Ravens vs Cowboys betting - both teams battling for Wild Card berths
Internet sportsbook betting: Cowboys look to continue momentum at home
- WHO: Baltimore Ravens vs Dallas Cowboys (-5)
- WHAT: NFL football betting
- WHEN: Saturday, December 20 at 8:15 p.m. ET
- WHERE: Texas Stadium in Irving, TX
- KEY STATS: Cowboys are 6-1 at home this season; Cowboys are 2-8 against the spread in their last 10 December games; Ravens have lost four of their last six games on turf; Ravens are 0-3 all-time in regular-season Saturday games; Ravens are 2-0 all-time against the Cowboys
- PICK: Cowboys
The Ravens vs Cowboys odds will have NFL betting fans excited this Saturday in a crucial matchup. Both teams are 9-5 and currently holding Wild Card spots, but both teams need at least one more win for a realistic chance at making the playoffs.
After shocking everyone with a 20-8 win over the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants on Sunday, the Cowboys suddenly carry lots of momentum heading into their clash with Baltimore. Tony Romo and the Cowboys got their offense back in synch en route a fifth straight home victory.
After struggling the previous week, Romo looked sharp against New York, throwing for a tidy 244 yards, two scores and no interceptions. Playing once again in the comfort of Texas Stadium, where the Cowboys average 254 passing yards a game, anyone looking to bet online should expect Romo to hold his own and help Dallas beat the Ravens vs Cowboys spread.
Don’t expect Dallas to tackle the Ravens vs Cowboys odds in a rout, however. The Ravens pass defense is second best in the league, so they’ll keep Romo in check and probably force a turnover or two.
Baltimore is also third in the league against the run, so Marion Barber, Tashard Choice and company face a tough task. While Barber was hobbled against the Giants, NFL betting players should remember that he’ll be healthier come next week. Choice has also proven more than capable of handling the rock when called upon, so the Cowboys should punch in a score even if the Ravens bottle them up for most of the day.
While the potent Cowboys offense (28.3 points per game at home) and the stout Ravens D may battle to a stalemate, the deciding match-up in the Ravens vs Cowboys line should be the Cowboys’ defense vs the Ravens offense. Rookie quarterback Joe Flacco has struggled of late, surprising sportsbooks with back-to-back ugly performances.
Flacco was particularly bad against the aggressive Steelers D last week, completing just 39.3 per cent of his passes for 115 yards, two INTs and no touchdowns. Led by DeMarcus Ware and his NFL-leading 19 sacks, the Cowboys’ pass rush will bully Flacco all night. That will put pressure on the Ravens’ running attack. While the Ravens are the league’s sixth-best rushing team at 141.7 yards a game, they face a tough Cowboy run defense that holds opponents to just 75 yards a game on the ground at home.
STAN’S PICK: While the Cowboys won’t beat the Ravens vs Cowboys betting odds by a mile, NFL betting fans should count on this highly motivated Dallas team to keep rolling at Texas Stadium. They’ll fluster the still-raw Flacco and beat the spread. Bet on the Cowboys.
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Stan Simmons first tasted football through the college game, but his football handicapping has strictly focused on the professional sport. Not many people devote as much time to the NFL as Simmons. For six days a week he works, labors and handicaps the sport, and on the seventh he rests as the games play out. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
