New York Giants 2007 Draft Preview
Football Betting Lines
04/04/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Giants have two gaping holes to fill. One is at left tackle, where Luke Petitgout was released (and subsequently became a Buccaneer), and Bob Whitfield retired. Trouble is, the only two tackles with bona fide first-round talent are Joe Thomas (Wisconsin) and Levi Brown (Penn State), both of whom will likely go in the Top 10. Unless the G-Men trade up, drafting an LT will be a reach. It looks a lot like left guard David Diehl will be moving over to protect Eli Manning in 2007. The other problem is in the backfield, where the Giants have no one to replace Tiki Barber's production in the receiving game. Barber averaged 64 catches a year over the final eight seasons of his career, while probable 2007 starter Brandon Jacobs has a grand total of 11 receptions in two NFL seasons, and recent acquisition Reuben Droughns is not known for his pass-catching skills. Other areas that should concern Giants fans are wideout, where the team lacks depth; linebacker, where Antonio Pierce is the only player that has been even remotely consistent over the past two years; and the secondary, where the team has had problems in coverage.
2006 Record: 8-8
First Pick: No. 20
Number of Selections: 8 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7)
RECENT FIRST ROUND HISTORY: 2006 - Mathias Kiwanuka (DE, Boston College); 2005 - none; 2004 - Eli Manning (QB, Ole Miss)*; 2003 - William Joseph (DT, Miami); 2002 - Jeremy Shockey (TE, Miami); 2001 - Will Allen (CB, Syracuse); 2000 - Ron Dayne (RB, Wisconsin); 1999 - Luke Petitgout (OT, Notre Dame); 1998 - Shaun Williams (S, UCLA); 1997 - Ike Hilliard (WR, Florida); 1996 - Cedric Jones (DE, Oklahoma); 1995 - Tyrone Wheatley (RB, Michigan); 1994 - Thomas Lewis (WR, Indiana); 1993 - none; 1992 - Derek Brown (TE, Notre Dame); 1991 - Jarrod Bunch (RB, Michigan); 1990 - Rodney Hampton (RB, Georgia).
*Originally drafted by San Diego, then traded to Giants on draft day in exchange for New York first-round pick Philip Rivers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Young Matt Cain officially takes hold of the No. 2 starting slot in the San Francisco Giants rotation tonight when they host the San Diego Padres in game two of their three-game curtain-raising series at AT&T Park. Cain,
<< Detroit Lions 2007 Draft Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - For all the speculation about the Lions taking Brady Quinn,
Calvin Johnson, or trading down for multiple picks, it would still fly in the
face of the logic if GM Matt Millen does anything other than draft Wisconsin
left tackl
<< Washington Redskins 2007 Draft Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Washington places little to no value on the draft, as
evidenced by the fact that it has one pick among the first 142 and has an NFL-
low five selections overall. Which isn't to say that the Redskins are without
needs, particu
<< Pettitte's return to the Bronx rained out
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Andy Pettitte's much anticipated return to the
Bronx will have to wait as Wednesday's game between the New York Yankees and
Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Yankee Stadium has been postponed due to rain.
No makeup da
<< New Orleans Saints 2007 Draft Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Saints defense was held together with duct tape last
season, and the New Orleans brass wasn't delusional enough to believe the team
could get by under similar circumstances in 2007. Head coach Sean Payton has
spoken publi
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A.J. Burnett hopes to put an injury-plagued 2006 behind him this afternoon when the Toronto Blue Jays play the middle contest of their season-opening three-game set against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. After signi
Wizards, Bobcats close out home-and-home set >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Wizards are caught in a funk and will try to
right the ship tonight versus the Charlotte Bobcats in the back end of a home-
and-home series at the Verizon Center.
Washington dropped a 122-102 decision on
White Sox aim to rebound against Indians >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jon Garland hopes to give Chicago a better effort than
Jose Contreras did on Opening Day when the White Sox play the middle contest
of their three-game season-opening series with the Cleveland Indians at U.S.
Cellular Field.
Magic host Raptors at Amway Arena >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Orlando Magic try to keep their playoff hopes
moving in the right direction this evening, as they resume a four-game
homestand versus the Toronto Raptors at Amway Arena.
Orlando currently owns the
Hawks swoop into New Jersey >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New Jersey Nets close out a brief two-game homestand
when they welcome the Atlanta Hawks this evening to Continental Airlines
Arena.
New Jersey has won three of its last four games, including Saturday's 86-
Teams that should be in: Stanford
Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.
Should be in:
Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.
| Southeastern Conference odds | |
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.
Work left to do: Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney. Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson. Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable. Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile. |
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