Upcoming Match-ups

Eagles vs Cowboys Opening Spread Favors Dallas by 2.5 Points

Jake Mitchell

by Jake Mitchell in NFL Football

Updated Apr 6, 2020 · 8:54 AM PDT

Carson Wentz under center
Books rate Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles as the odds-on -125 favorites to win the NFC East title. Photo by Keith Allison (Flickr) [CC License].
  • The Eagles travel to play the Cowboys in a matchup of .500 teams
  • Both teams enter Week 7 coming off of tough losses 
  • The winner of this matchup will sole possession of first place in the NFC East

The Week 7 edition of Sunday Night Football will see a matchup of two NFC East foes looking to find momentum after a difficult few weeks. The Eagles vs Cowboys odds and stats set the stage for a game that both teams need to win, and neither team can afford to lose. 

Philadelphia Eagles vs Dallas Cowboys Odds

Team Spread Total
Eagles +2.5 (-105) O 48.5 (-110)
Cowboys -2.5 (-115) U 48.5 (-110)

* Odds taken 10/13/19

The Cowboys and Eagles have both hit a rough patch in recent weeks. Dallas has dropped three in a row, a stretch that has featured an offensive stall against New Orleans, three quarters of ineptitude at home against Green Bay, and Sunday’s 24-22 loss against a returning Sam Darnold and the New York Jets. For a team that started 3-0, they couldn’t have asked for a worse stretch.

Philadelphia has been dealing with a plethora of players on the shelf, and while they’ve had moments of brilliance, the injury report is a weekly cloud hanging overhead. At different points through the first 5 weeks of the season, they’ve dealt with injuries to Jason Peters, Darren Sproles, and Nigel Bradham, and that is just scratching the surface.

Should You Expect Much Line Movement?

In a divisional matchup like this one, the line likely won’t move drastically in either direction. That’s especially true with these two teams that are perceived as being so evenly matched up.

Eagles vs Cowboys Head-to-Head

Eagles
VS
Cowboys
3-3 Record 3-3
2-4 Record Against the Spread 3-3
4-2 Over/Under 4-2

The Cowboys have one of the better rushing attacks in the league, but on paper, Philadelphia has featured one of the better run defenses in the NFL. Similarly, Dak Prescott has had a sometimes strong, sometimes shaky year under new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, but the Eagles’ defense has been disruptive against the pass, intercepting the ball an average of at least once per game.

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This matchup is littered with fascinating matchups, and when it comes to a divisional game, the margins become so much smaller. With the line opening under a field goal, it could shift slightly towards the Cowboys. However, it’s unlikely that there will be significant movement in this game between .500 teams.

What’s the Best Early Bet?

While the line may not move too much in Dallas’ favor, getting it while it’s under a field goal is the way to go here. The Cowboys are the far healthier team, and while they’ve hit a bit of a rough patch, it hasn’t been entirely self-inflicted. Losses to the Saints, Packers, and Jets are tough, but it isn’t the end of the world in Dallas.

New Orleans has stepped up huge with the absence of Drew Brees, with wins over Dallas, Seattle, and even putting a roadblock in front of Gardner Minshew on Sunday. The loss to Green Bay came at a time when Aaron Rodgers and Matt Lafleur’s offense had finally found its footing. On Sunday, it was a close defeat to an especially inspired Jets team, given the return of quarterback Sam Darnold.

After a smooth start, the Cowboys have hit a speed bump. However, the 2.5-point line is a bit of an overreaction to Dallas’ recent woes against good teams.

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There are signs from the Eagles that Dallas -2.5 is the way to go as well.

On Sunday, they allowed Kirk Cousins to look like an MVP. He completed 75.9% of his throws for 333 yards and 4 touchdowns. On the ground, they gave up 142 yards to the Minnesota offense as well. Philadelphia running back Jordan Howard could only manage 3.8 yards per carry, and Carson Wentz was forced to shoulder a majority of the load.

That came a week after a game in which, yes, they may have beaten the Jets, but the Eagles weren’t extremely effective in doing so. Offensively, Philadelphia gained only 265 total yards, 2.9 yards per carry, and Wentz connected on only 58% of his throws. If not for the absence of Darnold, the Eagles would be on a serious skid.

The Pick: DAL -2.5 (-115)

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