Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles Preview and Pick - Point Spread

Dallas Cowboys (5-2 SU, 4-3 ATS) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (5-2 SU, 5-2 ATS), NFL Week 9, 8:20 p.m. EST, Sunday, November 8, 2009, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pa., TV: NBC
by Badger of Predictem.com

Point Spread: Cowboys +3/Eagles -3
Over/Under: 47.5

Bet this game at an online bookie that offers 20 point teasers, 15 team parlays, reduced odds betting, loads of props and the ability to buy up to 15 points on any single side or total: 5Dimes.

Early control of the NFC East Division will be up for grabs at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Sunday when the Eagles host the rival Dallas Cowboys in a crucial tilt on NBC’s Sunday Night Football.

Both teams moved into a tie for first place atop the NFC East with convincing victories last weekend.

The Cowboys beat up on the struggling Seattle Seahawks at home in Cowboys Stadium, 38-17. Quarterback Tony Romo threw for 256 yards and three touchdowns and the Cowboys enjoyed a nearly 10 minute advantage in time of possession in dispatching the Seahawks easily.

Meanwhile, Philly put their quick-strike offense on full display in their 40-17 thrashing of the New York Giants at home in “The Linc.” The Giants outgained the Eagles on the day, and had the ball on offense almost twice as long too, but the Eagles jumped out to a 30-7 halftime lead with big plays and eliminated all doubt early in their gigantic victory over the rival G-men.

Most oddsmakers are expecting an even contest in primetime Sunday night since they opened the game with the Eagles as 3-point favorites, the standard point spread for the home team. The betting public and sharp bettors seem to agree with their take on the game, as the number has held at 3 for the most part with just one offshore sportsbook (Legends) listing the game at 2, and one book in Las Vegas (Planet Hollywood) showing the line at 2.5 on their board.

The over/under total hasn’t had a whole lot of line movement either, as it opened at 47.5 and has held firm at that number with just a few 48s mixed in here and there (at Planet Hollywood and the Las Vegas Hilton).

With the offenses these two teams put out on the field this game could quickly turn into a shootout, which would explain the rather high total in the game.

The Eagles have used big plays, most of them by speedster DeSean Jackson, to become the league’s 3rd-best scoring team at 29 points per game. Overall the Eagles offense is down a few spots from last year (15th overall – 344.4 ypg), and Donovan McNabb’s passing numbers have dropped as well (229 ypg – 13th), but all of that doesn’t matter as much if they keep getting into the end zone at their current clip.

Dallas has made Romo the focal point of their offense and he’s been great, using all of his weapons on the field including the new go-to guy Miles Austin (T.O. who?). The Cowboys are top-10 across the board, including the 2nd-ranked offense (411.1 ypg), the 6th-ranked rushing attack (147.6 ypg), the 7th-ranked passing attack (263.6 ypg) and the 6th-ranked scoring offense at 28.1 points per game.

The game might turn into a shootout because both defenses aren’t nearly as strong as the used to be in previous seasons.

Dallas was held without a sack through the first four games of the season, but they’ve picked it up of late notching double-digits in the last three games alone. They still give up major yardage (342.1 ypg – 22nd), and are susceptible to the passing game (237.1 ypg – 21st), but it’s a bend-but-don’t-break proposition since they are still in the top-10 in scoring defense allowing 19.4 points per game (10th).

Philly’s defense has experienced a lot of player turnover this year, most notably safety Brian Dawkins, which has caused a drop off of sorts in the overall scheme (296.9 ypg – 10th). But they do a nice job in the red zone as well, as they rank just ahead of the Cowboys in points allowed with a 19 per game average.

Both teams won in their home stadiums last season, with the Eagles literally destroying the Cowboys at the Linc last December, 44-6. That trend was opposite the season before, as both teams stole a victory on the road in 2007 with the Cowboys earning a 38-17 victory in Philly in the chilly November air. All told the Eagles hold a slight 6-4 SU edge in the last 10 head-to-head meetings.

However, the Eagles have been the dream team for sports gamblers in this series as they have covered both games last season and have covered the point spread in five of the last six. They are also 4-0 ATS in their last four games against the NFC East, and 6-1 ATS in their last seven home games overall.

BET PHILADELPHIA EAGLES GAMES USING YOUR CREDIT CARD TO DEPOSIT FUNDS INTO YOUR WAGERING ACCOUNT AND TO GET A GENEROUS 20% SIGN UP BONUS AT BETUSA

Both games went over the total last year, and the over is a strong 3-0-1 in the last four games played at Lincoln Financial Field in the series.

The only betting trend that doesn’t point in Philly’s favor is the fact that the underdog is a strong 7-2 ATS in the last nine head-to- head meetings.

Badger’s Pick: I have to admit I don’t have a good feel for this game. Dallas has only played two games on the road this year, and they haven’t covered either of them (at Denver and Kansas City), so I’m leaning toward Philly for that reason. But one of these days the Eagles lack of a running game is going hurt them, and Dallas has the type of pass rush that could make McNabb’s night a tough one. Especially with the issues they have along their offensive line. I’ll be making a small wager on the Eagles minus the 3-points here.

Free Picks

Betting

Featured Articles

FAQ and MISC