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Carrie Stroup here with your Bears Giants line for Friday’s NFL Preseason betting action. Eligible new customers may qualify for up to $250 in FREE CASH at Sportsbook.com here.
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: New York -3 (-105) & 40.5
Opening Line & Total: Giants -3.5 & 40
Two teams coming off high-scoring wins square off in their third preseason game of 2012 when the Bears visit the Giants.
Chicago improved tremendously from its opening game (31-3 loss to Denver) to last week when it scored 33 points in a two-point victory over Washington. After allowing 32 points to Jacksonville in preseason Week 1, New York’s defense certainly showed up in the Big Apple showdown last week, a 26-3 drubbing of the Jets. The Giants sacked Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow a combined seven times in that victory, holding the Jets to a paltry 148 total yards. Meanwhile, the Bears gave up 416 yards in their win over the Redskins. History shows that Chicago is a pathetic 3-13 ATS (19%) off a preseason home win since 1993, and although the Bears are 15-7 all-time in this preseason series, the Giants crushed them last year at MetLife Stadium, 41-13.
Chicago’s offense played very well last week with 307 passing yards. Starting QB Jay Cutler went 7-of-13 for 122 yards, and backup Jason Campbell finished 9-of-15 for 141 yards. The other two signal callers didn’t fare nearly as well though, with Josh McCown and Matt Blanchard combining to go 5-of-14 for 71 yards during a fourth quarter in which the Bears were outscored 21-3. Although Chicago didn’t score a touchdown through the air, newcomer Brandon Marshall gained 61 yards on a pair of catches, while two rookie pass catchers also had big games. WR Alshon Jeffery tallied three receptions for 62 yards and TE Evan Rodriguez caught three balls for 49 yards. Another newcomer, Michael Bush, scored two rushing touchdowns against Washington, while starting RB Matt Forte saw his first preseason action with a solid four carries for 16 yards. In addition to LB Brian Urlacher (knee) being out, Chicago’s defense lost a couple players in the secondary in last week’s win, as starting FS Chris Conte (dislocated shoulder) and rookie FS Brandon Hardin (neck injury) both left the game early and will not play on Friday.
Despite the lopsided score against the Jets, the Giants did not score an offensive touchdown until midway through the fourth quarter. Starting QB Eli Manning was a lackluster 7-of-14 for 62 yards and 1 INT, while backup David Carr finished 5-of-9 for 83 yards. Third-stringer Ryan Perrilloux threw the 14-yard touchdown pass and completed his only other throw for 23 yards. But the main concern for New York’s offense was a running game that mustered a meager 58 yards on 32 carries (1.8 YPC). Rookie David Wilson and veteran D.J. Ware combined for just 41 yards on 19 carries (2.2 YPC), a big dropoff from their production two weeks ago against Jacksonville, when they totaled 73 rushing yards on 12 carries (6.1 YPC). On the injury front, top WR Hakeem Nicks is still recovering from a broken foot and will be joined on the sidelines by starting LT Will Beatty (back injury). Defensively, New York will be without interior linemen Chris Canty (knee), Marvin Austin (back) and Shaun Rogers (leg), and will also be missing LB Michael Boley (hamstring), CB Terrell Thomas (knee) and rookie CB Jayron Hosley (turf toe).
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
