Doesn’t 6½ points seem like an awful lot to lay with the Philadelphia Eagles tonight when they host the Dallas Cowboys?
Looks like a lot to me, but would it surprise you to know that the line opened on this game with the undefeated Eagles favored by 4½ points and the line has grown while the public is firmly backing the visitors plus the points?
From the outside, that doesn’t seem to make sense. If the public is betting on the Cowboys, and they are at a rate of nearly 70%, wouldn’t the line move down to attract money on the other side?
It would be moving the other way if it was only the public that was most interested in this game, but it’s not, it is the wise guys who are tripping over each other to get down on the Eagles quickly before the line goes any higher. It’s been like that since the number on this game was posted last Sunday night. The public keeps buying the Cowboys, while big money is backing the Eagles.
Why?
Isn’t it the public most often attracted to the undefeated teams? Philadelphia is the only undefeated team left after five weeks of National Football League play. Their opponent tonight, lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the opening weekend and in that game also lost starting quarterback Dak Prescott. He has not seen game action since, but Dallas has won four contests in a row and they are doing it behind quarterback Cooper Rush and a defense that ranks among the best in the league.
If Rush is undefeated and the Cowboys defense is playing great while leading the league with 21 quarterback sacks, I still don’t see what the wise guys are backing here?
Is this one of those games where the smart money is dead wrong?
Not likely.
Here is what the Eagles have going for them in this NFC East Division matchup. Philadelphia has perhaps the best talent up front on both sides of the ball. Few offensive linemen ever get near the credit or attention that a top quarterback, runningback or wide receiver are afforded. But the five men leading the Eagles attack from the center, guard and tackle positions deserve some special acknowledgement, they are both talented and have experience working with each other.
No position on the field requires more synchronization than the five men up front charged with protecting their quarterback and opening holes for the running game. The Eagles front has provided 800 yards of rushing room though five weeks, only three teams have gained more this season.
The Eagles get rushing yards from both their running backs and their elusive quarterback, Jalen Hurts.
On the other side of the ball, the Eagles defensive front is also among the best in football. They have sacked opposing quarterbacks 17 times this year and are looking to bring the curtain down on Rush’s four game winning streak.
Then, there is the final factor that distinguishes this matchup from simply a litany of offensive and defensive strengths. The Eagles, while buoyed by a one game lead in their division over the Cowboys, are also looking to atone for a pair of lopsided losses suffered against their longtime rivals last year. En route to their NFC East Division title last season, the Cowboys twice pinned Philadelphia with lopsided losses while downing the Eagles by scores of 41-21 and 51-26.
You can be sure that in this week’s film study the Eagles were reminded of those disappointing results and that will surely inspire them to a top effort tonight when they battle Dallas.
It should be no surprise that the ‘wise guy’ money is on solid ground with this pick, and while the public thinks it is too many points to give, the smart money is telling us to lay them.
Qoxhi Picks: Philadelphia Eagles (-6½) over Dallas Cowboys