Washington vs. Vikings Point Spread: NFL Predictions, Week 8 Odds
Looks to be a quite the mismatch on Thursday night to kick off Week 8 around the NFL as the terrible Washington Redskins visit the Minnesota Vikings.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The big story line here – because who wins the game really isn’t in doubt – is Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins facing his former Redskins team. Cousins was a fourth-round pick by Washington in 2012 and eventually took over as the team’s starter for ex-NFL Rookie of the Year Robert Griffin III, who was taken in the first round of the same draft.
For whatever reason, the Redskins slapped the franchise tag on Cousins twice but never tried to re-sign him to a long-term deal. In March 2018, Cousins signed a historic three-year, $84 million deal with Minnesota – historic because no NFL contract of that size had been fully guaranteed previously. Frankly, Cousins hasn’t been worth all that money yet.
This will be Cousins’ first game against Washington because these franchises last played in November 2017 and the Vikings won 38-30 in Maryland. That Minnesota team was very good and reached the NFC title game. Cousins threw for 327 yards, a TD and a pick in the loss. Case Keenum was the Vikings’ quarterback that season and threw for 304 yards and four touchdowns but was intercepted twice. He’s now with Washington.
Minnesota has won six of the past 10 in the series and also covered six of the previous 10. The over has hit in the past six meetings.
Washington Redskins
Washington lost an ugly 9-0 affair at home to the unbeaten 49ers on Sunday, managing just 154 yards and 10 first downs. Keenum threw for all of 77 yards but interim head coach Bill Callahan says the veteran remains his starter. It’s going to be rookie Dwayne Haskins eventually, but you don’t want to throw a rookie in there on a short week and against such a good defence as Minnesota’s. Cornerback Josh Norman (thigh), running back Chris Thompson (toe) and tight end Vernon Davis (concussion) all sat out. Safety Montae Nicholson left with an ankle injury. This club is third-from-last in the league in scoring at 12.9 ppg and 2-5 ATS in its past five Thursday games.
Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota won its third in a row Sunday, 42-30 in Detroit. Cousins got off to a rough start to the season but has been excellent of late. He completed 70.6 per cent of his throws against a good Lion defence with four touchdown passes and no interceptions. Cousins is the fifth quarterback in franchise history and first since 2004 with consecutive games of at least four TD passes. He lost top receiver Adam Thielen to a hamstring injury in the first quarter. Thielen isn’t likely to play Thursday. NFL rushing leader Dalvin Cook had his fifth 100-yard game of the season with 142 and two touchdowns on 25 carries. The Vikings are 4-1 ATS in their past five Thursday games.
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