NFC East: Packers vs Giants in Showdown

On tonight’s NBC broadcast, the Green Bay Packers will visit the New York Giants in a huge match-up with playoff implications. The Pack comes in at 7-3 tied with the Chicago Bears at 7-3, and only a half game behind the San Francisco 49ers for the all important second spot in the NFC standings. The second spot is important because that team gets a week off once the playoffs start, then has a home game in the next round.

The Giants have a shot at that spot as well, but need to win tonight. They would be down to 6-5 with a loss, so getting to the second spot would be difficult. At 6-4, the Giants are also only a game and a half in front in the NFC East, so losing would also put them in danger of missing the playoffs altogether. The Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys would both be only a game out. New york has had two rather ugly losses in a row including a 31-13 loss to a mediocre Cincinnati Bengals. Their coach, Tom Coughlin, has referred to them as “soft”. This is the kind of situation the Giants normally rise up and play their best football.

Bookmaker has the Packers +3 -120 or +125. The Giants are -3 even or -145. Over/under on the game is 51. This is a tough one. We really like both teams. But the Giants are a bit more desperate, so we’ll take then straight up. We’ll also take the under. Defense rules the day this time of the year, especially in big games.

In the only other game involving the NFC East, on Monday Night Football the Philadelphia Eagles host the Carolina Panthers in a game featuring two of the season’s most disappointing teams. Oddsmaker has the Panthers -2.5 -110 or -135. The Eagles are +2.5 or +115. Over/under is 40.5. We will take the Eagles straight up just because they’re at home. We’ll also go with the over.