The 13-1 Eagles can clinch the top seed for the upcoming NFC playoffs with a win at 10-4 Dallas Saturday afternoon at JerryWorld. But Philadelphia might be without starting quarterback Jalen Hurts. The Cowboys, meanwhile, are tying to bounce back after giving a game away last week in Jacksonville. The oddsmakers seem to think Hurts won’t play. Who do we like here for our free Week 16 pick?
NFL Betting Lines
The Week 16 NFL betting odds opened Dallas at -2 for Saturday, with an over/under of right around 50.5. But with growing uncertainty about Hurts the early betting action then goosed the Cowboys to -5 and dropped that total to 47.
Eagles-Cowboys NFL Betting Preview
Philadelphia flies a five-game winning streak into Saturday after holding off the Bears in Chicago last Sunday 25-20. The Eagles only led that game 10-6 at the half but turned a long return of the second-half kick-off into a touchdown, later led 25-13 and held on from there for the victory. However, Philly gave up a late Chicago score that cost it the cover at -8. The Eagles out-gained the Bears 421-248. The big news out of last week’s game is the shoulder injury incurred by Hurts. He finished the game but is listed as questionable for Saturday, which means “Moustache” Minshew would get the start. Philadelphia has out-gained each of its last five opponents, four of them by at least 133 yards. Two weeks ago the Eagles bombed the Giants 48-22, covering at -7.5. Three weeks ago they pounded Tennessee 35-10, covering at -5. And four weeks ago they racked up 500 yards on Green Bay, won 40-33 and covered at -6. At 13-1 overall Philadelphia leads the NFC by two games and a tie-breaker over 11-3 Minnesota, with three games to play. Dallas, meanwhile, just had a four-game winning streak snapped by a disheartening 40-34 overtime loss to the Jaguars last Sunday. The Cowboys scored the first 14 points of the game, led 21-7 at the half and 27-10 late in the third quarter. But Dallas then gave up three Jacksonville touchdowns in nine minutes, later allowed the Jags to force OT with a field goal at the buzzer, then lost it on a Dak Prescott pick-6 off a deflection in the extra time. Prescott didn’t really make a bad throw, but it could have been better. The Cowboys got out-gained by Jacksonville 503-397 and gave up 192 yards on the ground. Dallas has actually out-gained eight of its last nine opponents and out-rushed four of its last five foes. They just blew that game last week. Despite the loss the Cowboys backed into a playoff berth when the Giants beat Washington later Sunday. Two weeks ago Dallas had to come from behind to beat one-win Houston 27-23 and came up way short ATS at -17. At 10-4 overall the Cowboys can catch the Eagles in the battle for the division title and the best record in the NFC but they’ll have to win out and get Philly to lose out to do it. Elsewhere on the injury front Dallas will be without LB and leading tackler Leighton Vander Esch,
Eagles-Cowboys Recent History
Dallas owned a three-game winning streak on rival Philadelphia coming into this season but the Eagles won the first meeting back in October 26-17. However, Prescott missed that game with a broken thumb, Philly scored the first 20 points of that game, let the Cowboys get within 20-17 in the fourth quarter but tacked on an insurance score and covered at -6.5. The Eagles won both the turnover battle that night 3-0 and time of possession by a 35:25 split.
- Get more details: Philadlphia at Dallas Week 16 Betting Stats
Totals Report
- The Overs are 9-5 in Eagles games this season, which are averaging 48 total points.
- The Overs are 7-6 in Cowboys games this season, which are averaging 47 points.
- Through Week 15 the Unders are 126-95 (57 percent) in the NFL this season.
