AMERICA’S LINE
LAS VEGAS — Sometimes it pays to buy early. Sometimes it pays to buy late. In the early game, we caught the Steelers at -10 points over the Dolphins. Embarrassed? Oh, hell yeah. In the first meeting down in Miami, not only did Pittsburgh lose, 30-15, the proud defense was TORCHED when RB Jay Ajayi rushed for 204 yards. Think that number is gonna be on the bulletin board in GIANT block letters? Oh, yeah! After putting embarrassment and revenge to the side, we offer up the experience factor. Ben Roethlisberger is making his 18th career playoff start while Matt Moore is making his first. Big Ben is 11-6 in the postseason, with two Super Bowl victories. And the Steelers will have Le’Veon Bell for the first time in the playoffs. Understand that he was just EH in the regular season loss to Miami, but after serving his three game suspension to start the season, he wasn’t quite hitting on all cylinders. He WILL against the Fish, but not gonna go crazy because laying double digits in the playoffs is never an easy ticket.
Bought the Giants at +5 points over the Packers, but you can find 51/2s popping up all over Vegas. How good has the Giant defense been? They forced 22 turnovers in the final nine games and have allowed 300 yards just once in their past four games. That’s good with a capital G! So, with that being said, my confusion after BOATGATE is at an all-time high. As the world knows, a handful of Giants went to Miami to enjoy a day off, and no one knows what happened on the boat. How will it affect the NYG? TBD. And while we think the world of Mr. Discount Double Check, Aaron Rodgers, Eli Manning might just be Green Bay’s kryptonite. The Giants lost to the Pack at Lambeau in October, 23-16, but covered a 71/2 point spread. Eli beat the Cheeseheads twice in the playoffs, 23-20 in 2007 and 37-20 in 2011, BOTH in Green Bay. And Manning the younger has covered six of the last seven overall (86%) against the Pack. Eli’s coming and we’re walking to the window to get a small taste of the New Yorkers. Gimme half a Benjamin on each game.