Have Skins in This Game
Final pre-season preparations continue as the Redskins and Bills meet Saturday afternoon at Fed Ex Field in Washington.
In this game, you'll find the line at Bovada slightly liking the home team with the Redskins a one-point favorite.
But if quarterbacking affects the number as much as they say it does, this line should sway much more in Washington's way than what it has.
While both teams have been drastically affected by the injury bug at the quarterback position -- they have three between them who will miss the rest of the pre-season -- it's the Redskins who are left with more to be excited about at the position. And as I said, much more.
Veteran Rex Grossman will start for Washington, replacing Kirk Cousins, who was replacing Robert Griffin III. Grossman came on last Monday night against Pittsburgh in relief after Cousins left with an injury and played quite well, completing 63% of his passes for 133 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The only other quarterback to see action will be Pat White, who shone in the Skins' first pre-season game, helping them come from behind to beat the Titans two weeks ago.
In Bills' camp, Kevin Kolb is expected to handle most of the duties. Based on his only pre-season activity so far, that could spell trouble. Last week against Minnesota, Kolb was a very pedestrian (and that's being nice) 13-21 for 111 yards and an interception. Kolb is coming off an injury that kept him out of Buffalo's pre-season opener and will give way to inexperienced Jeff Tuel because rookie EJ Manuel will sit out the rest of the pre-season after suffering an injury last week.
The suspect quarterbacking for the Bills only plays into a pre-season strength of the Redskins, who have averaged only 284 yards allowed so far in the pre-season.
I expect more action to move toward the Redskins as the morning wears on, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to jump on Bovada and make a big play on Washington before the number gets any higher.
All signs are pointing to the Redskins here, and frankly, I don't see this one being close.
My pick: Washington Redskins -1
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UPDATE:
Result ... Washington 30 Buffalo 7 Redskins cover
Steve Soprano is the founder and handicapper at www.premierticketsports.com