After losing both Alex Smith and Colt McCoy to season-ending injuries, it’s officially Mark Sanchez time in Washington. The 6-6 SU Redskins are still alive in the NFC playoff race, but a loss to the New York Giants in Week 14 at FedExField could go a long way to erasing those postseason aspirations. Sportsbooks opened the ’Skins as 3.5-point home underdogs with a total of 41.
- The total has gone UNDER in the Giants’ last four games vs the Redskins (avg. combined score: 30.0).
- The Giants are 5-0 ATS in their last five games on the road.
- The total has gone UNDER in eight of the Giants’ last 10 games vs their division on the road.
Giants vs Redskins Game Center
Redskins, Giants trending in different directions
The Redskins, who topped the Giants 20-13 in Week 8 as a 1-point favorite, have dropped four of five since. With Smith already out with what could be a career-threatening leg injury, McCoy went down with a broken fibula in Week 13 in the Redskins’ 28-13 setback to the Philadelphia Eagles. Sanchez, the third-stringer who signed with the team only a few weeks ago, came into the game and went 13-for-21 for 100 yards and an interception.
New York has been trending in the opposite direction since its first meeting with Washington, winning three of its past four entering this one. Normally that would be perceived as good news, yet the 4-8 Giants are too far back to make a run at the postseason and their chances of obtaining the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft (and potentially selecting a franchise quarterback) are worsening with each victory.
The Giants are coming off a 30-27 overtime triumph over the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears last week thanks to kicker Aldrick Rosas’ game-winning 44-yard field goal in the extra frame. Star wide receiver Odell Beckham, who caught a touchdown pass in the contest, threw his second score of the season in a 49-yard bomb to Sterling Shepard.
While Giants fans won’t be happy with their team’s winning ways, sports bettors aren’t complaining. New York is 3-0-1 ATS in its last four games and 7-5 ATS on the season while covering in each of its previous five road games.
Is another UNDER in store in this series?
When it comes to the total, bettors may want to pay close attention to the price on the UNDER. In the past four meetings between the NFC East rivals, the UNDER is 4-0 with an average combined score of 30 points. The UNDER is also 4-1 in Washington’s past five against divisional opponents at home and 8-2 in the Giants’ past 10 vs NFC East clubs on the road.
My pick: take the Giants
The Giants are looking like a completely different squad compared to the one that dropped five of its first six games of the season, and the sudden emergence of the offense is a big reason why. Washington has been a much better team at home than on the road but with Sanchez under center, I don’t have much confidence in the ’Skins at home.
New York’s defense is also a vastly improved unit of late which could create headaches for the journeyman signal-caller. Take the Giants on the road.
