Washington vs Dallas Odds, Lines, and Spread for Thanksgiving Thursday Week 12
- Dallas Cowboys favored to extend their dominance over Washington with a fifth straight home victory over the Football team on Thanksgiving Day
- NFL season betting record: 7-10-1; -4.34 units
- We’ve got you covered with all the odds and trends ahead of Thursday’s battle for the top of the NFC East standings at AT&T Stadium
First place in the NFC East will be up for grabs on Thanksgiving Day, when the Dallas Cowboys host the Washington Football Team as 3-point favorites in the NFL Week 12 odds.
Both the Cowboys and Washington have struggled this season, stumbling to identical 3-7 SU records. But with first-place Philadelphia dipping to 3-6-1 following two straight losses, the winner of Thursday afternoon’s matchup at AT&T Stadium can lay claim to the top of the division, at least temporarily.
Football Team vs Cowboys Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Football Team | +3 (-118) | +130 | O 46 (-110) |
| Dallas Cowboys | -3 (-104) | -148 | U 46 (-110) |
*Odds as of November 25, 2020 .
Line Movement and Thanksgiving Trends
The Cowboys have steadily gained momentum at the sportsbooks since opening as slim 1-point chalk in Thursday afternoon’s contest. The point spread has steadily moved in Dallas’ favor since the Cowboys ended a four-game SU losing streak with a narrow 31-28 win in Minnesota this past weekend.
Conversely, there has been little movement in the total. While the opening number ranged between 45.5 and 46.5, depending on the sportsbook, it has largely settled at 46. That is not surprising considering the struggles that both of these teams have faced to generate offense in recent weeks.
Cowboys win 31-28 in a shootout with the Vikings. Here was the nail in the coffin as Dalton finds Schultz wide open for the TD. #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/6lZ0DzxZd9
— Sports Parade (@SportsParade) November 23, 2020
Thursday’s contest will mark the ninth time that these two teams have met on Thanksgiving Day, with each of the eight previous meetings taking place in Dallas. The Cowboys have dominated in those contests, going 7-1 SU, capped by a 31-23 victory two years ago.
In addition, recent Thanksgiving Day meetings between these longtime rivals have also tended to be high-scoring affairs, with the total averaging 60 over their past three matchups.
Cowboys Aim to Move Past First-Half Slide
For the Cowboys, Thursday’s game marks a golden opportunity to right the ship after a dismal first half to the season. The Dallas defense has particularly struggled this season. With the pass defense allowing an NFL-worst 24 touchdowns through the team’s first 10 outings, the Cowboys enter Week 12 ranked dead last in the NFL in points allowed per game with 31.8.
Dallas Cowboys Defense
-32nd in scoring (290)
-31st in rushing yards (1413)
-30th in rushing ypa (5.0)
-29th in PFF run defense grade (48.9)Dalvin be like… pic.twitter.com/mBu95kps1C
— Purple FTW! Podcast (@PurpleForTheWin) November 19, 2020
The Cowboys defense has enjoyed no home cooking, giving up 36.8 points per game. And while Dallas managed to eke out a pair of home wins early in the season, keeping pace with opponents running up the score has been a huge challenge since quarterback Dak Prescott saw his season ended by injury.
They are averaging just 14.5 points per game in their past two home dates. The Dallas offense also turned in a woeful performance in the team’s visit to Washington last month, generating just 142 total yards in a brutal 25-3 loss while pegged as 1-point road chalk.
With veteran quarterback Andy Dalton returning to action last weekend after missing two games due to injury, the Cowboys offense showed signs of rebounding in last weekend’s win over the Vikings, with Dalton connecting on three scoring passes, and running back Ezekiel Elliott topping 100 rushing yards for the first time this season.
However, the Cowboys are likely to face a stiff challenge against a stout Washington defense that has shown steady improvement as the season has progressed.
Stout Defense, Return of Alex Smith Add Value to Washington’s Odds
The Football Team has surrendered multiple TDs just twice in their past five games, and more than one passing score just once during that stretch, with Matthew Stafford connecting on three touchdown passes in Detroit’s narrow 30-27 win over Washington two weeks ago.
Injuries remain a concern on both sides of the ball, with the status of defensive end Ryan Anderson still uncertain, and receiver Terry McLaurin missing time at practice. Both McLaurin and Washington’s leading rusher Antonio Gibson have been hobbled by ankle injuries, and it would be devastating for the Football Team if either of them are unable to go on Thursday.
Alex Smith continues to inspire
Weeks 9 and 10: throws for 300+ yards in back-to-back weeks for first time in career
Week 11: gets first win since life-threatening leg injury pic.twitter.com/PT7S0rw729
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) November 22, 2020
Despite the injury concerns, and the lack of confidence at the sportsbooks, opportunity knocks for Washington this time around in Dallas. With the team getting steady defensive performances, and Alex Smith swinging back into veteran form in his remarkable return to action, Washington is poised to spoil the Thanksgiving celebration in Dallas, with their first road win over the Cowboys in five years.
The Pick: Washington to win (+130)
Daniel has been writing about sports and sports betting for over 23 years. The seasoned pro has contributed to the likes of Sports Illustrated, Sportsnet, NESN, Bleacher Report, OddsShark, the Globe and Mail, and The Nation magazine.
