Two legacy franchises in disarray meet in Week 9 at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.
The New York Giants (2-6) came short of back-to-back wins in Week 8, falling to the New York Jets in overtime at MetLife Stadium.
Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Raiders (3-5) toppled the Josh McDaniels-Dave Ziegler regime after losing 26-14 to the Detroit Lions on Monday.
Former Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce was named interim head coach in time for a matchup against one of his former squads on Sunday.
Giants vs Raiders Odds
NFL odds used for this New York vs Las Vegas preview were found at DraftKings Sportsbook unless otherwise noted and are current as of Thursday, November 2, at 7 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Raiders (-125) • Giants (+105)
- Spread: Raiders -1.5 (-110) • Giants +1.5 (-110)
- Total Points: Over 37 (-112) • Under 37 (-108)
- Implied Score: Raiders 19.25, Giants 17.75
Giants vs Raiders Predictions
Score Pick: Raiders 23, Giants 20
One of the primary reasons for jettisoning McDaniels with more than half the season remaining is the disparity between the team’s record and its offensive talent.
Any team with Josh Jacobs, Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers spearheading its skill positions – not to mention a talented but woefully underused No. 3 receiver in Hunter Renfrow and rookie second-round tight end in Michael Mayer – should arguably be much better than its 3-5 record and No. 31 ranking in total yards per game (268.3).
Pierce is a former linebacker and defensive-minded coach, but players on both sides of the ball are already raving about the new energy around the team this week. He’ll rely heavily on his assistants as he takes over a team for the first time, but there’s been plenty of talk already about a more aggressive mindset and better use of all available resources on offense.
Notably, Jimmy Garoppolo won’t be the man under center benefitting from that approach. One of Pierce’s first moves was to boldly shift rookie Aidan O’Connell into a starting role. While he’s still a raw prospect, O’Connell isn’t without some experience, considering McDaniels actually afforded him his first NFL start back in Week 4 against the Chargers.
Fortunately for O’Connell, the matchup against the Giants defense doesn’t present as especially daunting – New York is allowing 410.3 total yards per road game at an NFC-high 6.5 yards per play. The G-Men also have just four interceptions and are tied with multiple teams for second-fewest sacks (15).
Daniel Jones will return from his neck injury for the Giants, but he’ll be without top target Darren Waller (hamstring). Saquon Barkley will have a favorable matchup against a Raiders squad allowing 140.6 rushing yards per contest, yet it’s worth noting Vegas has been much stingier against the run at home (99.3 RYPG allowed).
Ultimately, with O’Connell getting a full week of first-team reps and already having some game experience under his belt, I see a Raiders team buoyed by the change at the top leveraging its superior offensive talent to squeeze out a narrow home win.
Giants vs Raiders Best Bets & Props
Over 37 (-112)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
For all his faults, Jones is the best all-around talent at the position on New York’s roster, and he’s certainly capable of leading his team to multiple touchdowns against a mediocre defense. Barkley is also in a very good position to have one of his better games of the season.
On the other side, Adams’ frustrations continue to build, but it wouldn’t be out of the question to see him and other players step up their performances, at least in the short term, with a former player they can relate to now in charge.
Additionally, O’Connell can also capitalize on the favorable matchup the Giants defense presents.
With this total as low as it is and the offensive stars on either side, I’m going with the Over as my NFL bet of the day.
Raiders (-125)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
Both of these teams are about as evenly matched – for better or worse – as the spread implies. In such instances, I’ll go with the home team that’s also in line for the “new head coach boost” that Pierce should provide.
Moreover, even factoring in Barkley’s presence, New York can’t match Las Vegas’ offensive firepower in Jacobs, Adams and Meyers, especially with Waller sitting out for New York. As such, I like the prospect of a Raiders win.
Raiders -1.5 (-110)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
Having made the case for a Raiders win, this bet is a logical extension of that thinking.
With Waller sidelined for the Giants, I see the Raiders simply being able to outscore the Giants by a narrow margin and Vegas winning the battle of two middling defenses.
The inefficiency of both offenses will likely prevent too much separation, but a field-goal victory would be right on brand for the 2023 versions of both these teams.
Giants vs Raiders Same-Game Parlay
Giants vs Raiders SGP (+244)
Caesars Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
- Raiders (-125)
- Over 37 (-110)
This parlay puts together our first two bets into a nice profitable package. With a game involving teams as inconsistent as these have been, adding too many legs to a parlay doesn’t seem wise, especially with the appealing price this one already yields.
The Raiders should have enough to pull out a win, and there’s a good chance these two teams can get to at least 40 points combined, considering there are deficiencies on each defense and enough cumulative offensive talent.
