After coming close the last two weeks, New York (0-5 SU, 3-2 ATS) hopes to finally break into the win column when it hosts NFC East rival Washington (1-4, 2-3). The Giants have covered five of the last seven meetings at MetLife Stadium and opened as 3.5-point favorites.
- Date/Time: October 18, 1 p.m. ET
- Stadium: MetLife Stadium
- TV Coverage: Fox
- Sportsbook Odds: Giants -3.5 | O/U 44.5 (Line History)
- Washington vs Giants Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
Washington received early betting support to move this line down to -3, a common point spread in meetings between these rivals. Each of the last four clashes was lined at a field goal or less. New York has been favored by more than 3.5 points just once since 2016.
Washington News & Notes
Nearly two years after suffering a gruesome leg injury, Alex Smith returned at quarterback for Washington in last week’s 30-10 loss to the Rams. Don’t expect the veteran to be under center again this week, however. Smith relieved Kyle Allen after the starter left the game with an arm injury, and coach Ron Rivera has told reporters Allen will get the start again if he’s healthy enough to play.
Allen threw for just 74 yards in nearly two quarters of action in his first start since unseating Dwayne Haskins as Washington’s No. 1 quarterback, but he didn’t get much help from his teammates.
Allen and Smith were sacked a combined eight times on the afternoon behind a Washington offensive line that is allowing 4.2 sacks per game this year, the second-highest average in the league.
Washington has lost its last four games by 14 points or more, allowing at least 30 points in each of them. The team has been even worse against divisional opponents of late, going 1-10 SU in its last 11 and allowing 30-plus points seven times. The OVER is 11-4 in Washington’s last 15 games against NFC East foes.
New York News & Notes
It’s been close but no cigar the last couple of weeks for the Giants, and free safety Logan Ryan has had enough. “No more pats on the back for close losses,” Ryan told ESPN after New York saw a 14-point lead slip away in Sunday’s 37-34 loss at Dallas. “We’re going to do what we got to do to get wins for the fans and for ourselves.”
New York may have pulled off the outright upset last week in Big D if it weren’t for several critical mistakes. The Giants had two touchdowns called back due to penalty, including a beautiful 27-yard play on a fake field goal, and a fumble by quarterback Daniel Jones was returned 29 yards for a touchdown.
The bad news in Dallas didn’t end there as New York also lost outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter for the year due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Last week’s loss dropped the Giants to an NFL-worst 12-41 SU over the past three-plus seasons. However, Washington may be the one team New York has consistently enjoyed success against recently. The G-Men have covered five of the last seven meetings at the Meadowlands.
Betting Pick: Giants -3
New York has shown a lot of improvement over the last couple of weeks against the Rams and Cowboys, and it should finally pay off in the Giants’ most winnable game of the season so far. Washington’s last 21 losses have all come by five points or more.
- The total has gone OVER in 6 of Washington’s last 8 games.
- New York is 1-7 SU and ATS in its last 8 home games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 14 of Washington’s last 17 games at New York.
