Lions vs. Cowboys 2023 NFL Week 17 Odds, Preview & Pick

By Hank Blaine • December 27, 2023

Two teams looking forward to the playoffs throw down on Saturday night when NFC North division champ Detroit travels to Dallas to take on the Cowboys. For the first time since the early 1990s, the Lions will head to the playoffs. The Cowboys have made the playoffs, but Dallas wants to host a playoff game, which means the Boys must win the NFC East over the Eagles. Will Dallas bounce back from a road loss to Miami in NFL Week 16 with a win and cover? Or will the Lions show that they’re an NFC Championship contender? See below for NFL odds, analysis, and a free pick for Lions at Cowboys.

Detroit Lions vs. Dallas Cowboys Game Information

#Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy on this Saturday’s game against the Lions: “A lot on the line for the playoffs…it’s going to be a great game.”#DETvsDAL pic.twitter.com/oWxjiENwZ2
— D210SPORTS (@D210S) December 26, 2023

When: Saturday, December 30th, 2023. 8:15pm EST.
Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
TV: ABC, ESPN
Radio: WEPN 1050 AM ESPN (Lions) // 850 AM ESPN Cleveland (Cowboys)
Live Stream: NFL+
NFL Odds: Lions (+6) // Cowboys (-6)

Why Bet on the Detroit Lions?

Say what you want, but Detroit’s defense has picked it up big time this season. The Lions boast one of the league’s best rushing defenses.

Facing the Vikings in Minnesota in NFL Week 16, the Lions held their division rivals to 15 total rushing yards and a 1.5 per carry average. DE Aidan Hutchinson has 27 solo tackles, 6.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and a pick this season.

The Lions D for sure is going to stop the Cowboys’ rushing attack. If Dallas has any offensive success, it will be through the air.

Jared Goff has proven he’s one of the better starting quarterbacks in the league. Goff is 16 yards away from throwing for 4,000 yards. He’s completing close to 68% of his passes and has thrown 27 touchdowns.

Jahmyr Gibbs, the Lions first round draft picks, has begun to pick it up. Gibbs scored 2 rushing touchdowns and rumbled for 80 yards versus the Vikings stiff defense. Overall, the Lions rushed for a ridiculous 143 yards, a 4.0 per carry average.

Why Bet on the Dallas Cowboys?

Dallas gave up 31 points to Josh Allen and the Bills in an NFL Week 15 loss, but in NFL Week 16, the Cowboys D stood tall.

Miami won the game, but they did so by just 2 points in a 22-20 victory. Dallas held Miami to the 22 points by stopping the rush. The Fins averaged just 3.5 yards per carry.

Not only that, but Tua Tagovailoa threw for less than 300 yards and threw just a single TD pass. The defensive performance was a nice bounce back effort that almost led to a Cowboys road win.

Dak Prescott is posting NFL MVP stats. Prescott has thrown for 3,892 yards. He’s completing over 68% of his passes and has a 30 TD to 7 INT ratio.

Tony Pollard averages 4 yards per carry. So the Cowboys often run a decent mix off pass and rush. When both are going well for the Cowboys, the offense is difficult to stop from scoring touchdowns.

Lions vs. Cowboys Betting Trends

Detroit is 12-5 ATS in the last 17 games.
The Lions 10-3 SU in its last 13 games.
The totals went over in 6 of Detroit’s last 7 games.
Dallas is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 games against an opponent in the National Football Conference.
The Cowboys are 5-2 SU in its last 7 games.
The totals went under in 4 of Dallas’ last 6 games.

Lions vs. Cowboys Expert Betting Predictions

The betting line floated from Dallas -4.5 to Cowboys -6 because most NFL bettors believe the Lions have a letdown in this game. For the first time since the 1990s, the Lions will play after the NFL’s final regular season week.

No matter if Detroit loses their next couple of games, they have secured the NFC North title, which means the Lions will host a playoff game. Detroit’s players minds are on the post season, not beating the Dallas Cowboys.

So the Lions won’t do anything in this game to put their star players in harm’s way. Dallas has plenty of motivation to win this contest. Expect the Cowboys to cover the spread, possibly, in a blowout victory.

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*All stated odds are subject to change without prior notice.