The Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys are set to face off on the turf of AT&T Stadium. This early afternoon game will begin at 1:00 p.m. ET and FOX will televise the action.
Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys Betting Preview
In this Sunday NFC game, Dallas is projected as the favorite and is currently giving up 3 points. The Lions are also receiving +130 moneyline odds while the Cowboys are -150. Multiple solid live betting scenarios may exist during the game, and oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 44 points.
The line opened at -4. The game’s over/under hasn’t moved since it opened at 44.
The Lions are down 1.5 units this season and 2-1 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an O/U record of 2-1. The Cowboys have lost 1.0 unit in 2018. The team is 1-2 ATS and has an O/U record of 0-3.
The Lions are 1-2 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Cowboys are also 1-2 SU.
The Lions hope to make it two in a row 26-10 victory over New England in Week 3. Matthew Stafford completed 27-of-36 passes for 262 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. LeGarrette Blount (only 48 rushing yards on 16 attempts) and Kerryon Johnson (101 yards on 16 carries) mounted the running attack in the win while Golden Tate (six receptions, 69 yards) and Kenny Golladay (six catches, 53 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties.
Back in Week 3, Seattle knocked off this Dallas crew by a score of 24-13. The Cowboys defense let the Seahawks kill the clock by running for 113 yards on 39 rush attempts, along with one rushing TD. Chris Carson put up a productive outing for Seattle, accounting for 102 rushing yards and a score on 32 attempts. For Dallas, Dak Prescott completed 19-of-34 passes for 168 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Ezekiel Elliott (127 rushing yards on 16 attempts) handled the ground attack in the defeat while Geoff Swaim (five receptions, 47 yards) led the pass-catching attack.
Detroit has run the ball on 31.9 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Dallas has an overall rush percentage of 42.9 percent. The Lions have rushed for 99 yards/game and have yet to record a touchdown via handoffs this year. The Cowboys are logging 133 rush yards per game and have two total rushing TDs.
If the numbers so far this season can translate to this game, then the Cowboys may have the edge when it comes to efficiency in the ground game. Their backfield has produced 6.0 yards per carry while their defense is allowing a YPC of 3.4 to opponents. The Lions have tallied 4.5 yards per carry while allowing 5.4 yards per rush attempt to opponents.
The Lions offensive scheme has tallied 303 yards per game through the air overall and has six passing TD so far. The Cowboys have recorded 166 pass yards per outing and have two total pass scores.
Detroit seems to have an edge when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has allowed opponents to run for an average of 149 yards and pass for 179 yards per game. The Dallas defense has allowed 210.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 98.3 yards per game on the ground. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to the opposition, as the Lions have given up an ANY/A of 5.61 to opposing QBs, while the Cowboys are yielding an ANY/A of 5.68.
Offensively, Stafford has amassed 548 passing yards this year. The signal-caller has connected on 54-of-82 attempts with three passing scores and five interceptions. He has a 4.53 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 6.95 over the past two games.
Dak Prescott has managed to complete 38-of-63 passes for 338 yards, one TD and two INTs for Dallas. His ANY/A sits at a very poor 2.77 for the season and 3.86 across his past two outings.
Betting Pick: Lions vs. Cowboys
SU Winner – Lions, ATS Winner – Lions, O/U – Over
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Notes
Team Betting Notes
Detroit was the underdog by 7 points in its last game and the Over/Under was set at 55.5. The under cashed and Detroit covered in the 26-10 victory over New England.
As a team, Detroit has averaged 5.0 yards per carry over its last two games.
Dallas has averaged 6.9 yards per carry over its last two.
The Dallas offense has lost two fumbles this season while Detroit has lost one.
Over its last three matches, Detroit is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
Dallas was favored by 2 points in its last game and the O/U going into it was 39.5. The under cashed and Dallas failed to cover in the 24-13 defeat to Seattle.
Over its last three matches, Dallas is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
Each team has produced one pass play of 40+ yards. The Lions have have made three pass plays of 30+ yards while the Cowboys have created one such plays.
Both defenses have allowed one pass play of 40+ yards and two pass plays of 30+ yards.
Both teams have produced one rushing play of 20 or more yards. The Detroit offense has recorded nine running plays of 10+ yards while Dallas has accounted for 13 such plays.
The Lions defense has allowed four rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Cowboys have given up one such run.
The Dallas defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 11 times this season. Detroit has produced 10 sacks.
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