Giants best of unappealing options in clash for NFC East supremacy

A cracked rib and punctured lung did not stop Tony Romo from playing, and neither will a bruised right hand. The Dallas Cowboys quarterback deserves extra credit for his toughness.

But he still has a lot to earn when it comes to being known as a big-game player. Romo has the star on his helmet, yet he shrinks too often when the spotlight is most intense.

The Cowboys and Giants will clash Sunday in New York. The NFC East title is on the line in the regular-season finale. It can get better than this, because both teams are 8-7, but it's by far the most intriguing matchup the NFL has to offer.

Handicappers are faced with two unappealing options, however. The Giants have a track record of being dismal home favorites. The Cowboys have a track record of choking in pressure situations.

Do you want broccoli or peas with your prime rib?

I'll side with the Giants as 3-point favorites, mostly because quarterback Eli Manning has put together a solid season while the shaky Cowboys appear to be falling apart.

First, here's a reason to hesitate before betting the Giants -- they are 5-15 against the spread as home favorites the past three seasons, including 1-5 this season.

There are a few more reasons to support New York, and some are more about Dallas' tendency to disappoint, especially in prime time and frequently in this rivalry.

The Cowboys have lost six straight games on "Sunday Night Football," and they have dropped six of the past eight to the Giants. Trends are not everything, though history can be an accurate predictor of the future. In 2008, the Cowboys went to Philadelphia for the finale with a wild-card playoff spot up for grabs, and the Eagles rolled to a 44-6 victory.

Dallas' offense has not been the same since running back DeMarco Murray, a former Bishop Gorman High School star, went down with a broken right ankle in the teams' first meeting.

On the sideline, the Giants' Tom Coughlin has a clear coaching edge over Jason Garrett, who is a game-management mistake waiting to happen.

New York is in this do-or-die situation only because Manning delivered in a previous one, passing for 400 yards and two touchdowns to rally the Giants to an improbable 37-34 win at Dallas on Dec. 11. Romo is hurting, and I expect Manning to knock him out.

Four more plays for Week 17 (home team in CAPS):

■ VIKINGS (-1) over Bears: Either of Minnesota's options at quarterback, Christian Ponder or Joe Webb, are better than Chicago's Josh McCown. The Vikings still have a running attack with Toby Gerhart. Injuries have decimated the Bears' offense, and linebackers Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher also are hobbled.

■ Panthers (+8) over SAINTS: Drew Brees will play long enough to protect his passing yardage record, so don't count on New Orleans resting key starters. The Saints are 7-0 straight up and ATS at the Superdome, but this looks like their flat spot, assuming San Francisco is locking up the NFC's No. 2 seed by handling St. Louis. Rookie quarterback Cam Newton is inspiring Carolina, which has won and covered four of its past five games, to finish strong.

■ DOLPHINS (-2½) over Jets: Despite running back Reggie Bush being sidelined by a knee injury, Miami is a bet-on team with a recent 8-1 ATS record. Rookie Daniel Thomas will fill in for Bush. The Jets, 2-5 straight up and ATS on the road, had their playoff hopes all but crushed in a 29-14 loss to the Giants.

■ RAIDERS (-3) over Chargers: It's tough to side with San Diego again after its weak effort in a blowout loss at Detroit. Oakland has owned this rivalry lately by winning three in a row. The Raiders have far more incentive to win, and quarterback Carson Palmer is getting a big-play target back in Jacoby Ford.

Last week: 2-3 against the spread

Season: 41-35-4

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports betting columnist Matt Youmans can be reached at 702-387-2907 or myoumans@reviewjournal.com.