Hopefully the Giants’ players think they can roll over the Bucs too. Time’s like this, is also where Gruden’s intensity is useful. You’ve heard of teams relishing the underdog role, and you can bet Gruden’s pushing that in meetings and practice this week. Great motivation.

SteveInClearwater - 01 January 2008 04:57 AM

Chief - 31 December 2007 02:13 AM

The Giants haven’t faced a team with a Defense as intense as the Buccaneers yet.

SH: holy cow…

Giants faced New England, Philly (twice) and Green Bay - all top10 defenses who played more difficult schedules than did the Bucs defense.

Steve, careful with that bet.  I will not bet on this game because (A) Giants have lost to all teams with winning records (Dallas twice, Green Bay, etc) except for the split with Washington this year, (B) Phily has a losing record and despite a good defense could not score points most of the time and (C) these teams are very evenly matched.

Giants rely on the blitzing cornerbacks.  They get pressure on the QB then they have success.  If they don’t, they don’t do so well.  Bucs rely on the front four but if they have to blitz to get pressure, then they don’t do so well.  Giants do not score a ton of points, particulary when Eli Manning is under heavy pressure.  Bucs don’t score a lot of points when their QB is under heavy pressure either (and sometimes have trouble with TDs anyway).

This comes down to who gets pressure on the o-line and QB in the way that they do since they use different techniques.  I have seen the most of the Giants and Jets (living in NJ) and followed the Bucs this year as I always do.  I honestly see this as a toss up game, and not the rout that the NY media has made the fan base here expect.  I think the FOX TV network thinks the same, since they chose the Bucs/Giants wildcard game instead of the Redskins/Seahawks game this weekend as I expected on Sunday. 

While I have no problem placing a bet on the Seahawks, I just cannot do it on this game as I don’t know who is going to win the pressure game.  Whoever wins that, and makes the fewest mistakes, wins.  In fewest mistakes, the Bucs do win that hands down this season compared to the Giants (Manning has had more than one game with 4 INTs this year). However, particularly in this game, past performance has no indication on future tidings (sort of like the stock market).

jvnootz - 01 January 2008 11:54 AM

Hopefully the Giants’ players think they can roll over the Bucs too. Time’s like this, is also where Gruden’s intensity is useful. You’ve heard of teams relishing the underdog role, and you can bet Gruden’s pushing that in meetings and practice this week. Great motivation.

SH: The Bucs are not Vegas underdogs in this game.  They are 3 or 3.5 favorites depending on the outlet.

ACURA, never fear.  Per our shared discussions on short term investing, I don’t expose more than a half sized wager on any NFL opinion.  I just don’t do well enough at it to risk more.

Only other play for me this week besides NYG ml (+130 now) is TENN teamtotal Under 16.5

Fair enough and I admire your guts, I just cannot do it as I don’t know which way this game will go although I want the home town team to win.  The NY media is reporting that since NY played all their starters in an attempt to beat the Patriots (not sure what that point was), they managed to lose three players in the game:

The hope is all three - center Shaun O’Hara, linebacker Kawika Mitchell and cornerback Sam Madison - will find their way back in time for Sunday’s playoff game against the Buccaneers.  The Giants are saying nothing yet about their status, besides the required “not able to practice.” The injury report will tell more probably.

Not good to lose two defensive players on a defense that gave up 351 points, more than any other NFC playoff team by a decent margin (Washington is the cloest with 310, and all other teams gave up less than 300), and many more than the Bucs 270 points (far cry from the Super Bowl year). This is because they gave up in excess of 40 points to the average Minnisota Vikings in a beating which accounts for 50% of the difference in that one game (I don’t blame them for giving up a little less to the Patriots or Dallas Cowboys). On offense, Giants scored 373 to Tampa’s 334, both mid-pack in the NFL.

Again, I don’t see a clear favorite and therefore I will not make any attempt on this game to make a bet, I will just hope the team I like wins.

Giants allowed 159 pts in four games (DAL, GB, MIN, NE) and 192 in the other 13 (14.8 per game)

Bucs scored 125 in four games (NO & ATL) and 209 in the remaining 13 (16.0 per game)

I think the latter happening is far more likely for both in this matchup which leaves the Bucs between 14 and 17.

If they can hold the Giants to 17 or less, this creates a shot for a win or at least OT.

That makes the +125 investment a more interesting shot than trying to play either side at plus or minus three.

To be honest, even that is risky in my book because Eli Manning - you don’t know if the one that throws four INTs will show up which can result in 28 points for the other team, or the one that throws 1 INT and they win. Your bet is interesting, but I think it is still more risky than other games out there.  Good luck with it, I am sitting this one out.

14-7 - need i say more lmaorotf

meenman - 06 January 2008 03:08 PM

14-7 - need i say more lmaorotf

The Giants played a good game and the Bucs didn’t perform well.  Good luck against Dallas.

8-1 on the road but 0-2 vs dallas - lets hope jessica simpson shows so eli can kick his older brother’s butt in the bowl LMAO

meenman - 06 January 2008 03:08 PM

14-7 - need i say more lmaorotf

Yep, your team won and the home team lost. I live in the NY area so I get to listen to this for another week. Congrats on a well fought victory, the turnovers killed the Bucs chances after not doing it the full year.

As you stated, Jessica is there and the Giants chances improve.  Sorry to see so many injuries in the game, seems to be a symptom of the NFL this year. Good luck.