ORLANDO vs WASHINGTON
When: 12/26/2020 7:00 PM
Where:

TV: 7:00 PM
LINE: -2
PREDICTION: WASHINGTON , ORLANDO

Oddsmakers currently have the WASHINGTON listed as -2 point favorites versus the ORLANDO, while the game’s total is sitting at 229.

The Orlando Magic kept the scoreboard operator busy en route to recording a four-game season sweep of the Washington Wizards last season.

After scoring at least 120 points in each matchup last season, the Magic aim to continue their mastery of the Wizards on Saturday when they play the first of two straight games in Washington.

Evan Fournier and Aaron Gordon enjoyed sterling shooting performances in the season opener on Wednesday. The duo combined for 45 points on 17-of-24 shooting from the floor in Orlando’s 113-107 win over Miami.

Nikola Vucevic, who collected 15 points and 11 rebounds versus the Heat, turned up the temperature against Washington last season. He scored a season-high 30 points and had 17 rebounds in Orlando’s 125-121 win on Nov. 17 and added 29 points in a 123-89 victory on Jan. 8.

Terrence Ross chipped in 19 points off the bench on Wednesday for the Magic, who relied heavily on those four players last year to secure their second straight playoff appearance.

“I don’t think there is much difference (from last season), and that’s to our benefit,” said Gordon, who made 8 of 11 attempts from the field and finished with 20 points against Miami.

“We have another year of playing together. Another year wiser and another year smarter. … We understand each other’s games.”

Coach Steve Clifford praised the team’s performance in the season opener, but he was quick to note the ability of a Wizards team that he’ll see on consecutive days this weekend.

“Their guards, the Russell Westbrook-Bradley Beal duo, is a tough cover,” Clifford said on Thursday. “They are explosive with (Davis) Bertans being an X-factor with his range. He puts a lot of pressure on your defense.”

Beal erupted for 31 points and Westbrook became the first player in franchise history to record a triple-double in his debut for the Wizards, who dropped a 113-107 decision in Philadelphia on Wednesday.

“The guy is a winning basketball player. He’s a winning teammate,” Washington coach Scott Brooks said of Westbrook, who had 21 points, 15 assists and 11 rebounds.

“We have a long history together. Seeing him, what he does — the intensity level is high. Every possession matters. He plays through exhaustion. Our young players, it’s going to be priceless what they’re going to learn from him and how he treats everybody. It’s remarkable. He plays the right way.”

Westbrook didn’t see his performance on Wednesday in the same light, however.

“Not good enough. Honestly, I’m kind of disappointed in myself,” Westbrook said. “I had some mishaps and plays where I could have been better and had a better game to try to win. I don’t like moral victories at any point in my career. I always like to go out and try to win the game. I’ve gotta be better and I’ll be better next game.”

Beal averaged a robust 34.3 points in three games last season versus Orlando, including a 42-point performance in a 127-120 loss on Dec. 3.

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WASHINGTON vs PHILADELPHIA
When: 1/3/2021 1:00 PM
Where:

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: -4.5
PREDICTION: PHILADELPHIA , WASHINGTON

Oddsmakers currently have the PHILADELPHIA listed as -4.5 point favorites versus the WASHINGTON, while the game’s total is sitting at 43.5.

The battle for the last playoff spot comes down to the last game of the season and involves one of the last teams anyone thought would be in this position back in September.

The Washington Football Team (6-9), which began the season by abandoning a controversial nickname and ends it by moving on from a controversial quarterback, will clinch the NFC East with a victory Sunday night against the host Philadelphia Eagles (4-10-1).

A loss to the Eagles will give the division title and No. 4 seed in the NFC playoffs to the winner of Sunday afternoon’s game between the visiting Dallas Cowboys (6-9) and New York Giants (5-10).

Washington played well in two previous appearances in the national spotlight, roasting the Cowboys 41-16 on Thanksgiving Day and defeating the previously unbeaten Pittsburgh Steelers 23-17 in a Monday game in Week 13. Both of those wins were on the road.

“The one thing I will say, the other two games we’ve been on the stage: our guys came out and played well and had fun,” said head coach Ron Rivera. “That’s the biggest thing. We’ve got to get back to having a little bit of fun. The truth of the matter is we’re playing with house money. That’s the best part about it.”

