NFL odds Week 8: Redskins a longshot in MNF matchup with Cowboys

The Washington Redskins are expected to start their third different quarterback this season when they visit the hot Dallas Cowboys in an NFC East matchup on Monday Night Football. Although Week 1 starter Robert Griffin III is making progress in his return from an ankle injury, third-stringer Colt McCoy is expected to get the start back in the state where he starred in college for the Texas Longhorns. McCoy led Washington to a 19-17 victory last Sunday as a 6.5-point home favorite and will try to pull off the upset as a 9.5-point road underdog this week at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.

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Kirk Cousins started at QB for the Redskins last week but was pulled with them trailing the Tennessee Titans 10-6 at halftime. McCoy proceeded to complete 11-of-12 passes for 128 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown to wide receiver Pierre Garcon early in the third quarter. Washington is 12-3 against the spread in the last 15 meetings with Dallas -- going 7-1 in the past eight -- but the team has failed to cover four straight overall. Last year, Washington fell 31-16 at Dallas on Oct. 13 as 5.5-point road underdogs and then 24-23 in a home defeat on Dec. 22 as three-point dogs.

The Cowboys are coming off a 31-21 win over the New York Giants last week as 4.5-point home favorites at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. They are riding a six-game winning streak since dropping their season-opener 28-17 at home to the San Francisco 49ers and have gone 4-0 ATS in their past four home games against NFC East opponents. Dallas running back DeMarco Murray has been the key offensively, with an NFL-record seven consecutive 100-yard games to start the year. Murray totaled 128 rushing yards and one touchdown for the Cowboys against the Giants last Sunday.

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Washington is 2-7 ATS in its last nine games as a road dog, while the Cowboys are just 1-4 vs. the line in their past five as home chalk. The teams also have conflicting total trends in divisional betting matchups lately. The UNDER is 7-3 in the last 10 road games for Washington vs. NFC East teams, while the OVER is 5-2 in the past seven home games against divisional foes for Dallas.