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Horse Racing Dallas Cowboys vs Detroit Lions Tips: December 31st Preview, Betting Odds and NFL Picks
There are huge NFL playoff implications on Saturday Night Football this week as the Dallas Cowboys welcome the Detroit Lions to Texas, looking to halt a two-game losing skid and keep their slim hopes of a home playoff game alive.
Our American Football expert Joshua Jones has his best value pick for the Dallas Cowboys v Detroit Lions game and gives the latest value betting picks & predictions, but if you want more from our experts, check out our Expert Insights section.
- Dallas Cowboys v Detroit Lions Pick: Dallas Cowboys Over 29.5 Points
- Best Odds: 1.91
- Bookmaker: 888sport
- Stake: 3/10
In this article:
- Dallas Cowboys v Detroit Lions Tips
- Dallas Cowboys v Detroit Lions Game Info
- Dallas Cowboys v Detroit Lions Betting Lines
- Dallas Cowboys v Detroit Lions Trends
- Dallas Cowboys Stats & Form
- Detroit Lions Stats & Form
- Dallas Cowboys v Detroit Lions Where to Watch
- Safer Gambling
Dallas Cowboys v Detroit Lions Tips
The Dallas Cowboys (10-5) welcome the Detroit Lions (11-4) to AT&T Stadium for a year-end rendition of Saturday Night Football with both sides locked into the play-offs and looking to seed as high as possible.
The Cowboys are fresh off a two-game losing skid in which they have been thoroughly outplayed by AFC Conference opponents Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins. While they were more than a match for Miami, the way they lost to Buffalo will have Detroit’s running-back tandem and offensive line salivating at the possibilities. Dallas allowed 267 yards on 47 carries (excluding kneel downs) to a pretty basic Bills offence and now face a side that has racked up the 3rd most rushing yards per game this year.
They likely won’t be worried though, and with good reason given their home form. The Cowboys are 7-0 straight up in Arlington and have the offensive weapons to cause Detroit serious problems in CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott.
Dallas has surpassed 30 points in all seven of their home games this year – even surpassing 40 (5.75) on four occasions – and averages a league-high 39.9 points scored per game across that stretch, 5.8 points more than any other team in the league.
Detroit meanwhile, despite tightening up on defence over the last couple of weeks, have been one of the easier sides to put up points against this year – ranking 24th for opponent points per game – giving up 25.3 on average on the road, which rises to 31.8 across their last five.
- Selection: Dallas Cowboys Over 29.5 Points
- Best Odds: 1.91
- Bookmaker: 888sport
- Stake: 3/10
Odds available as of December 29th 2023. Odds may now differ.
Dallas Cowboys v Detroit Lions Game Info
- Date: Sunday, December 31st, 2023
- Time: 01:15AM (UK time)
- Venue: AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas, USA
Dallas Cowboys v Detroit Lions Betting Lines
| Dallas Cowboys v Detroit Lions Betting Lines | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| bet365 Odds | Moneyline | Over/Under 52.5 | Handicap -/+5.5 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 1.40 | 1.90 | 1.90 |
| Detroit Lions | 3.05 | 1.90 | 1.90 |
Odds available as of December 29th 2023. Odds may now differ.
Dallas Cowboys v Detroit Lions Trends
- The Detroit Lions are a league-best 10-5-0 ATS this season.
- The Dallas Cowboys are 9-6-0 ATS this season.
- The Lions are a league-high 10-5-0 to the over this year.
- The Cowboys are a perfect 7-0 at home this year.
- Detroit are 6-1 to the over since their Week 9 bye.
Dallas Cowboys Stats & Form
The Cowboys have been busy reinforcing everyone’s belief that they play really well at home or against bad teams, and nowhere else, and that’s a misconception they’ll want to rid themselves off heading into the play-offs.
Back-to-back losses on the road to AFC East leaders Miami Dolphins and the league’s form side Buffalo Bills has seen them lose ground in the race for a first-round bye in the play-offs, meaning their hammering of divisional rival the Eagles was almost for nothing.
They are now an outside chance to win that division at 4.75 – needing to win-out while Philadelphia loses out to stand a chance. With that in mind, it should come as no surprise to see they are also outsiders to win the conference at 7.00.
Their sole goal will be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy aloft come February though, and they are 7th-favourites at 14.00 to do so.
Detroit Lions Stats & Form
The Detroit Lions were able to lock up the NFC North with a win over the Minnesota Vikings last weekend, and are now playing purely for seeding ranking.
They were able to halt a run of worrying performances with back-to-back wins over the Vikings and the Denver Broncos, in which their defence was able to make crucial plays where they hadn’t been previously.
Having held Russell Wilson and the Broncos to just 17 points in Week 15 they forced four turnovers from Minnesota QB Nick Mullens – including the game-sealing interception – to seal the division in style.
Tied atop the NFC with the same 11-4 record as both the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit is relying on several things to go their way to have any chance of securing the #1 seed with bookmakers making them 10.0 to do so.
Their focus may be on maximising their chances of winning a Super Bowl, though bookmakers only give them odds of 21.00 to end their Championship drought.
Dallas Cowboys v Detroit Lions Where to Watch
This Saturday Night Football selection is aired on Sky Sports NFL from 01:15 in the early hours of Sunday morning.
SAFER GAMBLING
At bettingexpert, we always take a safe approach to gambling. We’ll never bet more than we can afford or chase losses. For more advice, head to our Safer Gambling hub.
