Dallas Cowboys (3-3 SU, 5-1 ATS) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (3-3 SU, 3-3 ATS)
NFL Week 7
Date and Time: Sunday, October 20th, 2013, 1:00 pm EST
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pa.
TV: FOX/DirecTV 706
by Badger, Football Handicapper, Predictem.com
Point Spread: Dal +2.5/PHI. -2.5
Over/Under Total: 55.5
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The early lead in the NFC East will be up for grabs this Sunday when the
Dallas Cowboys go on the road to Lincoln Financial Field
to engage in a good ole rivalry grudge match against the Philadelphia
Eagles in an early game on Fox.
Both teams are 3-3 on the season, sitting with a two-game lead in the NFC Least, so Sundays winner gets the keys and the loser rides shotgun in a heated divisional race that will likely go all the way until the final weekend.
Philly is riding a two-game win streak, including last weeks victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road in Florida, 31-20. Call it karma, or call it coincidence, but the Eagles mini run has happened while starting QB Michael Vick has been nursing a bad hamstring. Second-year signal caller Nick Foles sparked the Eagles to over 400 yards of total offense and 31 points on 22-of-33 passing for 296 yards and 3 TDs in the win over the Bucs, once again starting the calls from the always pleasant Philly crowd to bench Vick once and for all.
One week after taking Denver and Peyton Manning to the brink, before finally dropping a tough one the Cowboys bounced back nicely with a crucial win over the Washington Redskins, 31-16. With their second straight NFC East game on the horizon, the Cowboys come limping in to Philly without their best pass rusher DeMarcus Ware and their top running back DeMarco Murray, who were both hurt in the Skins victory and wont be back in the Cowboy lineup for several weeks.
Oddsmakers set the opening line for the NFC East clash with Philadelphia as just 1.5-point favorites at home at the Linc, but after the early steam with most of the money coming in on the Cowboys that number has moved up to Philly minus -2.5 or -3 at most online sports gambling websites.
The over/under opened at 56 and is still hanging around at 56 or 55.5 at most books.
Offensively this one could get wide open real fast. Of course we all know that Philly and new coach Chip Kelly keep the gas pedal floored at all times. Foles looked great in his start last week, even though it was against the Bucs and he only had a handful of carries in the run game, the fact the Cowboys are currently ranked 29th in passing yards allowed means Foles likely wont have to run it to win.
Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo wont have Murray in the backfield behind him, so you can bet all eyes will be on Dez Bryant for most of Sundays game. The Eagles defense has been especially bad this year too, ranked 31st in passing yards allowed (314.5) and 29th in points allowed (29.8), so Romo and the Cowboys may have picked the perfect weekend to go without a running game.
Dallas swept the season series last year, winning on the road in early November by a, 38-23 score. But that score is deceiving since the game turned on a punt return early in the fourth quarter, and then the Cowboys defense turned in a pick-six and a fumble return for a score to turn a close game into a blowout. The Cowboys are 3-1 SU and ATS in their last four visits to Philly, so theres definitely no fear in traveling for the Boys.
If youre a betting trend player than youll want to note that the over is a solid 5-2 in the Cowboys last seven games versus their NFC East rivals, while the over is a perfect 5-0 in the Eagles last five vs. the NFC East.
Badger’s Pick to Cover the Point Spread: This is a tough game to pick as it could go either way but there is one interesting variable in play here that cannot be ignored. The line in this game opened at -1.5 and has moved up to as high as -3 at some sportsbooks. The public are hammering the Pokes, which means that sharp action is driving the line up. I’m betting lunch money on the Eagles minus the points.