NFL Picks Week 10: San Francisco 49ers vs. NY Giants Week 10 Prediction

The San Francisco 49ers and NY Giants game at Candlestick Park has the makings for the NFL's premier matchup during Week 10.

Will it live up to the hype? More importantly, who emerges victorious? Who keeps pace in the NFC with the as-of-yet unbeaten Packers, and remains in the hunt for a first-round bye in the playoffs?

Winning this heavyweight fight hinges on the battle of the No. 6's. The 49ers rank sixth in rushing offense, while the Giants' passing game finds itself in the same position in that offensive statistical category.

On the other side of the ball, both teams are ranked in the bottom 16 in the NFL in stopping each other's respective offensive strengths.

One squad's 3-1 record will go down—the 49ers home vs. the Giants road standing. Frank Gore seeks to extend his streak of 100-plus yards/game rushing, while Eli Manning looks to maintain his career-best 98.8 QB rating.  Both hope the other will fail in these respective endeavors.

Continue reading for this prediction and for all the NFL Week 10 picks. Let's begin with the NFC West.

Gore vs. the Giants Front 7; Manning vs. the 49ers Secondary

To be sure, there are formidable elements in the Giants defense. They rank No. 1 in the NFL in total sacks. However, that is exactly why Gore and backup Kendall Hunter will shred through this defense.

As with the game against the Lions, the 'Niners offensive line will make Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora and their fellow defensive ends over-pursue off the edges, while simultaneously sealing off the defensive tackles.

This allows Gore and Hunter to power through holes up the middle, and cut it to the outside for big gains against a weak linebacker corps. The Giants interior defensive linemen of Linval Joseph and Chris Canty are not in the same league as Ndamukong Suh and Corey Williams of the Lions.

Gore and his fellow running backs will have San Fran dominating time of possession, thus keeping Manning off the field. This will force Eli to operate his few offensive series in an overly comeback fashion.

Employing multiple wide receiver sets and scrapping any sort of a rushing attack will allow rookie sensation linebacker Aldon Smith and monster DE Justin Smith to focus solely on bringing Manning to the ground. The pocket will constantly collapse around Eli.

Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman will control the underneath routes with their tremendous abilities in coverage. Carlos Rogers and his fellow secondary will feast off an uncomfortable Manning with two INTs.

The 'Niners force and recover a fumble for a total of three Giants turnovers.

With that dominant San Fran running game, look for head coach Jim Harbaugh to allow Alex Smith to exploit the defense. The safeties bite with a couple play-action deep passes down the seam to TE's Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker.

Manning throws a meaningless TD in mop-up duty.

49ers 27, Giants 17.

NFC West

St. Louis Rams (1-7) over the Cleveland Browns (3-5)

Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will not allow INT-prone Sam Bradford to attack the Browns' No. 1 ranked passing defense. Steven Jackson destroys this dismal 30th-ranked rushing defense, as the Rams pull off the upset on the road.

Philadelphia Eagles (3-5) over the Arizona Cardinals (2-6)

Michael Vick and his fellow Eagles reestablish themselves in this must-win game against a horrible Cardinals squad.

This is not a team that can travel to the Eastern time zone and pull off a victory in a 10 A.M. PST game. However, look for rookie phenom Patrick Peterson to pull off an electrifying punt return.

Baltimore Ravens (6-2) over the Seattle Seahawks (2-6)

Despite coming off an extremely emotional win over rival Steelers, the Ravens crush the dismal Seahawks in laughter.

NFC North

Green Bay Packers (8-0) over the Minnesota Vikings (2-6)

Eliminate expectations of this being any sort of a divisional Monday Night "showdown." Packers don't quite reach the 40 point total, but win big.

Detroit Lions (6-2) over the Chicago Bears (5-3)

This game is the highly anticipated NFC North matchup.

The Bears are streaking with a much-improved offensive line, allowing Jay Cutler clean passing lanes. On the other hand, the Lions are rested coming off a bye week and the Bears are playing on short rest after a Monday Night game win against the Eagles.

Forte accrues some good fantasy rushing stats, but a rested Matthew Stafford exploits the 26th ranked passing defense in the win.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons (5-3) over the New Orleans Saints (6-3)

While the Saints have two consecutive victories at the Georgia Dome, the Falcons are 20-4 over their last 24 on home turf. Turner rushes for well over 100 yards in the upset win against an inconsistent New Orleans squad.

Carolina Panthers (2-6) over the Tennessee Titans (4-4)

The Titans cannot run the ball nor can they stop it. Cam Newton (seven TDs), and his running back tandem of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart pile it on in an exciting upset at home. 

Houston Texans (6-3) over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4)

The fifth-ranked Texans defense in points allowed stifle a Bucs team that cannot score TDs in the red zone. Arian Foster and Ben Tate run wild over the Tampa Bay rushing defense ranked 26th in the NFL.

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys (4-4) over the Buffalo Bills (5-3)

Ex-Cowboys coach Chan Gailey and the Bills lose two in a row for the first time this season. Meanwhile, Dallas wins two in a row as Tony Romo throws for three touchdown passes against a Bills secondary that made even Mark Sanchez look impressive in Week 9.

Miami Dolphins (1-7) over the Washington Redskins (3-5)

Holy winning streak! The Dolphins squeeze out a victory in a low scoring affair against the reeling Redskins.

AFC West *(Raiders Defeated the Chargers 24-17 on Thursday Night)

Denver Broncos (3-5) over the Kansas City Chiefs (4-4)

The AFC West remains as deadlocked as ever when Tim Tebow continues his winning ways with the unorthodox spread offense against the Chiefs.

Kansas City continues to free-fall down a brutal schedule that'll put them at 4-10 through Week 15.

AFC North

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) over the Cincinnati Bengals (6-2)

Bengals fall in their first test for divisional supremacy. The Steelers D brings rookie QB Andy Dalton down to earth in this hard-hitting slugfest.

Cincinnati's second-ranked rushing defense plays to its, abilities but Roethlisberger throws a game winning TD pass.

AFC South

Indianapolis Colts (0-9) over the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6)

Week 10 game of the week! Or not.

The Colts do get their first victory in 2011 over the Jaguars, who for all intents and purposes should be sporting a winless record.

Predicted Standings Heading into Week 11

NFC West

1. San Francisco 8-1, 2. Seattle 2-7, 3. Arizona 2-7, 4. St. Louis 2-7

NFC North

1. Green Bay 9-0, 2. Detroit 7-2, 3. Chicago 5-4, 4. Minnesota 2-7

NFC South

1.  Atlanta 6-4, 2. New Orleans 6-4, 3. Tampa Bay 4-5, 4. Carolina 3-6

NFC East

1. NY Giants 6-3, 2. Dallas 5-4, 3. Philadelphia 4-5, 4. Washington 3-6

AFC West

1. Oakland 5-4, 2. San Diego 4-5, 3. Denver 4-5, 4. Kansas City 4-5

AFC North

1. Baltimore 7-2, 2. Pittsburgh 7-3, 3. Cincinnati 6-3, 4. Cleveland 3-6

AFC South

1. Houston 7-3, 2. Tennessee 4-5, 3. Jacksonville 2-7, 4. Indianapolis 1-9

AFC East

1. NY Jets 6-3, 2. New England 5-4, 3. Buffalo 5-4, 4. Miami 2-7