Both teams have clinched a playoff berth, but the Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys are heading in opposite directions ahead of their Week 17 collision. Once sitting atop the NFC standings, the Cards have dropped three in a row SU and ATS and now find themselves staring up at the Rams in the NFC West. The Cowboys put an exclamation point on their fourth straight win and cover downing Washington, 56-14, on Sunday night to secure the NFC East crown and they still have hopes of claiming the No. 1 seed and first-round playoff bye that comes with it. The Cowboys are a 5.5-point favorite on the NFL betting line.
This regular season Week 17 matchup will take place on Sunday, January 2, 2022 at 4:25 p.m. ET at ATT Stadium in Arlington, TX and will be televised on FOX.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Arizona Cardinals +5.5
Dallas Cowboys -5.5
Total 52
Odds Analysis
The Cowboys hit the board as a 2.5-point favorite with bettors pouncing on the home team. Fans and bettors often overreact from week to week, but when the results for each side have been so dramatic and different there is good reason. The spread was wagered up a full three points since surfacing with the Boys now -5.5. Following a two-game SU and ATS skid around Thanksgiving, the Cowboys are on a roll at the right time and last week was good to them. They clinched a playoff berth with the outcome of the Thursday night game and won the division when Las Vegas beat Denver earlier on Sunday. Then the Boys went out and walloped Washington for their fourth straight payout win. We also saw the total spike a few points to 52 after surfacing at half a hundred.
Key Injury
No team is immune from injuries or COVID and they all have to deal with them the best they can. We’ve seen the Cardinals offense suffer during their losing streak with some of that likely having to do with the absence of DeAndre Hopkins and James Connor. Hopkins sustained a knee injury in the Week 14 loss to the Rams that started the current slide. He was targeted 13 times in that game but had just five catches for 54 yards. It was revealed after the game that he sustained an MCL injury. His first season in Arizona was a beauty with 115 catches for 1,407 yards and six touchdowns and the rapport with Kyler Murray was evident. While he didn’t put up eye-popping numbers this season, he was a threat that opposing defenses had to plan for.
In their first game without Hopkins the Cards were stunned by Detroit in Week 15. Not that his presence would have gotten Arizona a victory, but the Lions would have played differently. Murray completed just 56 percent of his throws against the Lions and was intercepted. The offense struggled again last week scoring just 16 points against a depleted Colts defense. Connor missed that game with a foot injury and the team’s leading rusher is listed as questionable. Over the previous two games the Cardinals produced two of their lowest scoring games of the season.
Player to Watch
One reason for the Cowboys turnaround is a healthy Dak Prescott. Another is the play of the defense. One of the worst units in the NFL last season the Boys have hounded opponents this year thanks to an infusion of young talent. There is second-year corner Trevon Diggs, who leads the NFL in interceptions, and rookie Micah Parsons, who does a little bit of everything on the field. Both contributed in the win over Washington with Diggs setting the tone early. He intercepted Taylor Heinicke on Washington’s first offensive play leading to a Dallas touchdown and the rout was on. Diggs has 11 of Dallas’ league-leading 25 interceptions this season. Parsons continues to make a case for Rookie of the Year with 13 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. Over the last four games the group allowed an average of just over 14 points while forcing 14 turnovers. The Cowboys are second in the NFL with a plus-14 turnover differential.
Free ATS Pick
The Cards better get things figured out quickly or their postseason will be short. I guess it’s a good thing they already clinched a spot since once again they’re playing their worst football at the most inopportune time. We saw them collapse last season and completely miss the playoffs, so maybe there’s something about the late-season pressure that bothers them. Anyway, it’s easy to back Dallas in this matchup, and while I tried to find a reason to go with the Cards, I couldn’t.
NFL Pick: Dallas Cowboys -5.5 / OVER 52
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