Cowboys vs. Eagles Week 8 Predictions, Odds, Preview

• October 30, 2020
• By Matt Blunt
• VegasInsider.com

With no more daily sports in North America going on for the next little while after the L.A. Dodgers won the World Series in six games, it really does hurt knowing that sports bettors everywhere are subjected to this Sunday Night Football matchup between Dallas and Philadelphia.

But to paraphrase and make applicable a popular repeated line from former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch during his Super Bowl media days one year, “I'm just here so I don't get fined.”

This preview and prediction is strictly for all you guys (and girls) that are chasing or pressing the SNF game. And I sincerely wish you luck on this one!

All jokes aside, I've spent the past few years ragging on Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz in firmly believing he's not a quality QB, and as I've said in previous Eagles prime time pieces this year, I want nothing to do with Wentz and the Eagles as a favorite.

But taking the points with Dallas as they likely start a 3rd string QB (or even Andy Dalton for that matter) is another proposition I definitely want no part of.

That leaves the possibility of forcing a play on this total, but again, with QB uncertainty in Dallas, and Wentz being a guy I can't trust to put up points (an INT in the end zone by Wentz and two missed 2-point tries last Thursday cost me an 'over' play), I'm not exactly thrilled about any total options either.

Betting Resources

• Week 9 Matchup: NFC East
• Expert Picks: Vegas Insiders
• Venue: Lincoln Financial Field
• Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Date: Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020
• Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
• TV: NBC
• Bet: BetMGM | BetRivers | FanDuel | PointsBet | All

The Dallas Cowboys have been the worst team in the NFL for bettors in 2020, starting 0-7 against the spread. (AP)

Cowboys-Eagles Betting Odds

Line Movements

Odds Subject to Change

2020 Betting Stats

(Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under - O/U)

Dallas

• Overall: 2-5 SU, 0-7 ATS, 4-3 O/U
• Road: 0-3 SU, 0-3 ATS, 1-2 O/U
• Offense PPG: 25.1 (Rank 19)
• Defense PPG: 34.7 (Rank 32)
• Offense YPG: 418.0 (Rank 3)
• Defense YPG: 408.1 (Rank 27)

Philadelphia

• Overall: 2-4-1 SU, 2-5 ATS, 4-3 O/U
• Home: 1-2-1 SU, 1-3 ATS, 2-2 O/U
• Offense PPG: 23.3 (Rank 23)
• Defense PPG: 28.0 (Rank 28)
• Offense YPG: 345.4 (Rank 25)
• Defense YPG: 350.9 (Rank 12)

Over vs. Under
Handicapping the Total

Not being thrilled about any total options doesn't mean I can't at least pass on some information to you guys though, as that's ultimately what I'm here for.

Five of the last seven meetings between these two teams have cashed 'under' tickets, as each team traded home wins by at least a TD last year. There have been three OT games between these two organizations in their last 10 meetings – Dallas is 2-1 SU in those OT games – and it is those three games that account for the majority of 'over' results between these two in those previous 10 meetings.

Overtime wasn't specifically needed in all three of those cases to cash an 'over' ticket, but the 2018 OT game saw 31 combined points in the 4th to sneak over the closing total of 45.5 by the hook before the extra frame, and the 2016 OT game had a 13-point final frame to creep over the closing number by two points.

Interestingly enough, for those bettors that prefer the derivative markets with player/team props etc, looking at taking the FG's over prop here may be worth a significant look.

Each of last year's meetings finished with 4 combined FG's, and nine of their last 10 meetings have had at least three FG's scored, seven of those having 4+ FG's tallied.

The line for total FG's in this game is likely to settle in at that 3.5 number, so if you are looking for action outside of trying to stomach any side or total play here, that is something to look for.

Both of these teams are tied at just 60.87 % in converting red zone opportunities into TD's, which sits 20th in a 32-team league. So this year's numbers definitely back up the historical perspective of seeing plenty of kicking action when these two play.

