New York Giants vs. Washington Redskins: Betting Odds Analysis and Prediction

The New York Giants and Washington Redskins will both try to even their records at 2-2 when they meet in an NFC East matchup on Thursday Night Football.

The Giants finally picked up their first win of the season last week at home and now visit a Washington team that has covered the spread in five of the last seven meetings.

Point spread: Redskins opened as six-point favorites, despite their run of 10 losses in 11 games, but the line was four points as of Wednesday; the total was 45. (Line updates and matchup report)

Odds Shark computer prediction: 18.1-14.1 Giants

Why the Giants can cover the spread

All it took for New York to notch its first victory of 2014 was wide receiver Victor Cruz scoring his first touchdown in 13 games. But seriously, the Giants finally put together a great all-around offensive effort for the first time this season, and it paid off in the win column as they beat the Houston Texans 30-17 after totaling 28 points combined in their first two games.

New York quarterback Eli Manning avoided throwing an interception for the first time in 2014, which also helped, while running back Rashad Jennings had 34 carries for 176 yards and a touchdown. Now the Giants just need to take that show on the road, where they have covered four of their past six games.

Why the Redskins can cover the spread

The Redskins may not have won their first game with QB Kirk Cousins under center this year, but they played almost well enough offensively in a 37-34 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday.

Cousins certainly did his part with 427 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception, helping Washington to cover the spread as a four-point road underdog. The defense just needs to play better, as the team surrendered 27 points total in its first two games.

The Redskins have performed well recently at home against NFC East opponents, going 5-2 against the spread in their past seven games, according to the Week 4 NFL trends report.

Smart Pick

New York saw a big swing of support from bettors last week against the Texans, opening as a home underdog and closing as a favorite. That will not happen again here in this divisional road game against Washington, especially since the public seems to believe in Cousins.

Bettors also won last week with the Redskins, who are 5-2 straight up and against the spread in their last seven games as home favorites. Although both teams have issues on the defensive side of the ball, the Giants struggled immensely in their first two games and had the luxury of playing Houston without star RB Arian Foster.

Washington has too many weapons for New York and will cover yet again.

Trends:

• NY Giants is 6-2 SU in its last eight games at Washington
• Washington is 1-10 SU in its last 11 games
• Redskins 1-10 SU last 11 games
• Redskins 5-2 SU & ATS last seven games as home favorite
• Redskins 5-2 ATS last seven meetings with Giants

Note: All spread and odds data powered by Odds Shark - follow us on Twitter for injury updates and line move updates.