SuperBook Sports previews tonight’s showdown

NFL: Seattle Seahawks at New York Giants

The Giants have scored 12 points all season when the opponent isn’t the Cardinals, leading to a disappointing 1-2 start after surprisingly making the playoffs last year and even winning a postseason game. And the losses haven’t been pretty, a 40-0 beatdown at the hands of the Cowboys and a 30-12 drubbing by the 49ers. Those are two contenders, something New York looks far from being. 

After a tough start against the Rams to open the year, the Seattle offense has started to cook the last couple of weeks. They hung 37 on the Lions in an overtime win that looks even more impressive as the season goes on, and then matched that total against the Panthers a week ago. The Russell Wilson era is a distant memory for Seahawks fans, as Geno Smith continues to look like the real deal in year two being the Seattle starting QB.

Seahawks -1.5 (-110)

What to like about this line…

• The Seahawks showed they’re not afraid to play on the road, rolling into Ford Field in Detroit as underdogs and leaving the raucous environment with a win. They’re loaded on offense, as Kenneth Walker III found the end zone twice against Carolina and nearly got to 100 yards rushing. Smith has plenty of weapons, including D.K. Metcalf, who went off for 112 yards last week. He can spread the ball around to Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, so Seattle shouldn’t have problems scoring.

• And speaking of scoring, the Giants defense hasn’t stopped anyone all year. The Giants have given up at least 28 points in all three contests, and their 32.7 points per game allowed was 30^th in the NFL entering Week 4. If good teams like Dallas (40 points) and San Francisco (30 points) can score against them, while bad teams like Arizona (28 points) can as well, there’s plenty of evidence they’re just not very good. It’s a small spread, so if you’re confident Seattle can be the latest to victimize this defense, it’s not hard to lay the 1.5 points.

What not to like about this line…

• At some point, this Giants team has to wake up, right? They finished over .500 last year for a reason and head coach Brian Daboll won Coach of the Year. Daniel Jones seemed to take a noticeable leap in 2022 and got rewarded with a healthy new contract. Teams with their backs against the wall generally show up, and a path to the playoffs at 1-3 in a brutal division isn’t one that anyone wants to take. Down 21 points to the Cardinals, the Giants showed they still have “it” with a furious rally. It’s an emotional pick and not one based on evidence, but New York doesn’t want to get embarrassed again on a primetime stage. 

• The Seahawks defense showed cracks a week ago, surrendering 27 points to a Carolina team led by… Andy Dalton. The former TCU star turned back the clock, passing for 361 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Adam Thielen hauled in 11 catches for 145 yards and a score. Surely a film session will reveal that Jones and wide receiver Darius Slayton and tight end Darren Waller can find some holes they can exploit. New York’s best bet is to probably get into a shootout, and Seattle has played two of those the last two weeks. 

Over / Under 47 (-110)

What to like about the over…

• As mentioned, both these teams have either scored or given up a lot of points in every single game this year. At least one team has finished with 30 points or more all six times they’ve taken the field. The Giants can’t stop anyone, and neither can the Seahawks. Seattle’s given up 30, 31 and 27, while the Giants have given up 40, 28, and 30. That suggest this game could go into the 60s, easily shattering the total of 47.

What to like about the under…

• New York star running back Saquon Barkley is listed as doubtful, and any time a dynamic playmaker isn’t on the field, it hurts the total. Backup Matt Breida went for just 17 yards on four carries last week, as the Giants running game was nonexistent without Barkley. The Seahawks also did only score 13 points against the Rams, so there is a way to stop them, something the New York coaching staff is certainly studying. And the Giants have been shutout once this year and scored 12 points in another game. If they do anything close to that and this thing isn’t going over 47.

Steve Quinne’s Pick: Seahawks -1.5 (-110)

These are two teams going in different directions right now. The Seahawks are a machine since the tough start, and there’s no reason to believe the pitiful Giants defense will slow them down. New York might have buyer’s remorse on the Jones contract, and the Giants have looked awful when playing teams that aren’t vying for the No. 1 overall pick. In their only home game this year, they lost by 40, so it’s not like home field is expected to make a big difference.

And Seattle head coach Pete Carroll has fond memories of MetLife Stadium. He won Super Bowl 48 in the building, dismantling an all-time great Denver offense with a stunning 43-8 shellacking. The Seahawks are used to traveling long distances for games and the 12s tend to follow them wherever they go. There will be plenty of green in the stands on Monday Night, as Seattle sends New York spiraling even further with a 31-14 victory.