Expecting plenty of FG's would lend itself to potentially playing the 'under' in the full game market, and that has been the side to play when these two have met in recent years. Those past totals have always been in a similar range to this game's current number of 43, but as I've touched on in other pieces this season, a low-40's total in the 2020 NFL can get surpassed almost by accident.

Considering how turnover prone these two teams have been this year, if some of those turnovers come on their own side of the field, even with inept offenses, we could still get 44+ points rather easily.

So I'd only consider looking at the FG prop 'over' for any play related to total points put up in this game.

Head-to-Head History

• Dec. 22, 2019 - Philadelphia 17 vs. Dallas 9, Eagles +2, Under 46.5
• Oct. 20, 2019 - Dallas 37 vs. Philadelphia 10, Cowboys -3, Under 50
• Dec. 9, 2018 - Dallas 29 vs. Philadelphia 23, Cowboys -3.5, Over 45.5
• Nov. 11, 2018 - Dallas 27 at Philadelphia 20, Cowboys +7.5, Over 45.5

Cowboys vs. Eagles
Handicapping the Side

For someone like myself who never has any interest in Carson Wentz as a favorite, this spread of -8.5 is a little intriguing in terms of taking the points with Dallas. That's a huge number for this Eagles team to try and cover, but at the same time, you've got to show some respect to the oddsmakers in their analysis of putting out the spread in this range.

Wentz has found a strong level of comfort in wide receiver Greg Ward the past 12 months or so, and if you are continuing down the rabbit hole that the prop market can sometimes be, looking at Ward's numbers for receiving yards, receptions, and even to score a TD may be something to look at as well.

Considering taking all those points with Dallas does run into some big questions for bettors too, as who ends up under center for Dallas is a concern.

QB Ben DiNucci was named the starter for the Dallas Cowboys this week. There is little history to sink your teeth into with him, so even with all those points in your back pocket with a Cowboys ATS ticket, I'm not sure how you can trust him to perform well enough to risk your bankroll with.

For thoser wondering, DiNucci started his college football career at Pittsburgh and eventually transfered to James Madison University, where he led them to the FCS Championship Game.

So needless to say, there aren't a lot of strong recommendations I can make for this game, as I plan on spending Sunday evening breaking down the field for the upcoming Houston Open on the PGA Tour next week.

Typically that's something I wait to do until after the SNF contest, but one of the biggest advantages we as bettors have over the oddsmaker is the fact that we don't have to bet every game whereas they've got to put up lines on every contest.

The word “abstain” is met with a lot of judging looks these days considering what's going on a few days after this SNF contest, but abstaining from putting any more effort into this game that's more likely to look like a dumpster fire than an NFL game is precisely what I'm doing this week.

I wish you all the best in whatever side or total you land on for SNF, chances are you'll probably need whatever luck you can get to cash it.

I'm just hoping with the NFL's flex scheduling program coming into the mix here soon that we can start to see these NFC East teams get flexed out of these SNF spots and given to teams, not viewership markets, that deserve it.

Key Injuries

Dallas

• QB Andy Dalton: Head - Doubtful
• OT Brandon Knight: Knee - Out
• G Zack Martin: Concussion - Probable

Philadelphia

• WR Alshon Jeffery: Calf - Out
• WR DeSean Jackson: Ankle - Out
• LB Genard Avery: Elbow - Questionable
• CB Craig James: Hamstring - Questionable
• LB Nathan Gerry: Ankle - Questionable
• TE Dallas Goedert: Ankle - Questionable

Cowboys vs. Eagles - Predictions

• Score Prediction: Philadelphia 23 Dallas 17
• Best Bet: Greg Ward (Eagles) Anytime TD +165
• Best Bet: Over Total FGs 3.5 (+105)

2020 Sunday Night Football (SNF) Betting Results

Betting Results

Straight Up (SU), Against the Spread (ATS)

• Home-Away: 5-2 SU, 4-3 ATS
• Favorites-Underdogs: 2-5 SU, 1-6 ATS
• Over-Under: 3-4