses are trying to find their way. However, the Cowboys will find success with Elliott on the ground and move the chains while eating up the clock. Dallas wins 21-17. Wager this pick here
