Redskins vs Vikings 2019 NFL Week 8 Odds & Game Prediction

The Washington Redskins fired head coach Jay Gruden and got a temporary boost, winning at Miami, 17-16, in the first game under interim coach Bill Callahan. However, the Redskins reverted to form at home in a 9-0 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, most of which was played in driving rain. Washington still cannot move the ball, and they have a difficult time slowing down opposing defenses as well. Now they head to Minnesota to take on a Vikings team that started out 2-2 but has since run off three wins in a row, taking down the Giants, the Eagles and Lions in succession. Can the Vikings make it four wins in a row, as quarterback Kirk Cousins makes his return to Washington? Or will the Redskins pull off the massive upset? We have your NFL betting preview right here.

Redskins vs Vikings 2019 NFL Week 8 Odds & Game Prediction

Final injury report for #WASvsMIN 🔗: https://t.co/S1IZPv5mSF pic.twitter.com/nSMi3jTFAl

— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) October 23, 2019

When: Thursday, October 24, 2019, 8:20 pm ET Where: US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis TV: FOX / NFL Network Radio: Westwood One Live Stream: FOX Sports GO NFL Odds: Washington +16.5 / O/U 42

Why should you bet on the Redskins?

Washington needs to get better play out of their skill positions if they want to win this game. Adrian Peterson carried the ball 20 times for 81 yards but also coughed up a fumble. Case Keenum went 9 for 12 for just 77 yards. As a team, Washington only gained 154 yards of offense on the day. Keenum only has four interceptions through seven games, but he also only has nine touchdowns — to just four interceptions. In their last nine games as a road underdog, Washington has covered five times in their last nine games as a road underdog — but just twice in their last six games as an underdog during the 2019 campaign. If you like Washington here, you see Minnesota taking their foot off the gas against a team they perceive to be a bit of an easy mark and the Redskins making them pay. Since Washington managed to hold San Francisco to nine points (even in the rain), though, it would be odd indeed for the Vikings to take the Redskins for granted.

Why should you put your money on the Vikings?

Minnesota is finally seeing the Kirk Cousins that they paid the big bucks for two offseasons ago. Against Detroit, Cousins went 24 for 34 for 337 yards and four scores. Tailback Dalvin Cook finally appears to be getting on track as well, running for 142 yards on 25 attempts and finding the end zone twice. Minnesota gained 503 yards of offense and went the whole game without a turnover. Cousins now has 13 touchdown passes on the year, and Cook has found the end zone eight times. The Vikings have covered in 11 of their last 15 games as a favorite, dating back to 2018. In 2019, when the Vikings have played at home, they have covered all three times. Cousins has played very well during the three-game winning streak, and Vikings should be excited to see the Redskins’ Swiss-cheese pass defense coming in, since the indoor stadium means that there won’t be the sort of torrential rains that slowed Jimmy Garoppolo and the 49ers offense down a week ago.

Final Score Prediction

Sixteen points is a fairly sizable line. However, the Redskins have not shown that they can do much on offense at all, and their defense has been fairly generous for most of the season. Stefon Diggs seems to be reenergized in Minnesota, so the Vikings have at least two All-Pro receiving targets to give the Washington secondary fits. I predict a final score of Minnesota 41, Washington 16.