NFL Week 11 Picks: Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills

Reggie Bush is the most important football player to handicap when making your against-the-spread picks on Thursday night, as the Miami Dolphins travel to take on the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium, with the opening kickoff scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET on the NFL Network.

The Dolphins are currently 1.5-point road underdogs in the Week 11 NFL betting odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total has dropped a full point from its opening number to settle in at 45.

Sports bettors need to be aware that the team that has won the rushing battle has compiled a perfect 9-0 record on Thursday night during the 2012 regular season.

Let's take a closer look at this AFC East matchup from a betting perspective, while offering a pro football prediction along the way.

Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins rank sixth in the National Football League in allowing just 94.2 rushing yards per game, but they allowed the Tennessee Titans to rush for 177 yards on 37 carries in last week's 37-3 setback as 6.5-point home favorites.

Sports bettors will find that the Dolphins have covered their last five games as a road underdog of three or fewer points since 2010.

Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills tallied 35 first downs in last week's 37-31 loss to the New England Patriots as 13.5-point road underdogs, as they were unable to overcome 14 penalties for 148 yards.

Buffalo has failed to cover the spread in seven of its last eight games after playing the Patriots, which clearly signals a letdown in this spot, especially when having a shortened week to prepare.

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers back the Miami Dolphins in this Thursday night divisional affair, considering that running back Reggie Bush has averaged 99.7 rushing yards per game in three meetings with the Buffalo Bills.

NFL Week 11 Pick: Miami Dolphins +1.5

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