Eagles vs. Redskins Predictions, Picks, Betting Tips 9/13/20

Game: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins

Date: Sunday, September 13, 2020

Location: FedEx Field in Washington, D.C.

TV: Fox

Odds/Point Spread: Philadelphia -6.5

Total/Over-Under: 45.0

The Washington Redskins were the worst team in football last year.

Other teams had worse records. Cincinnati was 2-14 while the Redskins went 3-13. And other teams were outscored by more points. Miami was outscored by 188 points, while the Redskins were outscored by 169. But for my money the Redskins were by far the worst team in by far the worst division in football last year, and that made them the worst team in the NFL.

They will get their first chance to display either continued ineptitude or noteworthy improvement when they host the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1 of the NFL season. The game will take place at 1 p.m., on Sunday, Sept. 13 in FedEx Field.

Philadelphia happened to finish last season as the top team in the league’s worst division, the NFC East. The Eagles parlayed that into a third straight playoff appearance. But you can’t help but feel the growing anxiety within this organization. Just three years ago the Eagles were Super Bowl champions. Yet as they enter the 2020 campaign, a Week 1 win over one of the worst teams in the NFL is far from certain.

Washington’s biggest move this offseason was the hiring of Ron Rivera. The erstwhile Carolina head coach is charged with establishing a baseline competence that has been missing from Washington for most of the past 30 years (and the entirety of the Daniel Snyder ownership).

Rivera inherits a team that is bursting with young talent. Years of poor records have led to a stockpile of Top 10 draft picks. That includes this year’s selection, exciting pass rusher Chase Young, taken No. 2 overall in April. Young represents the fourth straight first round draft pick invested along Washington’s front seven, and the Redskins defense has the potential to make major strides under Rivera and new defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio.

The Eagles roster is not bursting with young talent. It is bloated with old talent. Philadelphia entered last season with the league’s second-oldest 53-man roster. And a quick scan at their starting 11 on both sides of the ball reveals a lot of familiar names for the Birds.

Philadelphia is hoping that the familiarity of its roster leads to a familiar result in this series. They Eagles have beaten the Redskins six straight times, going 5-1 against the spread in those games. Five of the six wins have been by 10 or more points. The road team is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings and 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings.

Interestingly, last year’s Week 1 meeting was the only time in Philly's last six victories over Washington that they didn't beat the Redskins by 10 or more. That game, played in Philadelphia, saw the Redskins blow a 20-7 halftime lead in a 32-27 loss. Washington managed to beat the +10 spread in that game thanks to a garbage time touchdown with six seconds left in the game.

Philadelphia also beat the Redskins in Washington (30-17) in Week 1 of the 2017 season as a small road favorite.

Carson Wentz is healthy (for now) and gives the Eagles another major edge over Washington. As of mid-May, the Redskins appear to be heading into the season with Dwayne Haskins set at quarterback. Haskins was pathetic in his first season at the helm, and my expectations are pretty low for the 2019 first round pick.

There is an outside chance that Kyle Allen, who followed Rivera to Washington from Carolina, could win the starting job in camp. And if he does, I think the Redskins will be a much more formidable opponent in this early season matchup.

It is hard to get behind the Redskins. They have been a joke of a franchise for most of the last 20 years and have been a money burner at the betting window. But I think Rivera is a great fit with the young defensive talent on this roster, and I think he’ll make an instant impact. Throw in a solid offensive line and the deepest running back group in football (led by ageless child-beater and future Hall of Famer Adrian Peterson), and the Redskins have enough physical talent to cause the Eagles problems.

I think that this is too many points for the Eagles to be laying out on the road in Week 1. Opening week road favorites are just 71-82 ATS over their last 153 attempts and are just 26-28 ATS over the last decade. Divisional road favorites in Week 1 are a putrid 5-15 ATS over the last 10 years and 2-5 ATS over the last five years.

Washington has a lot of pent up revenge and plenty of talent. I think Rivera will be able to convert this Redskins team into a tough, rugged group fairly quickly. And as long as the Redskins don’t put the ball in Haskins’ hands, then I think that they have a chance to push the Eagles to the limit.

Who will win the Eagles/Redskins NFL game against the spread?

Robert Ferringo’s Pick: Take Washington (+6.5). 

NOTE: Robert made these picks and predictions in May. Things can and will change in the four months between May and September. These May predictions may or may not match his rated Week 1 picks released to his clients on Thursday, Sept. 10.

Robert Ferringo has been the top football handicapper in the country the past nine years, earning nearly $40,000 in total football profit (average profit: +$4,400). He has also posted 7 of 9 winning seasons (including three straight winning years) and produced an amazing 50 of 76 winning football months over the past 12 years. Robert has eight of 10 winning NFL preseasons and he is at nearly 60 percent winners over his last 1,000 totals picks. Also, Robert's proprietary KING College Football Betting System has posted three of five winning seasons. Robert is looking for a fourth straight winning football year and wants more profit this fall. SIGN UP HERE TODAY AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR 3-FOR-1 FOOTBALL SPECIALS!

We are offering new clients $60 in free college football picks for Robert's picks or any Advisory Board handicapper of your choosing. Get your free college football picks now!