orioles

Two horribly out of sorts teams: the Giants struggled to move the chains last week and the Ravens have been badly hit by injuries - the key may be the return of Ahmad Bradshaw. [b]Pick: New York Giants -1.5 @ 1.91 [i] Pick: 1st TD Victor Cruz @ 8 Pick: Anytime TD Martellus Bennett @ 3[/i][/b]

Can the Giants stop Brees often enough? Take the points. [b]Pick: New Orleans Saints +4.5 @ 1.91 [i] Pick: 1st TD Jimmy Graham @ 9 Pick: Anytime TD Marques Colston @ 2[/i][/b]

I suppose the pick here depends largely upon whether you believe Eli Manning is really back on track after last week's performance, or whether junior's arm will become a noodle again, and if the Giants are beginning their usual run down the stretch. The poor Washington secondary could be in for a long night, with targets like Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz on offer. The loss of Andre Brown during the game against the Packers was unfortunate, but Ahmad Bradshaw can keep the ground game rolling against a Redskins' defense that can give up yards: look for Bradshaw down near the goal line, fumbles notwithstanding. Washington go through rookie phenom RGIII and he will challenge the Giants tonight, especially with Garcon back in the lineup, the continued development of Aldrick Robinson and...

Since 2007, the Packers are 19-5 against the spread as underdogs: I'm not a great fan of this kind of stat, but in this case it sums up my feelings about this game. The Giants have looked poor of late and Manning has been out of sync with the rest of his offense. The Packers' secondary is soft, but as an entire stop unit, they operate pretty efficiently. Even missing Clay Matthews they can mount a decent pass rush and the Giants have problems along the offensive line. Bradshaw is banged up: look for Andre Brown to get touches. The Packers' run game isn't too pretty either, but Rodgers should be able to get after a middling secondary and I expect him and his receivers to put up numbers: look for Randall Cobb. I'll take the points. [b]Pick: Green Bay Packers +2 @ 2 [i] Pick:...

Go with the emotion of the Giants playing at home for the victims of hurricane Sandy. Seriously. [b]Pick: New York Giants -3.5 @ 2 [i]Pick: 1st TD Heath Miller @ 15 Pick: Anytime TD Hakeem Nicks @ 2.1[/i] [/b]

The Giants are small-balling their way to the World Series and the Tigers still don't seem to be able to muster any offense to choke off the momentum. San Francisco managed another shut out last night - the last time back to back shut outs happened in the World Series was when the Orioles did it in 1966 ... and that's the only other time it's been done! Cain is something of an unknown quantity where the Detroit hitters are concerned and interestingly, Scherzer (who has been outstanding) has traditionally struggled against the Giants. This is all about momentum though. [b]Pick: San Francisco Giants @ 2.33[/b]

The Giants are strong on the road ATS (10-3-1 since 2011) and I'll take them to cover tonight. Manning went 26 of 40 for 337, but looked slightly out of sync last week and Coughlin needs to get Bradshaw rolling, particularly catching out of the backfield now that the Cowboys have lost Sean Lee. Cruz is a beast and can prosper in this matchup where he's likely to draw Scandrick operating in the slot; look for the usual big play attempt with Cruz on the end. Unfortunately for Dallas, they're badly depleted in the run game, because Washington ran all over the Giants last week: Phil Costa's absence won't help and the net result is that the Cowboys will need to rely on Romo's arm and he has struggled to produce consistently this season - largely because of continuing protection problems....

Bumgarner comes good and the Giants are out to a two game lead. I've taken a little of the 3.6+ available on the Tigers for the World Series. This is a team with a strong rotation and dangerous hitters and the Giants have ridden the wave of emotion at home and caught a few breaks, but if Detroit can find some form at the plate, they can come back in a hurry. Tonight's game looks like going the way of the home team, but I can't back the Tigers at the price, especially as their bats are so anaemic and Vogelsong hasn't given up more than one run in his last six starts. Of Sanchez's last ten starts, nine have been quality starts, so all the numbers suggest a pitchers' duel. It's at a cool Comerica and Fieldin Culbreth is 13/23 O/U behind home. I'll go Under. [i] [b]Under 7 @ ...

1.92/10.50; 1.53/2.55 WHIP/ERA Madison Bumgarner; Doug Fister L3. Tigers hitting lefties at .307 L5 and Giants just hitting. I'd prefer it without Dan Iassogna behind home, but this goes Over. [b]Pick: Over 7 @ 2.00[/b]