Washington Redskins vs. New York Giants Betting Odds, Analysis, NFL Pick

The New York Giants will try to get their first win of the season versus a team they have enjoyed a lot of recent success against when they host the Washington Redskins in Week 3 on Thursday night. The Giants have won the last four meetings with the Redskins both straight up and against the spread.

Point spread: The Giants opened as three-point favorites; the total was 45 early in the week, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. (Line updates and matchup report)

NFL pick, via Odds Shark computer: 25.5-23.6 Giants

Why the Redskins can cover the spread

Washington picked up its first win of the season with a 24-10 victory against the St. Louis Rams in Week 2 as a three-point home underdog. It will bring that momentum to the Meadowlands, hoping to make it two wins in a row.

The Redskins got a breakout performance from rookie running back Matt Jones, who carried the ball 19 times for 123 yards and scored two touchdowns. Jones is a third-round pick out of Florida who gives the team more of a home-run threat out of the backfield to complement Alfred Morris.

Another positive for Washington has been the play of the defense, holding an opponent to just one offensive touchdown for the second time in as many weeks to start the year. The Redskins have not played offensive juggernauts by any means in either of their first two games, but New York is not any better than St. Louis or the Miami Dolphins.

Why the Giants can cover the spread

The Giants have lost their first two games by a combined five points and could have won either of them. If it were not for a late touchdown scored by the Atlanta Falcons in last week’s 24-20 home loss, they would at least be 2-0 ATS heading into this game against Washington. Instead, New York is searching for answers and trying to figure out how to avoid defensive breakdowns for the third straight game.

The Redskins are not the same offensive threat as the Falcons or the Dallas Cowboys were in the season opener, and the Giants know them well as a division rival. The schedule does not get any easier for them after this game, either, so there should be some desperation here to get a victory before hitting the road for four of their next six.

Smart pick

New York has owned Washington lately and will be motivated to get a win in this prime-time spot. The Giants know if they can get their first victory against the Redskins, they will have extra rest before visiting the Buffalo Bills the following week and could well be 2-2 before their next home game.

While Washington has played well defensively in the first two games, New York wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will be the difference-maker and lead his team to an easy win and cover on Thursday night.

Betting trends

The Giants are 4-0 SU and ATS in their last four games against the Redskins.

The total has gone under in five of the Redskins’ last six divisional road games.

The Giants are 2-9 SU and 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games in September.

All point spread and lines data courtesy of Odds Shark, and all quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line movement updates and get the free odds tracker app.