The Washington Commanders (0-2) welcome the New England Patriots (1-1) to Commanders Field in their preseason finale on Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for 8pm ET (NBC/Peacock). Below, we break down FanDuel Sportsbook's line on Commanders vs. Patriots odds and give our expert NFL picks and predictions.
The Patriots are preparing for their first regular season since Bill Belichick left the team, but they still have some roster battles to settle before Week 1. The kicker competition between Chad Ryland and Joey Slye has intensified, with Ryland struggling. Offensively, they have improved after a tough season, but WR Javon Baker's drop and WR Kashon Boutte's questionable performance are concerns. Rookie QB Drake Maye has been the center of attention, but Joe Milton III may surpass Bailey Zappe for the QB3 spot. With a heavily turned-over offensive line, can the Patriots finally score 20 points in Sunday's preseason game?
The Commanders made some moves as the regular season approached, trading WR Jahan Dotson to the Philadelphia Eagles, which will open up opportunities for receivers like Martavis Bryant and Kazmere Allen. With rookie QB Jayden Daniels already named the Week 1 starter (he will not play in this game), the focus will shift to the battle for QB3 between Jeff Driskel and Sam Hartman. The offensive line's struggles last season (allowing the third-most sacks) remain a concern. Like the Patriots, Washington has been shuffling its O-line during the preseason.
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Patriots vs Commanders odds
Courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. For the complete list, visit the USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds Hub. Lines last updated at 2:44 a.m. ET.
Money Line (ML): Patriots -275 (bet $275 to win $100) | Commanders +225 (bet $100 to win $225) Against the Spread (ATS): Patriots -6.5 (-110) | Commanders +6.5 (-110) Over/Under (O/U): 34.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Patriots vs Commanders predictions and forecasts
prediction
Patriots 17, Commanders 13
Money Line
Passed.
I expect the Patriots (-275) to win this game, but I'm not going to bet nearly three units for a one unit win, I'll stick with betting the spread.
Preventing the spread
BetCommanders +6.5 (-110)
It's hard to imagine the Patriots winning by more than six points on the road, especially with injuries and a struggling offensive line. If the QB plays well, they could pull off a win, but it will probably come down to a field goal.
Washington's defense should have no problem containing New England's receivers, and the Commanders should be able to exploit the Patriots' weaknesses. This game will likely be close and won by 3 points or less. Washington should cover the spread.
The Patriots are not strong against the spread, with 6 wins, 13 losses and 1 tie in their last 20 games.
Over/Under
The best strategy when betting on preseason football games is to bet on the under. This goes double for the final game of the preseason, because you will essentially be watching reserve players try to make the roster. The third and fourth line players will make up the majority of the field in this game.
Bet under 34.5 (-110).
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