Washington vs Minnesota Betting?
Washington Continues March Toward .500 – Visit Lowly Vikings Thursday Night
The Washington Redskins and Minnesota Vikings meet on Thursday Night Football in a matchup of teams that made the playoffs last year and but struggling to maintain credibility half way through this NFL season.
Washington (3-5) at Minnesota (1-7)
When: 8:25 PM ET, Thursday, November 7, 2013
Where: Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Broadcast: NFL Network
Redskins vs. Vikings Betting Lines
Washington Redskins -1 -125 -135 Ov 49½ -110
Minnesota Vikings +1 +105 +115 Un 49½ -110
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Redskins-Record: 3-5, Offense Passing: 12th, Offense Rushing: 5th, Defense Passing: 28th, Defense Rushing: 22nd
Vikings-Record: 1-7, Offense Passing: 23rd, Offense Rushing: 16th, Defense Passing: 29th, Defense Rushing: 11th
The Skins, despite being just 3-5 are still in the thick of the NFC East race after a thrilling win in overtime last week against the pesky Chargers while the Vikes – they let another one slip away in the last minute last week and eventually succumbed to the Cowboys in Dallas.
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Don’t blame the Washington Redskins offense for their 3-5 record! This team has been gaining yards by the bunches and is averaging 25.4 points and 407.6 yards. Robert Griffin III has been OK this year and is getting better as his health improves – 2,169 yards and nine touchdowns (with nine interceptions unfortunately) and he has rushed for 257 yards.
A lot of criticism has been directed his way but it is clear that he was not 100% early in the year.
RG III, as mentioned has been better of late – Pierre Garcon has 54 reception to lead the Skins, emerging Tight End Jordan Reed has 38 catches, and Leonard Hankerson has 24 catches and three touchdowns.
Alfred Morris has rushed for 686 yards and five touchdowns this year. Last week rumbled for a season-high 121 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries against the Chargers – his best effort of the year. Roy Helu and Darrell Young have seven touchdowns between them as well – the running game seems fine.
The reason for the Skins woes this year – the defense! The Skins allow 31.6 points per game – 31st in the league, 398.8 yards per game – 30th in the NFL and they are 22nd in the league in rushing yards against – 116 per game. The Redskins have allowed 17 passing touchdowns so far this season, tied for third-most in the league.
It’s a good thing they are playing a Vikings team that has struggled offensively this year.
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It is hard to believe that the Vikings are largely the same team that went to the playoffs last year – seriously. Christian Ponder will start for the Vikes again this week – I THINK!
The Vikings offense is averaging 23.2 points and 316.8 yards and even Adrian Peterson has looked average at times this year. Kyle Rudolph leads the Vikings with three touchdown catches this season and he also has 30 receptions -second on the team.
He is out with a broken ankle this week which only adds to the woes of this sketchy offense.
Adrian Peterson is still one of the best of not the best running back in football rushing for 711 yards and seven touchdowns – it will be all up to him on Thursday night. He tied his season high with 140 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s defeat despite playing with a balky hamstring.
Can you smell a little optimism?
Don’t worry – the defense will squash that. Defensively Minnesota is allowing 31.5 points and 395.1 yards per game and they are 29th against the pass in the NFL. Minnesota’s defense is bad and will face an offense that looks as well rounded as it has this year – pretty scary!
Thursday Night Football Betting Prediction:
A few trends to consider:
• Over is 6-2 in MIN last 8 games overall.
• Over is 8-3 in MIN last 11 games on fieldturf.
Robert Griffin ran for a career-high 138 yards in last season’s matchup with the Vikings. Vikings’ quarterback Christian Ponder threw for 352 yards (with two touchdowns and two interceptions) against the Redskins in Week 6 last season, which was the second 300-yard game of his career. He has not thrown for more than 251 yards in a game since.
Neither defense is very good – I would expect this to be a high scoring game. That said, you have to like the balance of the Redskins to prevail over the one-dimensional Vikes. Minnesota’s best receiving threat Kyle Rudolph won’t suit up – all the Skins weak D will have to do is limit Adrian Peterson’s effectiveness.
Despite being brutal this year I think the Skins defense does at least a serviceable job.
Pick: Washington Redskins -1
