Week 8 Sunday Night Football Betting Preview

Week 8 Sunday Night Football Betting Preview

Being favored at home is a bad omen when the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles clash.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

Week 8 Sunday Night Football Betting PreviewBoosted by rookie-of-the-year favorite Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys are the 4.5-point favorite against the Eagles. The total is 43.5 for their Sunday Night Football betting matchup. The visiting team has won the last six matchups between the NFC East rivals.

The Cowboys come out of their bye week 5-1 straight-up and 5-0-1 against the spread. Dallas is 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games at home after winning their two most recent home games. However, they were an underdog before defeating the Green Bay Packers in Week 6, and are 7-2 SU in their last nine games after winning as an underdog.

Elliott  and the NFL’s arguably best offensive line with LT Tryon Smith, C Travis Frederick and RG Doug Martin will face an Eagles defense which has played the run well in five of six games. The Eagles lost CB Ron Brooks (ruptured quadriceps muscle) last week, costing them a slot corner whose strong tackling prevents big gains.

Rookie QB Dak Prescott will be facing a highly rated pass defense which boasts one of the NFL’s highest sack rates. Keeping Prescott out of long-yardage situations is essential to Dallas’ chances. Prescott might also get a boost from having WR Dez Bryant back after a three-game absence.

The Eagles, who are 4-2 SU and ATS, must be concerned with whether rookie QB Carson Wentz has regressed since having a hot start. Dallas isn’t apt to be shut down completely, so the No. 2 overall choice will not get away with poor reads that take away a scoring opportunity.

The Cowboys’ pass defense allows 7.2 yards per attempt, right in the middle of the NFL curve, but has had issues covering tight ends and running backs. That might increase the opportunity for Eagles TE Zach Ertz and RB Darren Sproles. Out wide, Philadelphia needs more from Nelson Agholor and Jordan Matthews.

The Eagles, who are 4-1 ATS in their last five games on the road against the Cowboys, get consistent if not spectacular production from RB Ryan Matthews. Dallas has much more capability of producing a game-breaking long gainer in the rushing phase.

The total has gone over in six of the Eagles’ last seven games as an underdog of 4.5 points or more. The total has gone over in 15 of the Cowboys’ last 21 games in Week 8.