Cowboys Colts Betting – Cowboys Keep Up With Colts In Indy
Online betting players figured Dallas-Indianapolis would be a matchup worth watching, and it is, but for many different reasons that you would have thought at the beginning of the season as the two prepare to meet with the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. The Dallas Cowboys will come out on the wrong end of another shootout, but they’ll keep it close enough to earn a pick in your sportsbook.
- What: NFL betting
- When: Sunday, December 5th, 4:15 PM ET
- Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
- Pick: Dallas Cowboys +5
What’s On The Line
The Cowboys (3-8) fell back to earth with a 30-27 at home to the New Orleans Saints on Thanksgiving Thursday, but they are at least looking like a competitive team again now that Jason Garrett is in the saddle. The Colts (6-5) got a terrible performance from Peyton Manning in a 36-14 loss to San Diego at home on Sunday night, setting up an intriguing matchup as the Cowboys look to build for next year, while Indianapolis is aiming to get their playoff push back on track.
Offensive Matchups: Cowboys Colts Betting
Jon Kitna threw for 313 yards and a pick, which was one of three Dallas turnovers, and the Cowboys have definitely been more productive with Garrett taking on head-coaching duties along with his offensive-coordinating job. They even made a concerted effort to the run the ball, and ended up with 144 yards on the ground. The Cowboys struggled to get the ball to Dez Bryant, who didn’t have a catch, but the Saints were paying obvious attention to the rookie, and that opened things up for Roy Williams, who had a decent day but also had a big fumble.
Manning was picked off four times against the Chargers, making it seven picks in two games, and there is no question that the Colts’ injuries are starting to affect their star quarterback. Even Reggie Wayne was dropping passes on Sunday night, and you have to wonder how long this offense can continue with their skill players dropping like flies. Manning has been awful the last couple of weeks, and everyone knows, as he goes, so goes the Indy offense. Still, it’s Manning, and the Colts can explode at any time.
Betting Edge: Draw
Defensive Matchups: Cowboys Colts Betting
The Cowboys gave up 414 yards, but it was against the Saints’ high-powered offense and again, at least they competed. Dallas had a couple of sacks as well as two turnovers, but their secondary can be attack as the Saints proved, as Brees constantly went down the field to test the secondary, which should have had a couple more turnovers if they could catch the ball. The Cowboys are 23rd in the league defensively, but the secondary is going to have to shape up on Sunday because, as we said, no matter how bad he’s playing he is still Peyton Manning.
The Colts’ problems stemmed from being put in bad positions by Manning’s interceptions, but they still ended up holding the Chargers on four of five end-zone opportunities, which is a good positive. A negative was that the Chargers ran for 129 yards, and injuries aren’t just hurting the Indy offense: linebackers Gary Brackett and Clint Session are still hurt and it’s killing a run defense that wasn’t all that great to begin with. Until these guys return, it’s not going to be pretty for the Colts.
Betting Edge: Draw
Notable Injuries: Cowboys Colts Betting
Running back Marion Barber (calf) left the New Orleans game and will likely be questionable all week for the Cowboys.
Where to start: receiver Austin Collie (concussion), running backs Joseph Addai (neck) and Mike Hart (ankle), Brackett (toe) and Session (elbow) all missed the San Diego game, and now cornerback Kelvin Hayden (shoulder) will have to be watched by the Colts.
Betting Edge: Cowboys
Outlook and Pick: Cowboys Colts Betting
NFL betting odds have the Colts as a 5-point favorite at home in this crucial showdown, but it’s a different kind of crucial because no one expected the Colts to be fighting to stay in the playoff race at this point. These two have met five times since 1983, with the Colts going 3-2 both SU and ATS, while each has won a meeting at home during this decade. It’s tough to say the Colts can break out with Manning struggling, and while we think they’ll win, we also think the Cowboys will keep it to within a field goal to cover the spread. The Cowboys are playing with fire, we know the talent is there, and if they can keep Kitna upright, the Cowboys can put up some points against the Colts. This will go much like the New Orleans game for Dallas, but that will be a win for sports betting players.
Stan’s Pick: Dallas Cowboys