In his first season on the job, Rivera has Washington on the brink of its first playoff berth since 2015.

“Take the pressure off ourselves and go have fun. That’s the truth of the matter,” Rivera said. “We control our own destiny. It’s in our hands. All the cliches. We’re going to have fun with it and go with it.”

Second-year quarterback Dwayne Haskins won’t be part of the fun. Washington released the 2019 first-round pick on Monday, the day after he committed three turnovers in a 20-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers and a few days after he was fined $40,000 and stripped of his captaincy for COVID-19 protocol violations.

Haskins passed for 178 yards and a touchdown in Washington’s season-opening 27-17 victory against Carson Wentz and the Eagles. Sixteen weeks later, Haskins is gone and Wentz is on the bench for the fourth straight game since losing his job to rookie Jalen Hurts.

Rivera is hoping Alex Smith will return after missing two games with an injured right calf. If not, Taylor Heinicke will run the offense for Washington. Smith did not practice Wednesday.

The Eagles, who have allowed 1,039 yards in their last two losses, want to make sure whoever is under center for Washington does not have any fun Sunday night.

Philadelphia defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz issued a “no-hat rule” this week, meaning he wants to make sure Washington doesn’t get to celebrate at Lincoln Financial Field.

“We’ve got to have a no-hat rule this week,” he said. “We can’t let opponents put division win hats on at the Linc. There’s a lot of pride in that, and all our focus has to be to accomplishing that this week.”

Nine players did not practice for the Eagles on Wednesday, including defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (neck), defensive end Derek Barnett (calf), wide receiver DeSean Jackson (ankle) and tight end Dallas Goedert (calf). Linebacker Duke Riley (biceps) was a limited participant.

In addition to Smith, leading rusher Antonio Gibson (toe) and leading receiver Terry McLaurin (ankle) were among the six players held out of practice Wednesday by Washington. Linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis (ankle) and defensive tackle Tim Settle (shoulder) were limited participants.

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It’s unclear when a new name will be revealed for one of the league’s oldest franchises.

USA Today, ESPN, The Washington Post, Washington Times and Sports Business Journal reported Sunday night that owner Dan Snyder is set to “retire” the name. Yahoo, on Saturday, reported a name change was imminent.

The team launched a ‘thorough review’ of the name July 3 that the NFL supported. That came in the aftermath of to change the name.

FedEx is the title sponsor of the team’s stadium in Landover, Maryland, and CEO Frederick Smith is a minority owner. Nike and other companies pulled team gear from their online stores.

Over a dozen Native American leaders and organizations

to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell last week demanding an immediate end to Washington’s use of the name. In the letter that was obtained by The Associated Press, they said they “expect the NFL to engage in a robust, meaningful reconciliation process with Native American movement leaders, tribes, and organizations to repair the decades of emotional violence and other serious harms this racist team name has caused to Native Peoples.”

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Athletic director Jennifer Cohen announced the moves Friday and said they will save the school around $13 million. She reiterated that the school intends to continue offering all 22 of its athletic programs.

“Like most organizations this pandemic has taken a real financial toll on our athletic department. We’ve done everything we could over the last few months to manage the cost-saving efforts as best as possible,” Cohen said. “As we look to the upcoming year we see challenges ahead, and we know that we need to implement additional mitigation strategies. And so these actions we’re taking in salary reductions and operating expense reductions, they’re painful, but they are absolutely necessary for us to have a collective path forward as an athletic department, not just for this year but for years to come.”

The overall operating budget reduction will save approximately $8.5 million. The school says an additional $5 million will be saved through cuts to the salaries of head coaches, assistant coaches (minimum 3%) along with two-to-four week furloughs for all professional, classified and union staff members, totaling 156 employees.

Cohen is also taking a 5% pay reduction.

All current vacant positions in the department will remain open until June 30, 2021, and any mid-year vacancies in noncritical positions will stay open for a minimum of three months.

It’s uncertain whether these will be all the cuts needed with the unknowns around the college football season and what kind of revenue losses the Huskies might face if games are played without fans. During a Board of Trustees meeting in May, Cohen said the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic on the Huskies’ budget ranges from “kind of manageable to devastating.”

