Cowboys vs. Giants: Spread Info, Line and Predictions

The New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys are set to kick off the 2012 NFL season, which will also double as the official start to the professional football wagering season and triple as the beginning of the fantasy football season.

If you are like most NFL fans, there’s little doubt you engage in fantasy football and occasionally put some bets on the games.

Keep reading for a guide on how to bet the Cowboys vs. Giants, some fantasy advice and much more.

Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.

When: Wednesday, Sept. 5 at 8:30 p.m. ET

Watch: NBC

Live Stream: Sunday Night Football All Access

Spread: Giants -4 (via ScoresAndOdds.com)

Go with the New York Football Giants in this situation. The Cowboys were absolutely awful down the stretch last season, finishing a paltry 1-6 against the spread.

While it’s a new season, the personnel is much of the same for these two squads as it was when they last met on New Year's Day 2012.

The G-Men shellacked the Cowboys in that game, 31-14, even as three-point underdogs.

Expect a similar result, as the Giants pass rush is simply too dominant against Big D, recording 14 sacks in the past five meetings compared to four total by Dallas.

With no time to throw, Tony Romo can’t do any damage, while Eli Manning will have all the time he needs to make a large, spread-covering victory happen.

Over/Under: 45 (via ScoresAndOdds.com)

Lean to the under here. In five of the Cowboys' last six total games and road games, the total has gone under, while the Giants have also hit the under in six of the last seven, including five of the last six at home.

Because of those trends, plus the defensive prowess of both squads, it just makes perfect sense to take the under.

Key Injuries (via CBSSports.com)

DAL WR Miles Austin—HIP—PRB

DAL WR Dez Bryant—KNEE—PRB

DAL RB DeMarco Murray—WRIST—PRB

DAL LB DeMarcus Ware—HAMSTRING—PRB

DAL TE Jason Witten—SPLEEN—QST

NYG DB Prince Amukamara—LEG—QST

NYG LB Michael Boley—HAMSTRING—PRB

NYG RB Ahmad Bradshaw—HAND—PRB

NYG WR Hakeem Nicks—FOOT—QST

NYG LB Mathias Kiwanuka—GROIN—QST

Fantasy Big Plays

Dez Bryant

The Cowboys wide receiver is in line for a big game if he’s healthy and available.

If Miles Austin is also on the field, it’s almost a guarantee that Bryant will spring a few massive plays against Michael Coe.

The Giants secondary, especially at the corner position, has been absolutely devastated by injury. New York will allow the 28-year-old journeyman to make his first start on Wednesday.

Expect Bryant to absolutely burn Coe on a few plays and show him what it’s like to face a truly elite receiver going full speed.

Eli Manning

With the Cowboys starting first-round draft pick Morris Claiborne and free-agent acquisition Brandon Carr at cornerback, the Giants QB will have a few opportunities to test and see whether they've had trouble adjusting to the new system.

It’s almost a given that there will be at least one or two major breakdowns in the defensive scheme, which should allow for Manning to capitalize and put up some solid fantasy numbers.

Key to Cowboys Win: Attack Coe

Dallas has two elite receivers, while the Giants have one elite cornerback. Michael Coe is going to be on the field for much of Wednesday night’s contest, meaning that he will be matched up with Bryant or Austin and expected to contain one of the beastly wideouts.

Obviously, that’s quite a tall task to ask of a man that hasn’t made a start yet in his career that started in 2007 and has taken him to three different teams before finding another chance with the G-Men in 2010.

If the Cowboys are going to win, they’ll keep throwing at Coe all game long and try to come up with big plays.

Key to Giants Win: Rush Romo

The Giants have the most fearsome pass-rushing group in the league and should have no problem absolutely destroying Romo.

This is how they won a Super Bowl in 2007 and 2011 and how they win games during the regular season.

Should New York struggle to get into the backfield and bring pressure, it doesn't have much of a chance to win the game. Fortunately, that hasn’t been a problem in recent years.

Prediction: Giants 21, Cowboys 14

It’ll be a close, back-and-forth contest, but eventually Big Blue’s relentless pressure is going to force Romo into making a critical mistake.

The G-Men will capitalize on that turnover and score the deciding touchdown in the fourth quarter to ice the game.