NFL Odds Week 17: Lions vs Cowboys Lines, Spreads, Betting Trends

Patrick Everson Sports Betting Expert

4 minute read

Week 17 of the NFL season continues with Saturday Night Football between the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys. The betting odds see Dallas as a six-point favorite despite coming off back-to-back losses. Coverage begins from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Saturday, December 30 at 8:15 p.m. ET on ABC.

Here's everything you need to know about the NFL odds for Week 17: Lions vs. Cowboys lines, spreads, betting trends and more.

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Detroit Lions vs Dallas Cowboys Odds

• Opening point spread: Cowboys -6
• Opening moneyline: Cowboys TBA/Lions TBA
• Opening total: Over/Under 51 points scored
• Time: 8:15 p.m. ET Saturday (ABC/ESPN)

UPDATE 7:45 P.M. ET SATURDAY: Caesars Sports opened Dallas -6 in its NFL odds Week 17 market, and the spread stuck there all week. Finally, early this morning, the Cowboys dipped to -5.5. And subsequently this afternoon/evening, the line slid to Dallas -5/-4.5/-4.

The Cowboys are now -4.5 again, while taking 52% of spread tickets/53% of spread money. On the moneyline, 66% of bets are on Dallas, while 53% of cash is on Detroit.

The total opened at 52.5, peaked at 53.5 multiple times this week and had a low of 52 this morning. It's now at 53.5, with 61% of tickets/62% of money on the Over.

UPDATE 11:30 A.M. ET THURSDAY: Dallas opened -6 at TwinSpires and stuck there until this morning, dipping to -5.5. Detroit is taking 55% of early spread tickets, while 56% of early spread cash is on Dallas.

"Really good two-way handle on this game so far," Lucas said. "Cowboys teasers are quite popular. As of now, we'll need Detroit."

The total is up a tick from 53 to 53.5, with 72% of tickets/81% of dollars on the Over.

"Any time these teams play, the Over money is going to pour in. This game is no exception," Lucas said.

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET SUNDAY: Dallas (10-5 SU/9-6 ATS) rallied in the fourth quarter to take a 20-19 lead at Miami with 3:27 remaining. But the Cowboys fell 22-20 on a field goal as time expired.

Detroit (11-4 SU/10-5 ATS) held off Minnesota 30-24 laying 2.5 points on the road. The Lions clinched the NFC North and are still in the mix for the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

After opening Lions-Cowboys at Dallas -6, The SuperBook is up to -6.5 in its NFL odds Week 17 market.

"This feels like Dallas' kind of game," Michaelson said. "Off two road losses, against a team that just clinched its division for the first time in 30 years, who do you think this game matters more to? At the moment, we're higher than the market on this game. We expect to need the underdog."

The total is even more on the move early, climbing from 51 to 51.5/52/53 in little more than an hour tonight.

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.

Lions vs Cowboys Pick, Prediction

Action Network NFL betting expert Brandon Anderson offers this prediction:

Both defenses are trending down lately. The Cowboys' defense sits around league average over the past six weeks, and teams are starting to really pick on some of Dallas' weaknesses. The Cowboys rank bottom 10 by DVOA against tight ends, middle passes and on deep balls, and Ben Johnson is one of the league's smartest offensive coordinators and should build a game plan to attack Dallas where it's weakest.

LaPorta has had an outstanding rookie season with some really big games, and he thrives in that middle of the field — where Dallas' defense is weakest. Expect lots of quick passes to get the ball out before the Cowboys' pass rush can get home. LaPorta has at least 47 yards in nine of 15 games this season (60%), and I think he ends up clearing 60 and could be in for a big game on Saturday night.

Pick: Sam LaPorta Over 40.5 Receiving Yards (-110)

For more NFL picks, check out Action Network's NFL Week 17: How to Bet Every Game & Every Team.

The One Stat to Know About Lions vs Cowboys

Action Network NFL researcher Evan Abrams offers his top betting stat:

Lions: Jared Goff career as an underdog: 16-31 SU, 27-21 ATS.

For more NFL betting stats, check out Action Network's NFL Week 17 Betting Trends, Stats, Notes.

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Patrick Everson

Patrick Everson is a senior reporter for VegasInsider. Based in Las Vegas since 1994, he's worked in the sports betting journalism/content space for more than a decade. He's most known for his deep roster of contacts behind sportsbook counters, providing readers and viewers with the ins-and-outs of how events are being bet. He's also a thought leader in the sports betting space, often appearing on or moderating panels at national conferences. More from Patrick Everson