November 9, 2018
Both the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers are struggling this year on account of their quarterback play. While the 49ers vs Giants odds may favor the home team this Monday, however, we’re making New York our pick in this NFC East showdown.
New York’s Eli Manning is just not that good any longer, and this will probably be his last season as a starter in the NFL. By contrast, San Francisco’s Jimmy Garoppolo seems fine from a limited sample size. However, he was lost for the season after a Week 3 defeat in Kansas City.
These teams also met Week 10 last year in another forgettable matchup, with the 49ers getting their first victory of the season after a 31-21 win over the Giants at Levi’s Stadium. CJ Beathard threw for two scores and ran for one. Manning threw for two scores.
The 49ers vs Giants odds have San Francisco as a 3-point favorite for Monday night. But New York is our against the spread pick. The total is 44.
This is more about picking the lesser of two evils – and the fact the Giants are off their bye week. New York will have the two best offensive playmakers on the field in rookie running back Saquon Barkley and receiver Odell Beckham Jr., but Manning has to get them the ball in advantageous positions.
There was some talk the team might turn to rookie Kyle Lauletta during the off week, especially with the season already lost, and with head coach Pat Shurmur not committing immediately to Manning. Any chance Lauletta had of starting, however, likely went out the window when he was arrested last week for “various motor vehicle and related disorderly persons offenses”. Manning will start, but could have a short leash.
San Francisco’s pass defense ranks near the bottom of the league in QB rating allowed (98.8) and TD passes (18). The Niners are also banged up on defense.
One of the biggest trending topics in sports late Thursday and during last Friday daytime was 49ers’ quarterback Nick Mullens, an undrafted free agent out of Southern Miss. He spent all of last year on the practice squad and started 2018 there, but was promoted to No. 2 behind Beathard when Garoppolo was injured.
Beathard was 50/50 to play against Oakland due to an injured right wrist and thumb, but didn’t go, so Mullens saw his first regular-season action. All he did was complete 16 of 22 passes for 262 yards, three TDs, no picks and a rating of 151.9. The latter number was the best by a QB making his NFL debut with at least 20 attempts since 1970. That’s all fine and good, but now the Giants have film on him. Mullens will start again.
Some books opened the NFL odds for the 49ers at -1.5, while the total has been steady.