We are in the final quarter of the 2017 regular season as every team has just four games to play – a few playoff spots could be clinched this week as well – none have been yet. Here’s a look at two games worth betting in the NFL odds for Week 14: Cowboys-Giants and Colts-Bills.
Benjamin is expected to return this week. Tight end Nick O’Leary, who was inactive on Sunday due to a back injury, is also expected to practice this week. Backup running back/fullback Mike Tolbert is expected to return, as well, after he missed the last three weeks with a hamstring injury.
The Bills are banged up elsewhere. Cornerback Tre’Davious White is in the concussion protocol. White was hurt on a cheap shot by Rob Gronkowski, who was suspended for one game. White is Buffalo’s top cornerback. Defensive end Shaq Lawson is week-to-week with an ankle injury. He was hurt in the third quarter when the Patriots failed to score on a one-yard plunge. Eddie Yarbrough would start in his place.
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— emily (@mtitovanns) December 5, 2017
Dallas Cowboys at NY Giants NFL Odds & Game Info
When: Sunday, 1 PM ET Where: MetLife Stadium, New York TV: Fox Radio: 105.3 FM (Dallas) / WFAN 660 AM (NY) Opening NFL Odds: Cowboys -5.5Why Bet on Dallas?
Because the Cowboys have all the motivation – they are still in the playoff hunt – and the Giants have none. Dallas is also on extra rest, having beaten the Redskins 38-14 last Thursday night to end a three-game losing streak. The Cowboys had totaled just 22 points in the skid as they were without the suspended Ezekiel Elliott. He’ll serve game No. 5 of his six-game suspension here. Alfred Morris, Elliott’s replacement, had 127 yards rushing and a clinching touchdown vs. Washington. He became the first Cowboys running back not named Elliott to put up 100 yards on the ground since Darren McFadden had 100 on 19 carries against the New York Jets on Dec. 19, 2015. Dak Prescott threw two touchdown passes, including a franchise record-breaker to Dez Bryant. Bryant’s leaping 13-yard catch in the end zone was the 2014 All-Pro’s first score in six games and 72nd of his career, one more than Hall of Famer Bob Hayes. Prescott’s 102 passing yards were the seventh fewest the Cowboys have had in a win. Troy Aikman had 78 in the 1992 season finale against Chicago in which he only played into the third quarter with a playoff seed sewn up. Roger Staubach had three wins with 100 yards or less and Craig Morton had two. The Cowboys beat the Giants 19-3 in Week 1. Prescott hit Jason Witten for the game’s only TD and Elliott had 140 yards rushing. The Giants were outgained in the first half 265-49, with just two first downs, while falling behind 16-0. Odell Beckham Jr. missed it with an injury.Why Bet on NY Giants?
If the Giants are going to show any heart the rest of the way, it might be Sunday because the team fired Coach Ben McAdoo and GM Jerry Reese on Monday. McAdoo handling the benching of Manning in last week’s loss to the Raiders was the final straw for ownership. This is the first time since 1976 their head coach didn’t finish the season. That club also was 2-10 through 12 games. The Giants averaged 25 points per game in McAdoo’s first two seasons with the team. They averaged 19.4 points per game last season and 15.6 this year with him as the head coach. Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will be the interim head coach, while Kevin Abrams will be the Giants’ interim general manager. New York will also return Manning to the starting lineup. There had been talk of former players coming to the game and standing on the sideline in No. 10 Manning jerseys in a show of solidarity this week after Manning had a streak of 210 consecutive starts end Sunday when the Giants lost 24-17 in Oakland. Geno Smith started in his place. Smith had his ups and downs, completing 21 of 34 passes for 212 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 fumbles in the loss.Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills NFL Odds & Game Info
When: Sunday, 1 PM ET Where: New Era Field, Buffalo TV: CBS Radio: 1070 AM (Indianapolis) / WGR 550AM (Buffalo) Stream Option: DirecTV to Go Opening NFL Odds: TBAWhy Bet on Indianapolis?
The Colts might catch the Bills with their backup quarterback, rookie Nathan Peterman. That’s because starting QB Tyrod Taylor suffered a patellar tendon contusion in Sunday’s loss to the Patriots and is considered day-to-day at the moment. Taylor played through the injury until he was carted to the locker room while the Patriots offense was on the field in the fourth quarter. Before leaving the game, Taylor completed nine of 18 passes for 65 yards with one interception. The diagnosis is according to Coach Sean McDermott, but I’m not sure he really knows way day to day means. Wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin has been day-to-day and out of the lineup for a couple of weeks while left tackle Cordy Glenn was day-to-day for about a month before McDermott finally conceded there actually isn’t a timeline for his return to action.
Benjamin is expected to return this week. Tight end Nick O’Leary, who was inactive on Sunday due to a back injury, is also expected to practice this week. Backup running back/fullback Mike Tolbert is expected to return, as well, after he missed the last three weeks with a hamstring injury.
The Bills are banged up elsewhere. Cornerback Tre’Davious White is in the concussion protocol. White was hurt on a cheap shot by Rob Gronkowski, who was suspended for one game. White is Buffalo’s top cornerback. Defensive end Shaq Lawson is week-to-week with an ankle injury. He was hurt in the third quarter when the Patriots failed to score on a one-yard plunge. Eddie Yarbrough would start in his place.
