Steelers vs. Giants Prediction
The first week of the NFL preseason continues Friday night as the Steelers play at the Giants. Will New York cover as a small home favorite?
Oddsmakers at sports book Bovada.lv have made the Giants a 3.5-point favorite, while the over-under sits at 37. The line opened with the Giants as a 2.5-point fave and the over-under was 38.5 before bettors moved the numbers.
Bet the Steelers at Giants Game
PITTSBURGH STEELERS: There is no lack of talent on the offensive side of the football with veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and a wide receiver corps led by Antonio Brown, arguably the best wideout in the NFL. But with Roethlisberger being held out of the preseason opener and backup Landry Jones sidelined with an injury, the start will go to rookie Joshua Dobbs. It will be a good chance for Dobbs to learn on the fly and also gain the trust of the coaching staff, but expect to see some mistakes that can be chalked up to inexperience. Running back Le’Veon Bell has yet to report to camp and rookie backup James Conner isn’t expected to play, so look for carries to distributed to the remaining running backs headlined by Fitzgerald Touissant and Knile Davis. This definitely won’t be the Steelers you will see in the regular season.
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NEW YORK GIANTS: Word from the Giants is that Eli Manning will sit this one out, while star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is unlikely to play and if he did it would be only for a few snaps like he did in last year’s preseason opener. Playing time is always at the forefront of topics when discussing preseason games and it appears New York is like every other team in that many of its most-trusted veterans will be sitting out. The other quarterbacks on the Giants roster inlude Josh Johnson, Geno Smith and Davis Webb. But one exception looks like Brandon Marshall, who was signed as a free agent and is poised to be a big-play threat opposite Beckham Jr. The Giants had an iffy rushing attack last year and look for this game to be used to explore what works and who are the best options at running back. Paul Perkins leads the RB depth chart followed by Shane Vereen, Orleans Darkwa, Shaun Draughn, and Wayne Gallman.
OUR PREDICTION: New York will be playing a pair of veteran QBs in this one, whereas Pittsburgh is relying on a rookie making his first career start plus its fourth-string quarterback. Give the points and take the Giants at home.
FRIDAY NFL PRESEASON PREDICTION: GIANTS -3.5