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Cowboys vs Giants Week 17 Opening Spread Favors Dallas by 1.5 Points

David Golokhov

by David Golokhov in NFL Football

Updated Dec 27, 2020 · 6:16 PM PST

Andy Dalton hands off to Ezekiel Elliott
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) takes the hand off from quarterback Andy Dalton (14) in the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 27. 2020. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
  • The Dallas Cowboys will visit MetLife Stadium in Week 17 for their second meeting of the year with the New York Giants
  • The Giants have lost three in a row, scoring just 26 points in those contests
  • The Cowboys are on a three-game winning streak and are peaking at the right time – read below for our betting prediction

The Dallas Cowboys will visit the New York Giants in a Week 17 matchup where the NFC East division title will still be hanging in the balance.

The Giants have a humongous variance of possible outcomes from their regular-season finale: they could either win the division and head to the playoffs, or have the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

The Cowboys have opened as a 1.5-point road favorite for this matchup. Which way will the betting line move throughout the week?

Cowboys vs Giants Opening Odds

Team Moneyline Spread Total
Dallas Cowboys -118 -1.5 (-114) Ov 47.5 (-106)
New York Giants +100 +1.5 (-106) Un 47.5 (-114)

All odds as of December 27 at FanDuel.

Giants Are Fading Fast

After shocking the Seattle Seahawks on the road in Week 13, the Giants were the talk of the town. They were riding a four-game winning streak and were sitting atop the NFC East. Three games later, it looks like that midseason spell was nothing more than a brief aberration. The Giants have lost three in a row and haven’t been competitive in any of those games.

Sunday’s loss at the Baltimore Ravens was expected but nonetheless concerning. The Giants’ offense mustered just 269 yards and 13 points. They’ve been among the league’s worst units all season but it appeared they turned a (small) corner during that four-game winning streak, averaging 21.5 points per game. They’ve scored a total of 26 points in the last three outings.

On the other side of the ball, the Giants’ defense has become a strong, respectable unit over the course of the year. They entered Week 16 ranking 12th overall in total defense, 10th in points per game and sixth in rush defense. However, unless the offense does more, it’ll be tough for them to win against the red-hot Cowboys.

Cowboys Peaking At Right Time

The Cowboys have come a long way in just about a month’s time. Around six weeks ago, they were getting embarrassed at home on national television by the Washington Football Team. Now, they enter Week 17 riding a three-game winning streak with a chance to win the division and make the playoffs.

A big key for the Cowboys is their offense coming to life. They’ve scored 108 points over their last three games; they had scored just 105 in their seven games before that. Quarterback Andy Dalton (377 passing yards, three touchdowns and an interception) and running back Ezekiel Elliott (105 rushing yards) are coming off their best games of the season.

If they can keep rolling and make this a bit of a shootout – as they did in the first meeting between the teams – the Cowboys are going to feel good about their chances of winning.

Which Way Will The Line Move?

All of the momentum is with the Cowboys right now, so expect the odds to shift in their favor. They have won three in a row and their offense is cooking, while the Giants’ offense is second-last in the NFL in yards-per-game over the last three weeks. Look for bettors to stick with the momentum, which means we should see this line close somewhere in the neighborhood of Cowboys -3.

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