Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins
Sunday, 11/20/11, 1:00 PM EST, TV: FOX
Opening Point Spread: Dallas -7.5
Current Betting Line: Dallas -7
Opening Total: 41
Current Total: 41.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Dallas is in position to sweep the Washington Redskins this year and stay in the discussion of potentially winning the NFC East division title. The Cowboys scored an 18-16 win in the first meeting this year despite quarterback Tony Romo being banged up in that contest. “I don’t have broken ribs now, so that’s positive,” Romo said in practice this week. “You get used to playing hurt, but it’s just a little different.” He is coming off a big-time performance in completing 23-of-26 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s 44-7 win over the Buffalo Bills. Dallas is 2-3 ATS as a road favorite of 3.5 to 7 points the last two-plus seasons.
The Cowboys have really taken off with the emergence of rookie running back DeMarco Murray, who has gained an NFL-best 601 rushing yards since being the featured player in the backfield starting on Oct. 23. Dallas out-gained Washington by a 77-yard margin in the first meeting, but Murray wasn’t too involved in that contest, gaining just six yards on two carries. Felix Jones got the bulk of the carries that night, rushing for 115 yards on 14 carries, but he’s missed the last four weeks with an ankle injury.
Washington has lost five consecutive games and has also lost the statistical battle in each of those contests, causing head coach Mike Shanahan to go back to Rex Grossman under center. “Rex is going to be our quarterback,” stated Shanahan this week. “When you go with a veteran quarterback, it’s pretty easy.” The main problem the former Chicago Bears signal-caller will have to overcome is the lack of weapons around him, as the team has been devastated by injuries. Washington is 17-20 ATS over the last two-plus seasons.
The Redskins should have some confidence in Grossman due to this performance against the Cowboys in Week 3, throwing for 250 yards and one touchdown with an interception. Washington’s running game has been virtually non-existent all season, which won’t help his cause when facing a defensive unit that ranks 11th in the league against the run. On the other side of the ball, the Redskins held the Dolphins to just 3.1 yards per carry in last week’s 20-9 road loss, which is much better than the 4.7 they were allowing the previous four contests.
Bettors will likely back the Cowboys due to their 20-8 ATS mark in November, while the Redskins are 0-5 ATS as an underdog.
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