Along with the pay cuts, Cohen, head football coach Jimmy Lake and head basketball coach Mike Hopkins have waived all incentives for the upcoming fiscal year.

Lake and Hopkins have also committed $100,000 each to the addition of a senior-level diversity and inclusion staff position to be filled by the end of the summer. Cohen has made a $50,000 gift to the department’s Competitive Edge Fund that supports overall development of athletes, including metal health and academic development.

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PHILADELPHIA vs WASHINGTON
When: 9/13/2020 1:00 PM
Where:

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: 6.5
PREDICTION: WASHINGTON , PHILADELPHIA

Oddsmakers currently have the WASHINGTON listed as 6.5 point favorites versus the PHILADELPHIA, while the game’s total is sitting at 45.

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DALLAS vs WASHINGTON
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 15, 2019
Where: FedExField, Landover, Maryland

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. 
LINE: Cowboys -5.5. 
O/U: 45.5
PREDICTION: Cowboys 27, Redskins 19

Oddsmakers currently have the WASHINGTON listed as 5.5 point favorites versus the DALLAS, while the game’s total is sitting at 45.5.

The Dallas Cowboys are considered the team to beat in the NFC East and a soft schedule to open the season will just enhance their front-runner status. Following an impressive performance in a Week 1 rout of the New York Giants, the Cowboys look to make it two wins in as many weeks against a division opponent when they visit the Washington Redskins on Sunday afternoon.

Dallas steamrolled the Giants 35-17 despite a part-time contribution from running back Ezekiel Elliott, who was in uniform just days after ending his holdout by signing a six-year, $90 million extension last week. “We’re so balanced and have so many playmakers around the field, it puts a lot of stress on the defense,” Elliott said of the Cowboys, who scored touchdowns on five consecutive possessions. Washington will need to tighten up on defense after squandering an early 17-point lead and allowing 25 points after halftime in a 32-27 setback at Philadelphia. “I’m excited to play these guys,” said Redskins quarterback Case Keenum, a Texas native who played collegiately at the University of Houston. “They’re a great football team. Their front is obviously very dangerous. … We’ve got our work cut out for us.”

ABOUT THE COWBOYS (1-0): While Elliott (13 carries, 53 yards, 1 TD last week) was the focus of much of the media attention during his contract holdout, Dak Prescott showed he can carry the offense by throwing for 405 yards and four touchdowns to earn a perfect quarterback rating (158.3). Amari Cooper and newcomer Randall Cobb each hauled in scoring passes from Prescott while second-year wideout Michael Gallup had a monster game, setting career highs with seven receptions for 158 yards. Dallas did allow 151 yards rushing and 470 total yards to the Giants, but the defense recorded three sacks and three interceptions in the last meeting with Washington.

ABOUT THE REDSKINS (0-1): Washington already has a serious injury concern as running back Derrius Guice, who missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury, hurt his other knee in the opener and underwent surgery Thursday that could sideline him for up to two months. Veteran Adrian Peterson, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season but was inactive in Week 1, will take over as the primary ball carrier behind Keenum, who was a bright spot in his Redskins debut by throwing for 380 yards and three touchdowns. Rookie wideout Terry McLaurin had five catches for 125 yards, but the defense allowed Philadelphia to convert 11 of 17 on third down.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Prescott has 10 TD passes and zero interceptions in his last five NFC East road games.

2. Redskins TE Jordan Reed, who is in the concussion protocol but hopes to play, has 51 catches in 10 games versus Dallas.

3. Elliott was held to 33 yards rushing at Washington last season but had 121 yards and a TD in the rematch in Dallas.

PREDICTION: Cowboys 27, Redskins 19

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WASHINGTON vs PHILADELPHIA
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 8, 2019
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: -9
PREDICTION: PHILADELPHIA , WASHINGTON

Oddsmakers currently have the PHILADELPHIA listed as -9 point favorites versus the WASHINGTON, while the game’s total is sitting at 46.

