Week 3 of the NFL season kicks off with one of the two double-digit spread games on the slate, with the New York Giants (1-1) traveling to the San Francisco 49ers (2-0).
QUICK PICK
The cards are certainly stacked against the Giants, who are playing on a short week after a win against the host Arizona Cardinals last Sunday. They're also doing it without star running back Saquon Barkley, who suffered a sprained ankle in the win, which came only after the Giants snapped a six-quarter scoreless streak to begin the season.
Meanwhile, the 49ers have steamrolled their way to a 2-0 start, following a route at Pittsburgh with a hard-fought 30-23 win at the Los Angeles Rams. San Francisco finally gets its home opener, and it's in prime time as a 10.5-point favorite, with the 49ers' spread line backed by 81 percent of the total bets at BetRivers and 78 percent at BetMGM.
Prediction: 49ers 30-13
PROP PICK
Giants quarterback Daniel Jones has thrown at least one interception in three consecutive games. Extending that streak to four has been the fifth-most popular player prop at BetMGM, drawing 99 percent of the bets at -110.
Minus Barkley and likely forced to push the ball downfield while playing from behind, Jones is in an unenviable situation while facing a 49ers defense that already has five picks and 6.0 sacks on the young season.
KEY STAT
49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has thrown at least two touchdown passes in seven of his past eight regular-season games, while running back Christian McCaffrey has scored at least once in 11 consecutive games. McCaffrey making that 12 straight has been the most popular prop at BetRivers, where it has drawn 3.6 percent of the bets at -250.
INJURY REPORT
The Giants will be without Barkley, Thomas and Bredeson on offense. Linebacker Azeez Ojulari (hamstring) also was ruled out on Wednesday.
49ers co-leader in receptions Brandon Aiyuk (shoulder) was among players dinged for San Francisco last week along with cornerback Ambry Thomas (knee). Aiyuk and Ambry Thomas were limited in practice on both Tuesday and Wednesday and were listed as questionable to face the Giants.
THEY SAID IT
"It's tough. Wink will always say he's our best defensive player because when he's on the field running the ball, we are on the sideline. Saquon is an incredible leader; this team is going to miss him, but we also have a ‘next man up' mentality. Everybody has to in this league." --Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke on playing without Barkley.
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