New York Giants (2-3) at New England Patriots (5-0)

The Patriots have won their first five games by an average of 24.2 points per game and lead the NFL with a +12.57% first down rate differential. Their +121 point differential is already better than all but five teams last season, including the 2018 Patriots. They’ve faced an easy schedule, with their first 5 opponents going a combined 4-10 in their other games, but the schedule doesn’t get any harder this week, with the Giants coming to town. Not only are the Giants one of the weaker teams in the league, but they come into this game missing a significant number of key players due to injury. They will be without star running back Saquon Barkley, backup Wayne Gallman, their two leading receivers Evan Engram and Sterling Shepard, and possibly starting edge defender Lorenzo Carter. 

It’s also very tough for an inferior team to go on the road on a short week and compete on the road against a non-divisional foe, as teams are just 16-35 ATS as non-divisional road underdogs on Thursday Night Football, including 1-9 ATS as underdogs of 10+. It’s hard to imagine the shorthanded Giants not getting blown out on a short week in New England. I have this line calculated at New England -20 and that doesn’t even take into account the short week. I have no problem laying this many points and confidently betting on the Patriots this week.

New England Patriots 34 New York Giants 10

Pick against the spread: New England -17

Confidence: High