There are some fans who complain about teams resting their top players in the final week of the season, but the reality is that when you clinch a playoff berth early, you earn the right to do what you want. There are sure to be a few teams who follow that path in the final week of the 2018 NFL season, which makes handicapping those games a little bit tougher. This is the scenario that we could be looking at when the Dallas Cowboys go on the road to face the New York Giants on Sunday.
The Cowboys have long since punched their playoff ticket and may well decide to sit some guys down for a game that is essentially meaningless. The Giants went through a nice run of form a couple of weeks back, but have slid again, coming into this one on a 2-game losing skid. Despite that losing run, the Giants are coming into this game as a 6-point home favorite. The point total has been set at 41.
Cowboys vs Giants NFL Week 17 Betting Lines & Preview
Hear from the @TalkinCowboys crew as they give their final keys and predictions of the regular season finale. #DALvsNYG
Full Podcast 🎙 https://t.co/wfNLstNhd3 pic.twitter.com/c69PLkjSZb — Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) December 28, 2018
- When: Sunday, December 30 at 1 PM EST
- Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
- TV: FOX
- Radio: Dallas / New York
- Live Stream: NFL Live
- NFL Week 17 Odds: Giants -5.5 (-110)
Weather Forecast
- Partly Cloudy: 2°C/35°F
- Humidity: 51%
- Precipitation: 1%
- Wind: 5 mph WNW
- Cloud Cover: 34%
- Type of Stadium: Open
Why bet on the Dallas Cowboys?
At the midway point of the season, the playoffs looked like a real longshot for the Dallas Cowboys, but a run that saw them win 6 of their last 7 games has taken them to the top of the NFC East and into the postseason. There is the possibility that the starters see some action early on, but don’t be surprised to see Cooper Rush be put under center sooner rather than later.
This would be a game that you would ordinarily expect Dallas to win quite comfortably, but with the starters likely to be spending more time on the bench than on the field, things could well go the opposite way. The Cowboys have been handed the underdog tag 8 times this season, covering the spread in 5 of those games, while going 3-3 ATS as the road dog.
Team Statistics
Offense:- Average Score For: 20.20
- Total Yards: 338.80
- Pass Yards: 211.27
- Rush Yards: 127.53
- Average Score Against: 19.27
- Total Yards: 321.80
- Pass Yards: 230.47
- Rush Yards: 91.33
Why bet on the New York Giants?
The Giants went on a nice little run in November and the early part of December, winning 4 of 5 games and seeing their offense start to come to life. Things have cooled off a little in the last couple of weeks, though, as the Giants come into this one on a 2-game losing skid. During that 7-game run, the Giants became a very good ATS bet, covering the spread in 6 of those games.
The Giants have only been in as the favorite twice this season, going 1-0-1 ATS in those games. The New York Giants have been scoring more of late, which is why the OVER has hit in 5 of their last 7 games. They might just put up some points on Sunday going against what could be a weakened Cowboys line-up.
Team Statistics
Offense:- Average Score For: 22.27
- Total Yards: 350.40
- Pass Yards: 249.93
- Rush Yards: 100.47
- Average Score Against: 25.07
- Total Yards: 368.20
- Pass Yards: 245.07
- Rush Yards: 123.13
Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction for Cowboys vs Giants
While the possibility of the Dallas Cowboys benching their starters has me leaning towards the Giants to win SU, I am not totally sold on them covering the spread. I am taking the Giants to win, but the Cowboys to cover, with the OVER coming up here.
Score: Dallas Cowboys 20 New York Giants 24
