Cowboys vs. Titans Odds, Picks, and Prediction
Cowboys vs. Titans Odds
| Cowboys Odds | -10 |
| Titans Odds | +10 |
| Over/Under | 42 |
| Date | Thu, Dec. 29 |
| Time | 8:15 p.m. |
| TV | Amazon |
Week 17 of the NFL season will begin with a battle between the Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans on Thursday Night Football. After 16 weeks of action, Dallas has clinched a playoff berth, but remains two games behind the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East division standings with two games remaining in the regular season. Tennessee has lost five consecutive games to fall into a tie with the Jacksonville Jaguars for first place in the AFC South division standings. In a matchup between two teams trending in opposite directions, oddsmakers are expecting the Cowboys to come away with a comfortable victory, pricing Dallas as 9.5-point road favorites on the spread.
Let’s take a deeper look at the matchup to see where NFL bettors can find value at sportsbooks in this contest.
Dallas Cowboys
Since Dak Prescott returned to the field in Week 7, the Cowboys are 7-2, with both of their losses coming on the road in overtime. In those nine games, Dallas ranks 4th among all teams in offensive EPA/play as a result of a balanced approach that has featured a strong run game coupled with an impressive aerial attack. Right tackle Terence Steele was placed on injured reserve after suffering a leg injury in Week 14, which is the only concerning aspect of this offensive attack. Per Pro Football Focus, Steele had allowed only 20 quarterback pressures in 439 pass-blocking snaps in 2022. His primary replacement, Tyron Smith, has allowed seven quarterback pressures in only 69 pass-blocking snaps across the last two weeks. Protection could be an issue against a formidable pass-rush combination of Jeffery Simmons, Teair Tart, and Denico Autry.
On the defensive side of the ball, Dallas has been elite during their last nine games, ranking 3rd in defensive EPA/play. During Monday’s walkthrough, linebacker Leighton Vander Esch was listed as a non-participant due to a neck injury, in addition to safety Jayron Kearse and defensive end Dexter Lawrence being limited. Vander Esch played only five snaps before leaving the game in Week 15 and then found himself on the sidelines in Week 16, making his continued absence noteworthy, especially on a short week. The status of Kearse and Lawrence should become more clear after seeing Tuesday’s injury report, but it would be surprising to see either play not suit-up on Thursday, considering that both players logged a full workload in this past Sunday’s win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Tennessee Titans
Three weeks ago, the Titans appeared destined to win the AFC South and to host a playoff game during the month of January. However, three consecutive wins from the Jacksonville Jaguars and a continued losing streak for Tennessee has created a scenario in which the Titans must win in Week 18 to secure a division crown. The implication of this scenario is that Thursday’s matchup against the Cowboys becomes meaningless. When asked during Monday’s press conference if the team is considering resting any players in Week 17, Head Coach Mike Vrabel commented that the coaching staff is taking “the health of the football team into consideration,” per Jim Wyatt. On Monday’s injury report, running back Derrick Henry, tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere, and guard Aaron Brewer were each listed as non-participants, though the designations were only an estimation, considering that the team only held a walkthrough.
Defensively, Tennessee also listed linebackers Denico Autry, Dylan Cole, Zach Cunningham, and Bud Dupree, safety Amani Hooker, and defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons as non-participants. Given Vrabel’s comments and the laundry list of nagging injuries that this defense has been forced to deal with in recent weeks, there appears to be serious thought of taking Thursday’s contest as an opportunity to gain an extra week of rest for a number of key players.
Cowboys vs. Titans – Picks & Predictions
Though it can be frightening to bet a large favorite to cover the spread on a short week, it is appearing increasingly likely that the Tennessee Titans will be sitting all or most of their key players on Thursday Night Football. Since Dak Prescott returned to the field, Dallas has four double-digit wins in nine games, validating that this is a number the Cowboys are capable of covering. In three games with Malik Willis under center this fall, Tennessee has yet to score 20 points, making it difficult to see this group keeping pace with a Dallas offense that has been among the most potent in football across the last two months.
PICK: Cowboys -10 (-110, MGM)
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