I’m Andrew Erickson, and I’m here to guide you through each game on the NFL slate, offering insights and recommendations on sides, totals, and player props that you can quickly turn into a big single-game parlay. Whether you’re a seasoned bettor or just dipping your toes into the world of NFL wagering €“ I know that I am for the first time now that my state has legalized wagering €“ this primer is designed to provide you with valuable perspectives and picks for the upcoming NFL week of action. Here are my top picks for Giants vs. Cardinals.
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NFL Betting Primer: Giants vs. Cardinals
New York Giants at Arizona Cardinals – Spread Line: ARI +4.0
The Cardinals were viewed as 7-point underdogs versus a Sam Howell-led Commanders squad in Week 1. They covered because Howell had a fumble-six. That was the only TD they scored. They averaged 3.6 yards per play (4th-worst). They had nine penalties resulting in 122 yards for Washington. Three fumbles (2 lost). The Cardinals offense is HORRIBLE with Joshua Dobbs as their starting QB. So although I understand where the line is coming from (likely 7 points if the Giants were at home), New York is being too harshly penalized after a prime-time blowout loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Facing Big D’s elite defense versus the Cardinals is a night-and-day difference. The line has moved since opening at +4 Cardinals to 5.5/6 (and now back down to +4) which I feel is great value. Back Big Blue and a bounce-back effort for Brian Daboll and company.
Last season aside from games versus Dallas (which seems to be the Giants’ kryptonite) New York was a perfect 5-0 versus the spread following a loss, with an average margin of victory by over ten points.
Daniel Jones posted 27 rushing yards on the team’s opening drive before things unraveled versus the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. He finished with 43 total rushing yards on 13 carries. Even after signing the big contract this offseason, Week 1 showed that the offense is not going away from using Jones’ legs as a lethal weapon. He is often making the decision, considering his 7 scrambles tied Justin Fields for the most among QBs in Week 1. His 35.5 rushing yards line is fair, but the projections have him legged at 42 yards for Week 2. I like the over. In two games versus the Jonathan Gannon defense on the Eagles, Jones averaged 28 rushing yards the last two seasons.
The other prop I love is for tight end Darren Waller. Waller only played slightly over half the snaps on Sunday but was heavily targeted. (5 targets, 17% target share, 22% target rate per route run). He ended with 3 catches for 36 yards. But he was far and beyond Jones’ favorite target. And the way that the Commanders offense attacked the Cardinals last week, bodes well for Waller to continue to see heavy targets. Arizona faced a 34.5% target share to TEs, the second-highest rate in Week 1. Commanders TEs Logan Thomas and Cole Turner combined for 5 catches for 60 yards on 10 targets.
- My picks: Giants -4 (-110 DraftKings Sportsbook)
- My props: Daniel Jones over 35.5 rushing yards (Prizepicks.com/DraftKings Sportsbook), Darren Waller over 41.5 receiving yards (BetMGM/Underdog)
What is Betting Against the Spread?
Betting "against the spread" refers to the act of choosing the winning team based on a numeric handicap placed on the team that oddsmakers believe is superior, rather than picking the outright winner. For example, if the Rams face the Bengals, and oddsmakers set the spread at Rams -3.5, you would need Los Angeles to win by 4 or more points in order to cash your Rams bet.
What is an Over/Under Bet?
Over/Under is a wager based on how many points you think will be scored in a specific game. Oddsmakers set the total, and bettors decide whether the final score will be higher or lower than that number. If an Over/Under is set at 44.5 points and you bet Over, you will need the combined score of both teams to be 45 points or higher to win your bet.
What is a Moneyline Bet?
A moneyline bet involves choosing which team you believe will win a specific matchup. The moneyline favorite carries a minus designation, like -130. This means that you need to wager $130 to earn a $100 profit. Conversely, the underdog carries a plus designation, like +110. This means that you win $110 in profit on a $100 bet.
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