Giants Now Seven-Point Underdogs vs Buccaneers in Daniel Jones’ First Start
- Following the news that Daniel Jones will take over the starting quarterback spot, the Giants have slipped to 7-point underdogs
- The Giants benched Eli Manning after the team opened the season with two losses
- The Buccaneers won an ugly game at Carolina last Thursday
The news that Daniel Jones will take over the reins as the New York Giants’ starting quarterback has done little to boost the team’s fortunes at the sports books this coming week.
In the wake of the stunning announcement by head coach Pat Shurmur, the Giants have lost ground on the game line odds ahead of next Sunday’s clash with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, slipping to 7-point road underdogs in the Giants vs Buccaneers odds.
Giants vs Buccaneers Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York Giants | +7 (-120) | +250 | Ov 48.0 (-105) |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | -7 (+100) | -300 | Un 48.0 (-115) |
Odds taken 09/17/19.
Jones In, Manning Out
It has been yet another dismal start for the Giants this season, with the team posting back-to-back losses to the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills, extending their current losing streak to five games.
Daniel Jones preseason stats 📈#GiantsPride | @FedEx pic.twitter.com/QXPQusYftc
— New York Giants (@Giants) September 17, 2019
That was enough to cost Eli Manning the starting quarterback job he has held in New York since 2004. Manning struggled at times in New York’s loss to the Bills as a one-point underdog in Week 2.
The 38-year-old found the end zone just once while tossing for 250 yards and a pair of interceptions. Manning fared only slightly better in a lopsided 35-17 loss to Dallas in Week 1, tossing for one score and 306 yards while earning a dismal 29.9 adjusted QBR. His two touchdown passes so far this season have both come from inside the five-yard line.
Manning Not Entirely to Blame for Giants’ Woes
However, it’s tough to saddle Manning entirely with the blame for the Giants’ poor play. The Giants defense surrendered 494 total yards to the Cowboys in Week 1, and has failed to force a turnover this season.
Opposing offenses have also had their way with the Giants, averaging over 32 points per game over the team’s past four outings, while New York’s pass defense ranks 30th in the NFL through two weeks, giving up 642 yards.
So, what does Jones bring to the table that can help the Giants turn things around?
Duke’s QB Daniel Jones Independence Bowl highlights. Possible target for Jags in 2019 draft. pic.twitter.com/Lcdky90jCh
— Jaguars United (@Jaguars_United) December 28, 2018
The 22-year-old was selected sixth overall by New York in the 2019 NFL Draft following a steady three-year collegiate career with the Duke Blue Devils, playing under head coach David Cutcliffe – who was also Eli Manning’s college coach.
Jones played a key role in Duke’s return to respectability , and racked up a solid 2674 passing yards and 22 touchdown passes in 11 appearances with the Blue Devils last season.
Jones has been lauded for his prototypical size, exceptional vision, and pinpoint accuracy, which he demonstrated while tossing for 423 yards and five scores while leading Duke to a crushing 56-27 win over Temple in in his college-career swan song at last season’s Independence Bowl.
Stingy Bucs Defense Poses Challenge for Jones
The Tampa Bay defense was up to the challenge last Thursday against the Panthers as even though they allowed Cam Newton to pile up 333 yards, they kept Carolina settling for field goals.
People are not talking enough about how well the TB buccaneers defense has played so far
Bowles is doing a great job and that defense played fantastic against the run, pressured Cam all night, and were phenomenal when it counted.
Red zone and 3rd down defense were fantastic
— Dave Heilman NFL (@DynastyDorks) September 13, 2019
And while Saquon Barkley is likely to get a lot of touches in Tampa Bay on Sunday, the Giants must contend with a Bucs rush defense that has given up just 160 total yards on the ground through two outings.
With a challenging few weeks ahead that include a divisional matchup with the Washington Redskins, a visit from the Minnesota Vikings, and a road date with the New England Patriots, there is some sense to making the move to Jones now.
While a win is far from assured against the Bucs, the changing of the guard under center should be enough motivation for the Giants to stay within a touchdown in Sunday’s meeting with Tampa Bay.
Daniel has been writing about sports and sports betting for over 23 years. The seasoned pro has contributed to the likes of Sports Illustrated, Sportsnet, NESN, Bleacher Report, OddsShark, the Globe and Mail, and The Nation magazine.