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WASHINGTON vs ATLANTA
GAME: Washington Nationals (22-32) at Atlanta Braves (30-24)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 28 – 7:20 PM EST
WHERE: SunTrust Park, Cumberland, Georgia

TV: 7:20 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), FS Southeast (Atlanta)
LINE: -105
PREDICTION: Braves 2, Nationals 1

Oddsmakers currently have the ATLANTA listed as -105 point favorites versus the WASHINGTON, while the game’s total is sitting at 8.5.

The Washington Nationals spent the weekend improving their record by taking three of four games from Miami, but the schedule gets much tougher starting with the opener of a two-game series Tuesday at the Atlanta Braves. The Nationals dropped six of seven entering the weekend set with Miami, and head to Atlanta at 10-16 in May to face a Braves team that has won 12 of its past 16 contests and sits eight games ahead of Washington in the National League East standings.

Washington dropped the series finale at home against Miami 3-2 on Monday, getting a double from Juan Soto as the outfielder extended his hitting streak to a career-best 11 games – giving him a .463 average during the run with six doubles, a triple, two homers and 11 RBIs. Atlanta comes home 1 1/2 games behind Philadelphia in the NL East after a successful 5-2 road trip, capped by scoring three runs in the ninth inning Sunday before plating the go-ahead run in the 10th for a 4-3 victory at St. Louis. Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson is hitting .317 with a .973 OPS, four homers and nine RBIs and only four strikeouts in 41 at-bats during his current nine-game hitting streak. Atlanta has not faced Washington this season, after going 10-9 against the Nationals a season ago en route to the NL East championship.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (4-3, 3.25 ERA) vs. Braves LH Max Fried (7-2, 2.88)

Strasburg is enjoying one of his best seasons despite Washington’s struggles, posting a career-best 0.99 WHIP while averaging 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings and ranking second in the NL entering the week in strikeouts (87). The 30-year-old is 2-2 with a 2.62 ERA in five May starts while holding opponents to a .212 batting average and striking out 39 against eight walks. after giving up two earned runs on five hits over seven innings Thursday at the New York Mets. Strasburg, who has allowed two earned runs or fewer in six of his past seven starts, is 11-11 with a 4.07 ERA in 30 career starts against Atlanta.

Fried has emerged as a potential All-Star through the first two months of the season, entering the week tied for the NL lead in wins while ranking sixth in ERA and 11th in WHIP (1.12). The 25-year-old started the season with two relief appearances, but has posted a 2.96 ERA in 10 starts since joining the rotation with 51 strikeouts, 11 walks and a 1.12 WHIP over 54 2/3 innings. Fried, who gave up two runs on four hits across six innings Wednesday at San Francisco to win his third consecutive start, has allowed one run on two hits over three innings in two appearances (one start) lifetime against Washington.

WALK-OFFS

1. Braves rookie LF Austin Riley is hitting .333 through his first 12 major-league games with two doubles, five homers, eight runs scored and 14 RBIs.

2. Washington 3B Anthony Rendon had a walk among four plate appearances Monday, extending his streak of reaching base safely to 14 games.

3. Atlanta optioned RHP Kyle Wright to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday, and is expected to bring OF Matt Joyce off the bereavement list for Tuesday’s series opener.

PREDICTION: Braves 2, Nationals 1

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MIAMI vs WASHINGTON
GAME: Miami Marlins (16-34) at Washington Nationals (22-31)
DATE/TIME: Monday, May 27 – 1:05 PM EST
WHERE: Nationals Park, Washington, District of Columbia

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, ESPN, FS Florida (Miami), MASN (Washington)
LINE: -280
PREDICTION: Nationals 5, Marlins 1

Oddsmakers currently have the WASHINGTON listed as -280 point favorites versus the MIAMI, while the game’s total is sitting at 8.

All the Washington Nationals needed to start turning their season around was a visit from the Miami Marlins. The Nationals will try to keep rolling and finish off a four-game sweep when they host the Marlins in the series finale on Monday afternoon.

