The Cowboys opened last Sunday night as 3-point favorites over the Cardinals in this key Week 17 NFC showdown, but the point spread was reposted -5.5 Monday morning, after Dallas dismantled Washington, 56-14. By Thursday, the line was up to -6 on oddsboards throughout the betting market.
NFL · Sun (1/2) @ 4:25pm ET
| ARI Cardinals | at | DAL Cowboys |
| AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas | ||
Cardinals (10-5, 9-6 ATS) at Cowboys (11-4, 12-3 ATS)
Thursday’s market consensus line: Cowboys -6 (51)
The skinny: Arizona, which has clinched at least a wild-card berth, looks to snap a three-game losing streak when it faces NFC East champ Dallas, whose 56 points last week mark a league-high this season.
Facts: When these teams met in the JerryDome early last season, it came a week after Cowboys QB Dak Prescott suffered a compound right ankle fracture. The Cardinals won 38-10 as 1-point dogs, their most lopsided win in Dallas since 1970 in the old Cotton Bowl.
In the Cowboys’ home win over Washington last week, they scored a TD on a blocked punt and interception, giving Dallas nine defensive/special teams touchdowns this season, four more than any other team. Dallas is four off the league record of 13 set by Seattle in 1998.
After the Cardinals won at Chicago, 33-22, four weeks ago, their Super Bowl odds were as short as +800 at various sites. Three losses later, +2500 is offered at BetRivers and Caesars Sportsbook. Dallas is +900 at FanDuel.
The last time the Cowboys won by 40 or more points, 43-3 in Week 10 vs. Atlanta, they followed with a 19-9 loss at Kansas City, their lowest output of the year.
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Cardinals vs. Cowboys Analysis And Pick
Kyler Murray, the top-rated QB after returning in Week 12 from a three-game absence because of an ankle injury, has since dropped to sixth, tied with Prescott. Murray leads the league in fumbles with 13, despite not playing a game in November. He fumbled twice last week in the team’s 22-16 home loss to Indianapolis. Not good.
Then again, Dallas might struggle against an experienced run/pass threat like Murray after four consecutive games against New Orleans’ Taysom Hill making his first start of the year, two helpings of Taylor Heinicke and Washington, and the Giants’ Mike Glennon.
In fact, the last time the Cowboys faced a QB who was a Week 1 starter was five weeks ago, when Derek Carr threw for 373 yards in a 36-33 Raiders win — the most air yards the Cowboys have allowed since Week 3.
Prediction: Cardinals 28, Cowboys 21
Last week: 11-5 ATS, 12-4 SU
Season total: 117-120-3 (.494) ATS, 148-91-1 (.619) SU
Also read: Oddsmaker discusses Week 17 line movement
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