When Tony Romo got hurt in Week 2 of the season, he left behind the Dallas Cowboys at 2-0. He collarbone is healed once again, and he's ready to play again, but unfortunately for him, his team hasn't picked him up is still stuck with just those same two wins. The Romo factor makes Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins arguably the hardest to handicap on the Week 11 docket.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Dallas Cowboys -1.5
Miami Dolphins +1.5
Over/Under 46.5
ODDS ANALYSIS
It's not often that you see a 2-7 team favored on the road, but then again, it isn't often that a team which had a regular season win total of 9.5 sitting at 2-7 either.
Romo's return has given the oddsmakers a little bit of a confidence, as the Cowboys opened up at -1.5. However, bettors are still ready to fade away on what feels like a bit of a dysfunctional team. Dallas is now set at a pick 'em as of Tuesday night.
The total has risen just a tad from 46.5 at the open to 47.
WHEN THE DALLAS COWBOYS HAVE THE BALL
Romo had a good start to his season, and the pieces around him haven't changed all that much. Dez Bryant is healthy again, and that should play into his hands as well. This offensive line can still be dominant, and though Joseph Randle is gone, Darren McFadden has been excellent in his relief.
However, can the Cowboys consistently put points on the board for live bettors? The 10-6 loss to Tampa last week did nothing to inspire us, nor is the fact that this offense hasn't scored a touchdown in three of its last five games.
The Miami defense has run hot and cold of late. It played a miserable first half against Philadelphia last week, but it really bucked up in the second half to erase that 16-3 deficit to come back and win. However, this is the same unit which allowed 33 to Buffalo and 36 to New England, so there's reason for live bettors to cringe.
As always, keep an eye on the battle in the trenches. That Dallas offensive line is awesome, and it is playing at a very high level, even without a competent quarterback behind it. Miami's best successes of late have come when Ndamukong Suh and Cameron Wake have been on top of quarterbacks. Whichever team is winning that push up front is probably ultimately going to be an asset in live betting.
WHEN THE MIAMI DOLPHINS HAVE THE BALL
The Cowboys haven't been great defensively of late either, particularly late in games. They're surrendering a whopping 9.0 points per game in the fourth quarter, and that will certainly give Miami some promise.
However, do you remember the Dan Campbell team which scored 79 points in its first six quarters of football under his control? That unit had Lamar Miller running the heck out of the football to open up the playaction pass, and it felt like Ryan Tannehill couldn't miss.
Since halftime of the Houston game, the Fins have scored a grand total of 47 points in three and a half football games.
Granted, the schedule has been tough, and playing on the road isn't easy at all, but the Dolphins have to do better than this. Maybe that surge against Philly with Miller being used out of the backfield as a receiver is just what the doctor ordered to get this team going again.
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