Washington dropped five in a row and 13 of 18 to fall 12 games under .500 and bring about some questions about the job security of manager Dave Martinez, but a solid weekend against the National League-worst Marlins is quieting some of that talk. The Nationals had to ride out another rollercoaster performance from the bullpen while scratching out a 12-10 victory in Friday’s opener, but got a shutout from Patrick Corbin on Saturday and survived another scare from the relief corps in Sunday’s 9-6 triumph. Miami fell into a 9-0 hole after the first seven innings on Saturday before giving themselves a chance behind big hits from Brian Anderson and Neil Walker. The Marlins will try to get Nationals ace Max Scherzer out of the game early on Monday while trying to provide some support for right-hander Jose Urena.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Jose Urena (2-6, 4.30 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Max Scherzer (2-5, 3.41)

Urena is riding a streak of three consecutive quality starts and earned a win at Detroit on Wednesday while allowing three runs – two earned – and seven hits in six frames. The 27-year-old Dominican received a total of 15 runs of support in his two wins but 13 in his other eight outings, with the offense leaving him on the wrong end of three shutouts. Urena’s first win of the season came at home against Washington on April 20, when he scattered two earned runs and eight hits over six innings in a 9-3 final.

Scherzer is trying to find his Cy Young form and enjoyed his first scoreless outing of the season when he held the New York Mets to four hits while striking out nine in six frames on Wednesday. The 34-year-old is not getting a lot of help from his bullpen or offense and is 1-3 in his last eight turns despite registering seven quality starts in that span. Scherzer, who leads the National League with 96 strikeouts, endured his worst start of the season while going up against Urena on April 20 and was ripped for seven runs – six earned – on 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Nationals signed veteran RHP George Kontos to a minor league contract.

2. Miami CF Harold Ramirez is 12-for-24 with eight runs scored in his last six games.

3. Washington LF Juan Soto hit safely in each of his last 10 games.

PREDICTION: Nationals 5, Marlins 1

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MIAMI vs WASHINGTON
GAME: Miami Marlins (16-33) at Washington Nationals (21-31)
DATE/TIME: Sunday, May 26 – 1:35 PM EST
WHERE: Nationals Park, Washington, District of Columbia

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), MASN (Washington)
LINE:
PREDICTION: Marlins 4, Nationals 3

Oddsmakers currently have the WASHINGTON listed as point favorites versus the MIAMI, while the game’s total is sitting at .

The Washington Nationals figured out a way to overcome the league’s worst bullpen – get the starter to pitch a complete game. The Nationals will try to follow Patrick Corbin’s shutout and clinch the four-game series when they host the Miami Marlins on Sunday.

Washington’s bullpen owns a league-worst 7.09 ERA and surrendered five runs in as many innings before being bailed out by the offense in Friday’s 12-10 victory but got the day off on Saturday, when Corbin breezed through all nine innings while allowing four hits and walking one. The Nationals’ path back to contention relies heavily on a starting pitching staff that expects to be the best in the National League East, and ace Max Scherzer will take the mound in Monday’s finale after fellow right-hander Erick Fedde gets a turn on Sunday. The Marlins, who matched a season-high with 10 runs on Friday, went back to their light-hitting ways on Saturday while suffering their 10th shutout. Miami will try to find some support on Sunday for left-hander Caleb Smith, who has been the team’s best starter in 2019.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins LH Caleb Smith (3-1, 2.38 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Erick Fedde (0-0, 2.87)

Smith allowed three or fewer runs in each of his nine starts and two or fewer in eight of those outings. The 27-year-old struck out seven and did not walk a batter over five innings at Detroit on Tuesday while allowing two runs and three hits without factoring in the decision. Smith faced Washington at home on April 19 and scattered one run along with five hits over six innings while striking out eight to earn the win.

Fedde is starting in place of Anibal Sanchez (hamstring), who is scheduled for a side session on Sunday and could make a rehab start next week. Fedde was serving in a long relief role before making his first start of the season on Tuesday and holding the New York Mets to one run on four hits over five innings before watching the bullpen serve up five runs in a no decision. The 26-year-old made one appearance against Miami last season and yielded two runs on as many hits and four walks across 4 1/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Nationals OF Juan Soto hit safely in his last nine games and is 8-for-11 over the last three contests.

2. Miami OF Harold Ramirez is 9-for-20 with six runs scored over his last five contests.

3. Washington made some bullpen changes on Saturday by recalling RHP James Bourque from Double-A Harrisburg and optioning RHP Joe Ross to Triple-A Fresno.

PREDICTION: Marlins 4, Nationals 3

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