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Lions vs Cowboys Prediction, Picks, Odds | Saturday Night Football Week 17

Michael Crosson
Michael Crosson Sports Betting Expert
5 minute read

Here's everything you need to know about the Lions vs. Cowboys Picks, Predictions, and Odds for Saturday Night Football Week 17.

Week 17 of the NFL regular season continues with a Saturday night primetime clash between the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys. Coverage begins from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas at 8:15 p.m. ET on ABC.

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Lions vs Cowboys Betting Prediction & Odds for Saturday Night Football Week 17

Matchup Spread Total Moneyline

The Lions entered the season with incredibly lofty expectations after closing their previous campaign with wins in eight of their last 10 games – and for the most part, they’ve lived up to those expectations. Detroit clinched the NFC North title last week by earning its 11th win of the season, and very few teams have been able to slow down this Lions offense that ranks Top 5 in both scoring and yards per play.

However, Detroit usually lights up the scoreboard out of necessity as opposed to casually walking the ball down the field in blowouts. The Lions defense ranks 24th in scoring and 22nd in yards allowed per play, and because of their flaws on the defensive side of the ball, the betting odds see them as steep underdogs against Dallas in this matchup.

According to VegasInsider’s Patrick Everson, the spread for this contest originally opened at Cowboys -6 on Sunday night, and since then has climbed half-a-point to -6.5. SuperBook risk advisor Chase Michaelson noted the reasoning as Dallas desperately wanting to win this game in the aftermath of back-to-back losses as opposed to a Lions squad that just clinched its division last week for the first time in 30 years.

In my opinion, however, six-and-a-half points is way too much respect for a Cowboys team that has posted only one win over an opponent with a winning percentage of .535 or better (PHI). Granted, you can’t fault Dallas for beating the teams on its schedule. But at this point, we can gather a solid sample of data indicating how the Cowboys tend to fare against top shelf competition – and I simply don’t see them covering this number.

The Cowboys looked great in matchups against the Patriots, Jets, Giants (2), Panthers, Commanders and Chargers – and they even looked pretty good against the Seahawks, Rams and their second matchup vs. Philly. However, it took them two tries to beat the Eagles, and they handed the Dolphins their first win of the season over an opponent with a winning record. They also got stomped in matchups against the 49ers and Bills.

The Lions have been favored in 13 of 15 matchups prior to this week. They were listed as four-point underdogs vs. Kansas City all the way back in Week 1, and they were three-point underdogs vs. Baltimore in Week 7 – making the spread for this matchup the largest point-spread laid against Detroit all season by a considerable margin.

The right team is favored in this spot, but the Cowboys are laying way too many points. I like Detroit +6.

Score Prediction: Cowboys 26, Lions 24
Best Bet: Lions +6 (-110)

