After winning and covering the spread in nine consecutive games, many were crowning the Cowboys as kings of the NFC. They have, however, compounded that streak by going 0-4 ATS in their last four games as it seems rookie Dak Prescott may be running out of tricks. They were able to stop the momentum of the Bucs on prime time in Week 15 but that game was much closer than it should have been. The boys from Big D opened their Boxing Day matchup with the Lions laying seven points and, gosh, that seems like a lot of points – note the sarcastic southern hospitality.
- The Lions are 3-1 ATS in their last 4 games on the road against the Cowboys.
- The total has gone UNDER in the Lions' last 8 games.
- The Lions are 5-2 SU and ATS in their last 7 games against teams with winning records.
Looking back at the Cowboys’ schedule, it’s tough to find many really impressive wins and if I’m being honest, they may have had the easiest slate of any NFL team. This matchup with the Lions offers a serious challenge as Matt Stafford and the retooled Detroit offense has been moving the ball at will against pretty much everyone.
Before their stumble against the Giants, Jim Caldwell had led his team to five straight wins and the Lions hadn’t lost by more than seven all year. The G-Men were a horrible matchup for Detroit defensively. The Cowboys, however, will not offer nearly as much resistance and I see very few scenarios where Matt “Moonball” Stafford fails to keep this thing close.
Yes, Ezekiel Elliott will more than likely have his way with a fairly porous Lions run D but I don’t see that translating into a Cowboys blowout victory. Of the six teams Dallas has beaten by more than seven points, just one currently sits in the top 10 in offensive efficiency.
With the Packers nipping at the Lions’ heels, Detroit must win this game to avoid a Week 17 playoff with the green and yellow to see who will sit on the NFC North throne.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
On the Sportsbook betting line for this matchup, the Dallas Cowboys sat as -7-point favorites at shops such as Sportsbook. The total, has been pegged by the odds makers at Sportsbook at 41.5.
A 30-14 result in favor of the Cowboys was the prediction by the Odds Shark handicapping pick engine earlier this week. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NFL matchups here.
Detroit Lions vs Dallas Cowboys Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
Dallas bring a 12-2 record (9-4-1 ATS) to the Week 16 betting matchup against the 9-5 Detroit Lions, who are 8-6 ATS against the spread. Over under betting has seen Dallas go 5-9 so far and the Lions go 4-10. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Dallas vs Detroit injuries news.
This game matches up the No. 3 (Dallas Cowboys) and the No. 20 (Detroit Lions) teams in the league, according to our current NFL Power Rankings at Odds Shark.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively, the game matches up the Dallas Cowboys No. 5-ranked offense (26.14 PPG) against a Detroit Lions defense that ranks No. 10 at 20.36 PPG. The Cowboys passing attack has averaged 235.29 yards per game, less than the Lions give up through the air (247.79 YPG on average).
Defensively, the Detroit Lions feature the league's No. 11-rated road run defense, allowing 100.4 yards per game. The Dallas Cowboys, meanwhile, ranks No. 2 in rushing offense at home.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
In their last game, the Lions were Week 14 Sportsbooks, coming out on top of the Bears by a score of 20-17.
Last time we saw the Cowboys, Ezekiel Elliott racked up 107 rushing yards, but the Giants rolled to a 10-7 victory at MetLife Stadium.
- Detroit is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games
- Detroit is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Detroit's last 5 games
- Detroit is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
- Dallas is 9-4 ATS in its last 13 games
- Dallas is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
- Dallas is 12-1 SU in its last 13 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Dallas's last 5 games
Next Betting Matchups
Detroit home to Green Bay, Sunday, January 1st
Dallas at Philadelphia, Sunday, January 1st
