NFL: Detroit Lions vs Dallas Cowboys betting details & preview

The NFL playoffs are around the corner. This year the race for the NFC’s stop seed is close and still undecided as we head into week 17. Two of the best teams in the NFC will play each other this week with the top seed potentially on the line. It is a matchup featuring two of the top offences in the league and two of the best quarterbacks this year.

Game details

The Detroit Lions will play against the Dallas Cowboys on December 30 in Dallas, a week 17 game. The Lions and Cowboys are heading into the week with almost identical records. The 11-4 Lions are tied for the top seed in the NFC while the 10-5 Cowboys are right behind them. The Lions are the early underdogs on BetMGM. They have +220 odds to pick up their 12th win of the season. The Cowboys are the betting favourites at the moment. They have -278 odds to defeat the Lions.

The point spread betting market is set at six points. The Lions are +6 on the spread. The Cowboys are -6. These teams met last season on October 23. The Cowboys won that game 24-6. The over/under betting market is currently 53.5 points. These are two of the best offences and highest scoring teams in the league; both are ranked in the top five. The Cowboys are averaging the second most points per game with 30.1 ppg. The Lions are averaging the fifth most ppg with 27.5.

The Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions secured their first NFC North division title in franchise history with a victory over the Minnesota Vikings last week, a 30-24 win. The NFC North is secured, but the Lions have a lot to play for this week with the playoffs around the corner. Now the Lions can turn their attention to the number one seed in the NFC which is still up for grabs thanks to a 33-19 loss by the San Francisco 49ers. The Lions may be one of the most difficult teams to predict moving forward because of their lack of competition. By the numbers and eye test, the Lions have one of the best offences in the league and should be able to compete with most teams if they can put up points.

The problem with the Lions is they have only defeated two teams that currently have a winning record this season, the struggling Kansas City Chiefs and the 8-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The team with the best record, the Baltimore Ravens, in the league beat the Lions 38-6 in week seven. This game is a great opportunity for the Lions to pick up a quality win and prove that they can beat the better teams in the NFL. If quarterback Jared Goff plays like he has for most of the season and the Lions can run the ball, the Lions can win this game. One of the biggest concerns is whether or not the Lions defence can slow down the Cowboys offence a little. If they can not, the Lions probably will not be able to score enough points to win this game.

The Dallas Cowboys

After looking like one of three or four best teams in the league for about five weeks, the Dallas Cowboys came back down to earth over the last two weeks. The Cowboys lost to the Buffalo Bills in week 15 and to the Miami Dolphins the week after. The Dallas Cowboys this season have been a team that is dominant at home and beatable on the road. The Cowboys are 7-0 at home so far this season with wins over the Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles. On the road, the Cowboys have a 3-5 record this season. Their wins on the road were against the New York Giants, Los Angeles Chargers, and Carolina Panthers.

If the Cowboys play up to their potential, they should win this game because of their defence. The Cowboys have a better defence than the Lions and playmakers on that side of the ball who can help put points on the scoreboard. At 19.2 points allowed per game, the Cowboys are fifth this year. The Lions are allowing 23.7 points per game, 9th most in the NFL. There are a few reasons to bet on the Cowboys here despite their rough performances over the last couple of weeks. The Cowboys are undefeated at home, they have one of the top offences and defences in the league, and they are still playing for something. If the Cowboys win the rest of their games, they still have a shot at the NFC East crown and the number one seed in the NFC.