AS some people will know I am all about the NY Giants. It's probably not a good time to follow Big Blue but the one thing you can rely on is they impress and win when it is least expected.
Take last Monday as an example, 0-5 going into a Broncos game where Denver were expected to blow the Giants away but the Giants won 23-10 and it was as easy as the scoreline suggests.
Giants fans were saying Odell who? as Evan Engram stood up to be counted. Sterling Shepherd and Odell Beckham are missed badly but the Denver game proved the Giants can win without them although Shepherd should be back to face Seahawks at home.
The Giants have been plagued by injuries and then there is the suspension of cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. It's no surprise the Giants have struggled but Rodgers-Cromartie is back and the defence finally turned up for a game and looked back to last season's standards and will need to do so again to beat the Seahawks.
The Giants aren't as bad as their 1-5 record suggests, losses to the Eagles by 3pts, Buccaneers 2pts and Chargers 5pts were all close games where the Giants had a fourth quarter lead,
Mannings' go to guy last week was rookie tightend Engram who had five of the Giants' 11 receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown and the 5-6 on offer by Paddy Power for Engram over 59.5 receiving yards looks good.
The lack of offensive options is a worry for the season as a whole, it's not impossible for the Giants to make the playoffs but it is a massive ask. They should have enough to beat the Seahawks for what some people might say as another shock Giants win but Seattle's offence is a mess so the Giants defence should come out on top,
Another bet that looks good is Orleans Darkwa over 63.5 rushing yards at 5-6 with Paddy Power. He got the Giants' running game started last week with 117 yards on 21 carries.
This game is far more important than the Denver game and the team and fans know a defeat means that after their bye week next week the season is over, win and there is still hope as their next two are against the Rams and 49ers and that could see them 4-5 going into the Chiefs game.
To have any chance of a wildcard playoff spot the Giants really need to get to 9-7 which is why today's game is a must-win.
Can they go the rest of the season 8-2 or better? It's hard to see and finishing 6-10 is more likely.
The more I look at this game the more I see the Darkwa and Engram bets as the ones to be on with a Giants win looking value at 8-5 with William Hill in a game that looks 50-50.
Seahawks @ Giants Tips (9.25pm)
- Giants (8-5, William Hill)
- Engram over 59.5 receiving yards (5-6, Paddy Power)
- Darkwa over 63.5 rushing yards (5-6, Paddy Power NAP/NB double stake)
