The Dallas Cowboys will look to snap a two-game losing streak, while the Detroit Lions will look to win their third game in a row when they meet in a key NFC matchup on Saturday night. The Lions (11-4), the NFC North Division champions, have won three of their last four games, including a 30-24 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. The win locked up their first division crown since 1993. The Cowboys (10-5), who have already clinched a postseason berth, have fallen one game behind the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC East lead.
The game from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, will get underway at 8:15 p.m. ET. Detroit has the league's 15th-best defense, allowing 325.5 yards per game, while Dallas is seventh at 299.7. The Cowboys are favored by 5.5 points in the latest Lions vs. Cowboys odds via SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 52.5, up a point from the opening line. Before making any Cowboys vs. Lions picks or NFL predictions, you need to see the NFL betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up well over $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception. The model enters Week 17 of the 2023 NFL season on an incredible 178-129 run on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season. It is also on a 32-21 roll on top-rated NFL picks since Week 7 of last season.
The model also ranked in the top 10 on NFLPickWatch four of the past six years on straight-up NFL picks and beat more than 94% of CBS Sports Football Pick'em players four times during that span. Anyone who has followed it is way up.
Now, the model has zeroed in on Lions vs. Cowboys and identified its picks and predictions. You can see the model's picks only at SportsLine. Here are several NFL odds and betting lines for Cowboys vs. Lions:
- Lions vs. Cowboys spread: Dallas -5.5
- Lions vs. Cowboys over/under: 52.5 points
- Lions vs. Cowboys money line: Dallas -251, Detroit +204
- DET: The Lions are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games played in December
- DAL: The Cowboys are 15-0 in their last 15 home games
- Lions vs. Cowboys: See picks here
- Lions vs. Cowboys live stream: fubo (try for free)
Why the Cowboys can cover
Running back Tony Pollard has a career-high 52 receptions in 2023, and has 1,181 scrimmage yards this season, his third straight 1,000-yard season. He had 109 yards from scrimmage (83 rushing and 26 receiving) in the last meeting with Detroit. For the season, Pollard leads the team in rushing with 886 yards on 219 carries (4.0 average) and five touchdowns. For his career, the fifth-year veteran has carried 729 times for 3,502 yards (4.8 average) and 22 touchdowns.
On defense, linebacker Micah Parsons joined Hall of Famer Reggie White as the only players since 1982 with 13 or more sacks in each of his first three NFL seasons. Parsons has 39.5 career sacks and can become the fifth player since 1982 with 40 or more sacks in his first three career seasons. He had two sacks and a forced fumble in the last meeting with the Lions. Parsons is seventh on the team with 53 tackles, including 27 solo, and 15 tackles for loss. See which team to pick here.
Why the Lions can cover
Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is Detroit's top receiver. In just 14 games of action, he has 106 receptions for 1,281 yards (12.1 average) and eight touchdowns. He has 20 explosive plays of 20 yards or more, including a season-high 46-yarder, and has 553 yards after the catch and 65 first-down conversions. In last week's division-clinching win over the Minnesota Vikings, St. Brown caught 12 passes for 106 yards and a score.
Another weapon in the passing game is tight end Sam LaPorta. In 15 games, LaPorta has 74 catches for 776 yards (10.5 average) and a team-high nine touchdowns. He also has seven explosive plays, including a 48-yarder. In a 42-17 win over the Denver Broncos on Dec. 16, LaPorta caught five passes for 56 yards and three touchdowns. He had nine receptions for 140 yards (15.6 average) and one touchdown in a 33-28 win at New Orleans on Dec. 3. See which team to pick here.
How to make Lions vs. Cowboys picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Under the point total. The model also says one side of the spread cashes in nearly 60% of simulations. You can see the model's NFL picks and analysis only at SportsLine.
So who wins Lions vs. Cowboys on Saturday, and which side of the spread hits in nearly 60% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you should jump on, all from the advanced model on a 178-129 roll on NFL picks, and find out.
