Jim Barnes
YTD = 33-27
MLB
Arizona + 140
Washington over 8.5
THE SPORTS ADVISORS
NFL PRESEASON
N.Y. Giants (0-1 SU and ATS) at Baltimore (1-0 SU and ATS)
The Ravens looked in midseason form in their preseason opener against the Eagles, and they’ll try to duplicate that effort tonight when they host the Giants in a nationally televised contest.
Baltimore thumped Philadelphia 29-3 on Monday night, easily covering as a 3½-point home chalk. The Ravens rolled up 385 total yards, including 157 rushing, and held the Eagles to just 183 yards, including 23 on the ground. The team’s top three quarterbacks – Steve McNair, Kyle Boller and Drew Olson – were sharp, combining to go 20-for-29 for 197 yards and two touchdowns.
The Giants kicked off the exhibition campaign with a 24-21 home loss to the Panthers as a one-point underdog, snapping a seven-game SU and ATS preseason winning streak. New York’s offense was strong, compiling 289 total yards (156 rushing), but the defense surrendered 353 yards (154 rushing) and allowed the Panthers to average 6 yards per play.
New York coach Tom Coughlin said his starters, including quarterback Eli Manning (3-for-5, 27 yards, 1 TD vs. Carolina), will play well into the second quarter. Jared Lorenzen (6-for-13, 75 yards, 1 TD) will replace Manning, while Tim Hasselbeck, who didn’t play last week, will be the No. 3 quarterback.
Brian Billick did not reveal plans for playing time tonight. However, it’s expected that McNair and the first-team offense will play longer than last week’s couple of series. Boller would replace McNair, while Olson and/or rookie Troy Smith would finish up.
The Giants will be without wideout Plaxico Burress (ankle) for the second straight week, though fellow WR Amani Toomer (knee) is expected to be on the field for about 10-12 plays. Another wideout, Sinorice Moss, is banged up and may not play. For the Ravens, All-Pro tackle Jonathan Ogden is out with an injury.
Including Monday’s win over Philadelphia, Baltimore is 5-2 SU and ATS in its last seven August home games going back to 2005.
The Giants have won two straight preseason road games, both as an underdog. That includes a 17-16 victory at Baltimore as a three-point road pup in last year’s exhibition opener. In fact, this is the 11th time in the last 12 summers that these squads have squared off, with the Ravens hold a slim 6-4 SU edge.
The under is 6-3 in Baltimore’s last nine preseason games and 6-3 in the Giants’ last nine August contests. Also, New York has stayed low in six straight exhibition road games.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER