Cowboys at Commanders Picks, and Predictions for Week 17

The Cowboys and Commanders exchange holiday pleasantries Thursday in a Week 17 game. Michael Rathburn previews this NFC East game with only pride at stake.
Cowboys at Commanders Picks, and Predictions for Week 17
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NFL Picks: Cowboys vs. Commanders Odds, Picks, and Predictions for Week 17

Cap off the NFL Week 17 action with our NFL picks for Christmas Day. The Dallas Cowboys (6-8-1) travel to Washington to take on the Commanders (4-11) in a NFC East matchup on Christmas Day. The Commanders are coming in off a 29-18 loss at home to the Eagles. While the Cowboys are on a three-game losing streak and lost last week against the Chargers 34-17.

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Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders Betting Odds

  • Commanders +7.0 (FanDuel -105) / Cowboys -7.0 (DraftKings -105)  
  • Commanders ML (Bet365 +275) / Cowboys ML (BetRivers -315)
  • Total OVER 50.5 (FanDuel -106) / UNDER 51.0 (Bet365 -110) 
  • Commanders total points: Over 20.5 (DraftKings -120) / Under 21.5 (BetRivers -114)
  • Cowboys total points:  Over 28.5 (BetRivers -115) / Under 29.5 (DraftKings -105) 
  • First-half spread: Commanders +4.5 (FanDuel -120) / Cowboys -3.5 (BetMGM -115)            
  • First-half total: Over 25.5 (Fanatics -115) / Under 25.5 (BetRivers -106)
  • First-half team total: 
    • Commanders Over/Under 10.5 (BetRivers +120/-152) 
    • Cowboys Over/Under 14.5 (BetRivers -109/-121)      
  • Weather - 43 degrees, no wind/rain

The Commanders opened as 5.5-point home favorites, and it reopened Cowboys at -3 for a 8.5 point line move. It has since moved up to -3.5, -4.5, -5.5, -6, -6.5, and now 7. So, clearly oddsmakers are in a very tough position with so much exposure on Dallas.  The Commanders' quarterback situation is the reason for the sharp line move as Marcus Mariota is listed as questionable (did not practice Tuesday). Josh Johnson is likely to be the starting quarterback. 

The total line move is now 12.5 making it one of the highest I have seen in recent memory.     

The total opened at 48.5 and reopened on December 16th at 51.5. It has bounced around all week from 49.5 - 52.5 before settling at 50.5 

The majority of the bets (66 percent) have come in on the Cowboys, and the handle is 75 percent on Dallas also, which is indicative of where the SHARP money is coming from. 

The total has 56 percent of bets, and the money is 62 percent on the OVER.  The moneyline is on the Cowboys at 83 percent of the bets, and 65 percent of the money. 

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Key Injuries

Washington Commanders  
NAMEPOSSTATUS
Marcus MariotaQBQuestionable
Laremy TunsilOTQuestionable
Nick BelloreLBQuestionable
Bobby WagnerLBQuestionable
Daron PayneDTQuestionable
   
Dallas Cowboys  
NAMEPOSSTATUS
Quinnen WilliamsDTQuestionable
Tyler GuytonOTQuestionable
Caelen CarsonCBQuestionable
Donovan WilsonSQuestionable
DeMarvion OvershownLBQuestionable
Ryan FlournoyWRQuestionable
KaVontae TurpinWRQuestionable
Tyler BookerGQuestionable
Javonte WilliamsRBQuestionable

You can follow all the NFL injury news here at RotoWire.

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Commanders vs. Cowboys Betting Picks 

BETTING TRENDS

  • Cowboys are 14-1 to the OVER in the 1st Half
  • Cowboys are 7-0 to the OVER in the 1st Half on the ROAD
  • Dallas is 11-4 to the OVER on their team totals
  • The total has gone OVER in 5 of Dallas' last 6 games.
  • Dallas is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games against Washington.
  • Dallas is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games against Washington.
  • The total has gone OVER in 5 of Dallas' last 5 games on the road.
  • Washington is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games.
  • The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington's last 7 games.
  • Washington is 1-9 SU in its last 10 games.
  • The total has gone OVER in 4 of Washington's last 5 games against Dallas.

NFL Team Rankings

Offensive Rankings (Through Week 16)  
 Dallas CowboysWashington Commanders
Total Yardage2nd (393.1 YPG)20th (321.1 YPG)
Points Scored5th (28.3 PPG)24th (20.6 PPG)
Rushing Yardage17th (118.8 YPG)4th (133.9 YPG)
Passing Yardage1st (274.3 YPG)24th (187.2 YPG)
   
Defensive Rankings (Through Week 16)  
 Dallas CowboysWashington Commanders
Total Yardage Allowed30th (380.1 YPG)31st (382.7 YPG)
Points Allowed31st (30.3 PPG)27th (26.9 PPG)
Rushing Yardage Allowed20th (122.3 YPG)29th (141.0 YPG)
Passing Yardage Allowed32nd (257.8 YPG)26th (241.7 YPG)

Commanders vs. Cowboys Best Bets

  • Cowboys/Commanders OVER 25.5 1H for 0.5 unit 
  • Cowboys OVER 14.5 1H for 0.5 unit 
  • CeeDee Lamb OVER 5.5 receptions (FanDuel -130) for 1 unit 

Commanders vs. Cowboys Predictions

The Cowboys are an OVER machine because of their strong offense and weak defense, regardless of who is at quarterback for the Commanders. I am staying away from the full game side, because I do not know if they will pull Dak Prescott again. But, as you can see, I like this game OVER in several different ways. 

Cowboys 34, Commanders 24

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Known as “Rath” in the Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) community, he has helped run operations for two prominent daily fantasy sports startups. Michael has taken his insider knowledge and expertise in daily fantasy sports to the content side. Rath won the 2016 FSWA "Baseball Article of the Year, Online" award and was a finalist for the FSWA Best Baseball Series in 2011.
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