



This column appears courtesy of BestOnlineSportsbooks.info

The Eagles have not defeated, or covered the US sportsbook spread against, the Philadelphia Eagles since September 9th, 2014. Additionally, Philly has not beaten Washington on the road since September 9th, 2013. About the only certainty for the Eagles against the Skins is that the total will go over. Will this status quo finally change when these two teams collide on Sunday? If it does, and if it doesn’t too, it will be by a very close margin.

Point Spread Edge Goes to Philadelphia

The Eagles finished the 2016 season with a 12-8 record against the spread, mostly on the strength of a 7-0 ATS start. However, the failed to cover in six of their last seven road games (all of which they lost), and are 0-5 ATS in their last five meetings with the Redskins and 1-4 ATS in their last five visits to Washington. That being said, Philly is a one-point favorite against the Skins. A single point isn’t so farfetched, and the Eagles have added Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith to starting quarterback Carson Wentz’s receiving corps. These three are still fairly new to each other but, on paper, they should combine for a lively attack, provided, of course, that the O-Line can help Wentz remain vertical. Unfortunately for him, it might as well been called the No-Line; Wentz was sacked nine times and the Eagles scored only one touchdown in two meetings with the Redskins in 2016. But that’s where Lane Johnson comes in. the Skins sacked Wentz five times in Johnson’s first game out of a 10-game suspension, which was precisely the first against Washington. LJ can make a big difference on Sunday toward Philly covering.

Total pointing to Under

Other than Philly losing and failing to cover the spread, the total going over has been the common denominator between these two teams. More specifically, it has gone over in four of their last six encounters – including the two from last season. Additionally, the total has gone over in four of the Eagles’ last six overall games and in six of their last seven on the road. Meanwhile, the total has gone over in 17 of the Redskins’ last 21 games overall as well as in eight of their last 10 at home. So why wouldn’t it be any different this time? Both teams seemed to be stacked on defense. Philadelphia lost nose tackle Bennie Logan but acquired defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan while the Skins have outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan – who has 9 sacks and 5 forced fumbles in 10 games versus the Eagles – and cornerback Josh Norman. The total being tied for fourth highest for Week 1, it’s difficult to picture offense trumping defense sufficiently for these teams to combine to go over.

All things considered, it would be easy to play it safe and assume there will be no change in the current order of things. Then again, we can never rule out a paradigm shift, which would coincide, as many expect, with Wentz having a breakout season.