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NFL Free Pick: Redskins vs. Vikings Betting Odds & Handicapping Preview

Week 9: Washington vs Minnesota Expert Preview

In Week 9 of the NFL season we will see a match-up between the Washington Redskins (3-5) and the Minnesota Vikings (3-5) at TCF Bank Stadium. Cappers Picks will provide free NFL picks all season.

A pair of NFC teams with identical records who sit at the bottom of their respective divisions will square off on Sunday when the Redskins take on the Vikings in Minnesota.

Bet on NFL Week 9 Football!

Washington vs. Minnesota
When: Sunday, Oct 26 2014 at 1:00 pm ET
Where: TCF Bank Stadium
TV: FOX
NFL Week 9 ATS Gambling Line: pk
NFL Week 9 Gambling O/U Line: 43.5
***2014 BONUSES***
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Click here to view today’s… ATS Matchup Insight | CP Insider Gambling Preview

As the spread indicates this one is a toss up, as two teams sitting in the basements of their divisions will meet up on Sunday afternoon. Both of these teams are coming off road wins in overtime a week ago, with the Skins pulling off what may be one of the biggest upsets so far this season.

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The Skins expect to have QB Robert Griffin III back under center this week for the first time since dislocating his ankle in week 2. The Vikings will again stick with rookie QB Teddy Bridgewater this week.

It might be a bit premature to write both of these teams off as non-playoff teams, but I think it’s pretty safe to say that the loser of this game is going to have a very tough task ahead if they’re hoping to make a post-season appearance.

Redskins

The visitors come into this one after a huge win over their longtime NFC East division rival Dallas Cowboys. Not only did they win a tough rivalry game on the road, but the Skins beat a team that many pundits had pegged as the favourite in the NFC.

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So how did Washington pull it off? Well they did what not many teams have done this year, they got in Tony Romo’s face, sacking him five times and forcing him from the game. While they didn’t quite neutralize the run attack of DeMarco Murray who racked up 141 yards on the ground, the Skins did force him to fumble and kept him out of the end zone.

On offense last week QB Colt McCoy was very good, completing 25 of 30 passes for 299 yards. While he did fire one pick and no TDs he was effective in moving the Washington offense down the field and the run attack of Alfred Morris and Roy Helu Jr. combined for over 100 yards on the ground. When your team can produce over 400 yards of total offense you’re going to put yourself in position to win more often than not.

Whether this was the Dallas defense finally looking like the one everyone thought it was or Washington opening the playbook on them is open for debate, but either way the Skins offense was effective enough to get the W after their D limited the Cowboys to just 17 points.

Vikings

Minnesota narrowly got out of Tampa Bay with a win last week, after a defensive fumble return TD in overtime sealed the game. The Vikings offense was nothing to write home about as rookie QB Teddy Bridgewater struggled to hit his targets on a lot of plays, going just 24/42 for 241 yards and a TD.

The Matt Asiata project at running back would appear to be officially over as Jerrick McKinnon carried the load on the ground against the Bucs with 16 carries for 83 yards (5.2 yds/carry). McKinnon is a stout and powerful back who looks like he’ll be carrying the mail for the rest of the season.  There was a big time Cordarrelle Patterson sighting last Sunday; the wideout hauled in six passes for 86 yards including a few highlight reel grabs to extend drives late in the game for the Vikings.

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Defensively the Vikes are pretty savvy and are surrendering just 323 yards of offense per game (8th in the NFL) as well as allow just 21 points per game, good enough for 12th in the NFL. If the offense can move the ball and score, the Vikings have a legitimate shot to win a lot of their games, but that’s a big “if”.

Week 9 Redskins vs. Vikings 4* Free Pick

To be honest I was leaning toward the Redskins early in the week until I heard that RGIII could get the start. I don’t really understand why Skins coach Jay Gruden would go with Griffin, who hasn’t started in nearly two months over a guy who gave you a great performance last week and beat the top team in your division. The Skins are heading into a bye next week and Griffin could have an extra two weeks of rest before being marched out against a pretty tough defense this week.

That being said, I think if Griffin starts he struggles and puts his team behind the eight ball early on. If Bridgewater and the Vikes get up a couple of scores by half, Gruden is going to have a real decision on his hands as to whether he rides out Griffin or goes back to McCoy.

I like the Vikings to win at home this week.

Check out our Updated NFL Week 9 Odds.

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By Matt Durnan

A (self-proclaimed) fantasy sports guru since 2004 and a journalist since 2007. He has been offering unsolicited sports gambling advice to his circle of friends for years and has now put himself at the mercy of online readers everywhere. "It's not whether you win or lose, it's how much fun you have"... His hockey coach told him that when he was 7. His team lost every game that year.