DET @ DAL Odds

  • Full Game
  • 1H
  • 1Q
  • 2Q
  • 3Q
  • 4Q
  • Spread
  • Total
  • Moneyline
Final
Detroit Lions 103 Lions
+4.5 -105 +3 -105 +2.5 -105 +3 -110 +3 -110 +3.5 -115 +2.5 +110 +4.5 -110  
Dallas Cowboys 104 Cowboys
-4.5 -115 -3 -115 -2.5 -115 -3 -110 -3 -110 -3.5 -105 -2.5 -139 -4.5 -110  
Final
Detroit Lions 103 Lions
o51.5 -110 o27 -115 o26.5 -125 N/A o27 -120 o27.5 even o26.5 -127 o53.5 -110  
Dallas Cowboys 104 Cowboys
u51.5 -110 u27 -105 u26.5 +105 N/A u27 even u27.5 -120 u26.5 +104 u53.5 -110  
Final
Detroit Lions 103 Lions
+184 +160 +146 +140 +158 +154 +155 +184  
Dallas Cowboys 104 Cowboys
-220 -190 -178 -165 -190 -185 -195 -220  
Final
Detroit Lions 103 Lions
+4.5 -105 +2.5 even +1.5 -105 N/A +1.5 -105 N/A +1.5 -109 +4.5 -110  
Dallas Cowboys 104 Cowboys
-4.5 -115 -2.5 -120 -1.5 -115 N/A -1.5 -115 N/A -1.5 -114 -4.5 -110  
Final
Detroit Lions 103 Lions
o51.5 -110 o26.5 -110 o26.5 -120 N/A o26.5 -110 N/A o26.5 -110 o53.5 -110  
Dallas Cowboys 104 Cowboys
u51.5 -110 u26.5 -110 u26.5 -100 N/A u26.5 -110 N/A u26.5 -113 u53.5 -110  
Final
Detroit Lions 103 Lions
+184 +150 +128 N/A N/A N/A +128 +184  
Dallas Cowboys 104 Cowboys
-220 -180 -152 N/A N/A N/A -162 -220  
Final
Detroit Lions 103 Lions
+4.5 -105 +1.5 -115 +1.5 -120 +0.5 -120 +0.5 -110 +0.5 -112 +2.5 -112 +4.5 -110  
Dallas Cowboys 104 Cowboys
-4.5 -115 -1.5 -105 -1.5 -102 -0.5 -110 -0.5 -110 -0.5 -108 -2.5 -112 -4.5 -110  
Final
Detroit Lions 103 Lions
o51.5 -110 o10 -115 o9.5 -148 N/A o10 -115 o10.5 +114 o10.5 +108 o53.5 -110  
Dallas Cowboys 104 Cowboys
u51.5 -110 u10 -105 u9.5 +122 N/A u10 -105 u10.5 -135 u10.5 -136 u53.5 -110  
Final
Detroit Lions 103 Lions
+184 +140 +138 +130 +135 +150 +143 +184  
Dallas Cowboys 104 Cowboys
-220 -165 -170 -165 -160 -180 -180 -220  
Final
Detroit Lions 103 Lions
+4.5 -105 +0.5 even +1.5 -124 N/A N/A +2.5 -105 N/A +4.5 -110  
Dallas Cowboys 104 Cowboys
-4.5 -115 -0.5 -120 -1.5 +102 N/A N/A -2.5 -125 N/A -4.5 -110  
Final
Detroit Lions 103 Lions
o51.5 -110 o16.5 even o12.5 -112 N/A N/A o6.5 -120 N/A o53.5 -110  
Dallas Cowboys 104 Cowboys
u51.5 -110 u16.5 -120 u12.5 -118 N/A N/A u6.5 -110 N/A u53.5 -110  
Final
Detroit Lions 103 Lions
+184 +125 +116 N/A N/A +120 N/A +184  
Dallas Cowboys 104 Cowboys
-220 -150 -142 N/A N/A -142 N/A -220  
Final
Detroit Lions 103 Lions
+4.5 -105 +0.5 -105 +1.5 -144 N/A N/A +0.5 -115 N/A +4.5 -110  
Dallas Cowboys 104 Cowboys
-4.5 -115 -0.5 -115 -1.5 +118 N/A N/A -0.5 -105 N/A -4.5 -110  
Final
Detroit Lions 103 Lions
o51.5 -110 o10.5 +115 o7.5 -110 N/A N/A o9.5 -142 N/A o53.5 -110  
Dallas Cowboys 104 Cowboys
u51.5 -110 u10.5 -135 u7.5 -122 N/A N/A u9.5 +120 N/A u53.5 -110  
Final
Detroit Lions 103 Lions
+184 +150 +124 N/A N/A +136 N/A +184  
Dallas Cowboys 104 Cowboys
-220 -180 -152 N/A N/A -162 N/A -220  
Final
Detroit Lions 103 Lions
+4.5 -105 +0.5 even +1.5 -128 N/A N/A +0.5 -105 N/A +4.5 -110  
Dallas Cowboys 104 Cowboys
-4.5 -115 -0.5 -120 -1.5 +106 N/A N/A -0.5 -115 N/A -4.5 -110  
Final
Detroit Lions 103 Lions
o51.5 -110 o14.5 -105 o14.5 -110 N/A N/A o14.5 +102 N/A o53.5 -110  
Dallas Cowboys 104 Cowboys
u51.5 -110 u14.5 -115 u14.5 -110 N/A N/A u14.5 -122 N/A u53.5 -110  
Final
Detroit Lions 103 Lions
+184 +130 +118 N/A N/A +120 N/A +184  
Dallas Cowboys 104 Cowboys
-220 -155 -144 N/A N/A -142 N/A -220  

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Lions vs Cowboys Betting Resources

Date: Saturday, December 30
Matchup: NFC North vs NFC East
Venue: AT&T Stadium
Location: Arlington, Texas
Time-TV: ABC, 8:15 p.m. ET

Click here for Vegas Insider senior reporter Patrick Everson's full NFL Odds Week 17 Report containing spreads, lines, and trends for every NFL matchup.

Use our BetMGM bonus code before making your Lions vs Cowboys pick to get bonus bets!

Detroit Lions Betting Analysis

Detroit clinched its first division title in 30 years last week. However, none of it would have been possible without the steady production of a Lions aerial attack that ranks fifth in passing yards per game and eighth in yards per attempt through the air. 

WR Amon-Ra St. Brown leads the team in most major receiving categories with an average of 92 yards on 7.6 receptions per game to go along with eight touchdowns on the season – and his production has been incredibly steady. 

St. Brown has tallied 77-plus receiving yards in 10 of his 14 outings so far this season – and he cleared the 100-yard receiving mark on eight of those occasions, which includes back-to-back performances of 100-plus yards entering this week. I will also be betting St. Brown props.

Check out our Super Bowl odds for a preview of the teams likely to be in the big game.

Dallas Cowboys Betting Analysis

Not too long ago, the Cowboys were considered legitimate Super Bowl contenders after looking like a bunch of superstars in pushover matchups against the Patriots, Jets, Giants (2), Panthers, Commanders and Chargers. However, those conversations have come to a screeching halt in the aftermath of Dallas dropping its latest two affairs against the Bills and Dolphins.

The Cowboys offense draws a favorable matchup this week as they face a Lions secondary that ranks 23rd in passing yards allowed per game and 25th in yards allowed per pass attempt. However, Dallas is still laying too many points given the current state of the Cowboys offense.

Lions vs Cowboys Betting Trends

  • The Lions are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 games.
  • The total has gone OVER in six of Detroit's last seven games.
  • The total has gone UNDER in four of Dallas' last six games.
  • The Cowboys are 5-2 SU in their last seven games.
  • The Lions are 10-3 SU in their last 13 games.

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Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson began his time at VegasInsider as a freelance NBA writer back in 2019 while he continued to study Psychology and Biology at James Madison University. Following his graduation in 2021, Michael joined the team full-time, and he's been with VI ever since. Michael still writes NBA, NFL, and MLB for VI, as well as gambling industry news. He's also become a crucial part of our editorial production team. More from Michael Crosson
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