NFL Betting Lines - Atlanta Falcons vs. New York Giants (-6.5)

Sunday, November 22 -- 1 PM ET

BetUS NFL betting lines: N.Y. GIANTS -6.5, Total 46.5

The Giants are listed as a 6.5-point favorite, with a posted total of 46.5 points.

After four straight losses (straight-up and in the NFL lines), two of which resulting in 40 points or more for the opponent, the Giants are sitting at 5-4 and looking up at Dallas and Philadelphia in the NFC East. This doesn't work. The Giants not only have some problems in the secondary, which hurts them in all situations, but they are even worse in the red zone, where they are allowing a touchdown 76% of the time.

Here are some NFL trends as they relate to this matchup:

• ATL has covered four of its last six games
• ATL has played five of its last six games OVER the total
• ATL has covered two of its last six road games
• ATL has lost five of its last six road games SU
• ATL has played five of its last six road games OVER the total
• NY has lost its last four games SU
• NY is 0-4 ATS in its last four games
• NY is 1-3-1 ATS in its last five home games
• NY has won nine of its last 13 home games SU

Also...

• The last six meetings have gone UNDER the total
• The road team has won the last seven meetings SU
• ATL has won the last five meetings SU as the road team

The running game appears to be something that should work, so why isn't it being used more? When you have 116 yards against the Chargers, as the Giants did last week, it's not tragic, but it's not outstanding, when you consider that Atlanta has had 161, 181 and 175 the last three weeks.

I think there is also some finger-pointing going on there. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a little self-doubt at this point. I have been slow to come around on this, but maybe there is something to the claim that the Giants feasted on weak teams at the start and looked better than they are.

Sure, they beat Dallas, in a game the Cowboys gave them, but the other parts of that 5-0 start were Washington, Tampa Bay, Kansas City and Oakland, while when the sequence against the playoff-level teams came - Philadelphia, New Orleans, Arizona and San Diego - the losses started to come, as the Giants failed against the NFL lines.

It is perhaps fortunate for the Giants that Atlanta is in a vulnerable spot right now. Matt Ryan has thrown six interceptions in the last three games, and is 54% accurate, which is a low figure in an era when passing is less problematic. Michael Turner is iffy at best with a high ankle sprain, and Jerious Norwood has been missing games and isn't the kind of guy they use on every down.

That leaves Jason Snelling for extended use. Since the Falcons have had plenty of headaches in keeping opponents from running the ball (Carolina had 185 against them on Sunday) they play into a Giants strength in that regard.

Maybe I'm going out on a limb here, but I am laying the points with the Giants, the 6.5-point favorite.

JAY'S PLAY: N.Y. GIANTS -6.5 **
(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)