SUNDAY, Febuary 5 The New York Giants just completed a startling three-game run through the NFC playoff jungle with a 3-0 mark ATS. En route they flustered the conference’s top two seeds as a road underdog. By contrast, the New England Patriots enjoyed a first-round bye and home playoff wins over underdogs Denver and Baltimore. Anyway, what’s to make of the Giants? Are they a dynamic force careening downhill or a physically and mentally exhausted bunch after climbing Super Bowl Mountain. Since 1997, momentum has trumped fatigue. The nine previous squads that went 3-0 ATS in the playoffs via the long route to the Super Bowl went a cumulative 8-0-1 ATS (6-3 SU) in the title game, including the Giants’ 17-14 upset of the perfect Patriots four years ago as a 12½-point underdog. Now for a closer look at Sunday’s games: Giants (12-7) vs. Patriots (15-3) Time: 3:29 p.m. PT Line: Patriots by 3 (54 OVER/UNDER) (2½ in a number of Vegas books) Facts: The Giants are the first team in history to get this far despite being outscored during the season. Twice they lost to (gasp!) the 5-11 Redskins. Then again, in 1995 Dallas was swept by a 6-10 Washington team but still was Super. The 2001 Patriots won rings despite being outgained 29.8 yards a game, the worst margin for a team that ever even reached a title game. They were +17.9 this year. Analysis: NE ringmaster Bill Belichick has won three titles, but he’s been no genius in head-to-heads with NYG boss Tom Coughlin, going 1-3 SU (0-4 ATS), including the Pats’ late Super meltdown four years ago. Coughlin’s first-year Jaguars even beat Belichick’s Browns in 1995 as 13½-point underdogs. Not to mention Belichick is only 10-15-2 ATS with an extra week to scheme (Coughlin 9-8-1). So, why not to take a Giants team that gave NE its lone home loss this season? Forecast: Giants 34, Patriots 21 Season totals: 135-121-9 ATS (.527) 155-110 straight up (.585)
GamingToday’s Micah Roberts went right back to the Oracle for a new Preakness pick and Jay Rood came up with his selection once he knew Union Rags was not headed to Pimlico.
An Internet gambling bill being considered by New Jersey lawmakers could allow Atlantic City’s casinos to take bets from people in other states or countries, although key details remain to be worked out.
The nation’s commercial casinos continued their slow-but-steady comeback from the recession last year, with revenues up 3 percent nationwide and jobs holding nearly steady, according to a report released Wednesday.
Revel, the $2.4 billion casino resort widely seen as Atlantic City’s best hope of survival, trailed most of its competition in its first month of operation, placing 8th out of the city’s 12 casinos.
New signs are up to direct visitors, the sidewalks have been power-washed, crosswalks have been freshly painted and 1,600 people have been hired to inaugurate the Horseshoe Casino Cleveland on Monday.
