NFL Week 8 Predictions: Washington Redskins vs. Denver Broncos

Washington Redskins vs. Denver Broncos
Sunday, 10/27/13, 4:25 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Denver -12
Current Betting Line: Denver -11
Opening Total: 55
Current Total: 58
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Washington Redskins are averaging 466 yards over their last two games

Washington has alternated wins and losses over its last four games, as it picked up a 45-41 victory over the Chicago Bears as one-point home underdogs last Sunday, while going OVER the betting total of 47.5. The Redskins must create pressure against Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning if they wish to pull off an upset, which means Ryan Kerrigan and Brian Orakpo are key figures on the defensive end. The duo should have some type of success considering that Denver’s starting offensive line tackles are likely out for this affair. Washington is 3-7 SU and 4-6 ATS in October the last two-plus seasons, with the UNDER going 7-3 in those 10 opportunities.

The Redskins have played their two best games all season long in the last two weeks since the bye week, as they’ve gained an average of 466 yards and scored seven total touchdowns. Washington has gone over 200 yards rushing in back-to-back weeks for the first time since the 1984 campaign. Second-year quarterback Robert Griffin III recorded a season-high 105.2 passer rating last week, as he prepares to take on a defensive unit that allows a league-worst 339.1 passing yards per game.

Denver will look to bounce back from its first loss of the season, as it suffered a 39-33 setback to the Indianapolis Colts as six-point road favorites in Week 7. The Broncos’ 298 points scored this season represents the highest total in NFL history through seven games, which can’t be ignored when looking over the pro football odds page. Offensively, the team is the first in league history to have four players total at least 35 receptions through seven games. Denver is 21-5 SU and 14-9-3 ATS as a favorite since 2011, with the OVER going 17-7-2 in that situation.

The Broncos are averaging 42.6 points and 469.3 yards per game, with Manning throwing for 2,565 yards. Since the beginning of the 2012 season, Denver has outscored its opponents by a 469-231 combined margin in the second half—getting outscored just three times in that 23-game span. Through seven games, the team leads the NFL in converting 52.8 percent of its third-down opportunities.