With Eli Manning Likely to Start, Spread in Giants vs Eagles Week 14 Matchup Moves to NYG +9.5
- Eli Manning has not started a game since Sept. 15 when the Giants lost to the Bills
- The two-time Super Bowl champion has two TD passes this season
- The Eagles have posted a 4-8 ATS record heading into MNF
It looks like the New York Giants are going to finish the season the same way they started it — with two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning as the starting quarterback.
Giants head coach Pat Shurmur said Manning is “very likely” to start in Monday night’s matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles due to rookie Daniel Jones suffering a high-ankle sprain in Week 13.
How does Manning getting the start impact this week’s spread? The latest odds list the Giants as 9.5-point underdogs against the Eagles.
New York Giants vs Philadelphia Eagles Odds
| Team | Point Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York Giants | +9.5 (-105) | +355 | O 46 (-105) |
| Philadelphia Eagles | -9.5 (-115) | -425 | U 46 (-115) |
Odds taken on Dec. 4.
When the spread first opened, the line was -8 in favor of the Eagles. It moved to 8.5, but once Shurmur made the call that Jones was out and Manning would likely be the starter, the spread moved to 9.5.
The line likely jumped due to the fact that Manning has only played two games this season — his last coming in a 28-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 15 — and hasn’t been reliably good since about 2015.
With Daniel Jones in a walking boot for a high ankle sprain, Eli Manning is "very likely" to start Monday night against the Eagles, coach Pat Shurmur said. pic.twitter.com/j2wRwGOHTd
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 4, 2019
In two starts this season, Manning has completed 56-of-89 attempts for a 62.9% completion rate. The future Hall-of-Fame QB has 556 passing yards with two TD passes during that stretch.
The Giants are 2-10 this season and have dropped eight straight games as they prepare to take on the Eagles on the road.
Eagles Are 4-8 ATS This Season
This is a must-win game for Philadelphia, which sits at 5-7 and second in the NFC East. The Eagles remain within striking distance for first in the division, as the 6-6 Cowboys fail to gain any separation.
As bad as the Giants have been up to this point, the Eagles haven’t been a reliable bet all year. In fact, Philly owns a dismal 4-8 record against the spread heading into Week 14.
Eli Manning: “I’m trying to go out there, play hard, compete, and get a win for the team” pic.twitter.com/SCVXyRi6am
— New York Giants (@Giants) December 4, 2019
Philadelphia has not covered any of its last three games, which makes the -9.5 line a difficult one to bet on.
The last time the Eagles covered a game was Nov. 3 — a 22-14 victory over the Chicago Bears.
Looking at how the Giants have fared against the spread this season, the club has also posted an identical 4-8 record in that regard. The G-Men have covered one game over their last four heading into their Week 14 matchup against the Eagles.
Are The Giants Any Worse With Manning Starting?
Jones’ career with the Giants got off to a solid start, leading the club to two consecutive wins. However, since then Jones and the Giants have dropped eight in a row.
Are the Giants any worse with Manning sliding back into the role he owned for so long? Likely not.
From NFL Now: For the #Giants… Eli Manning is back. pic.twitter.com/i8bwNLz9qY
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 4, 2019
If anything, the Giants will likely be re-energized knowing Manning will be starting his first game in almost three months.
There isn’t likely to be much more movement in the point spread leading up to Monday night’s game, taking into consideration that the Eagles have not covered in covered in three games. Let’s not forget that Philadelphia has also lost three in a row, straight up, and dropped five of its last seven games
Total Points Mark Set To 46
If you’re looking for another intriguing line in this matchup, the game total is set at 46 points.
The Giants have been involved in their share of high-scoring affairs all season long. New York’s last five games have all resulted in overs — none of them wins of course. However, four of the last six games for the Eagles have gone Under.
This is likely going to be a closer matchup than many presume. Will Manning turn back the clock and help the Giants win in Philly? Probably not. But at the same time, the struggling Eagles won’t cover the spread either.
Pick: New York Giants (+9.5)
Angelo Montilla is a writer, visual design instructor and graphic designer based on the East Coast. As a journalism graduate, his experience in the media industry spans more than 15 years and includes work with Nation Network, SportsBreak, Featurd, Hockey Writers and the Windsor Star.
