Cowboys vs Giants Week 17 Picks and Predictions

The NFC East winner will be crowned on Sunday, and it’s possible the Dallas Cowboys or New York Giants could be heading to the playoffs, depending on the outcome of their Week 17 matchup.

Both teams will need a Washington loss this week, and if that happens, whoever wins Sunday's game will have their ticket punched for the postseason. Because it’s 2020 (well, 2021 when this game kicks off), the Giants or Cowboys could be a divisional winner.

NFL odds have Andy Dalton and the Cowboys as 2.5-point favorites with a total of 45.5. Dallas won the previous matchup, 37-34 on Oct. 11, as 7.5-point favorites.

Here are our NFL free picks and predictions for Cowboys vs. Giants on Sunday, January 3 (1:00 p.m. ET).

Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants Betting Preview

Weather

There's morning snow at MetLife Stadium, with temperatures in the high-30s and a 30-percent chance the precipitation continues at kickoff. A medium wind (9 mph) is also expected. Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our NFL weather info.

Key Injuries

Cowboys: Leighton Vander Esch LB (Out), Rashard Robinson CB (Out), Antwaun Woods DT (Out), Xavier Woods S (Out), Zack Martin G (Out). 
Giants: Golden Tate WR (Out), Madre Harper DB (Out). 
Find our latest NFL injury reports.

Betting Trend to Know

The Cowboys are 6-1 ATS in their last seven meetings with the Giants. Find more NFL betting trends for Cowboys vs. Giants.

Against the Spread (ATS) Pick

The Cowboys took care of business last week in defeating – and eliminating – the Philadelphia Eagles 37-17 but they still need to beat the Giants AND have Washington lose to win the NFC East.

Andy Dalton and the Cowboys have ripped off three straight wins (and covers) thanks to 108 points of offense over that stretch. Making up for the team’s No. 23-ranked defense, Dallas’ offense is averaging four TDs per game since Week 13 as the resurgence of the Red Rocket has the once 3-9 Cowboys a win (and a little luck) away from the postseason.

The Giants, on the other hand, come into Sunday’s matchup running on fumes. Losers of three straight, the New York offense hasn’t scored more than 19 points since November 15. They are also 1-6 ATS in the last seven meetings against Dallas.

QB Daniel Jones is near-immobile as hamstring and ankle injuries have rendered the once shifty signal-caller very sackable, evidence by the Ravens taking him down six times a week ago. Dallas doesn't have a great pass rush, but if Jones can’t scramble, this defense has a big opportunity to slow down the Giants’ No. 27 DVOA offense, per Football Outsiders.

With the current form of the Dallas offense and the Giants’ inability to score/leave points on the board, we have to take the road favorite here at -2.5 before it moves to the three.

PREDICTION: Dallas -2.5 (-120)

Over/Under Pick

Thanks to Dallas’ porous defense, the Over is 5-1 in its last six games. The Cowboys crushed the 52-point total in their Week 5 meeting with the Giants—by 18 points as the Over hit 10 minutes into the third quarter.

However, the Cowboys’ Over record is nothing compared to the Giants and the Under. Over their last 10 games, the G-Men have hit the Under nine times, including seven straight. The offense's inability to score has helped pad Under bettors' pockets as New York has scored more than 23 points just twice all year.

At 44.5, we are getting one of the lowest totals on the board for this divisional matchup. Dallas has played to the Over on higher totals this year but is 0-4 O/U on totals of 45 or less this season.

Dallas has been getting gouged by the run all year, sporting the league's No. 24 rush defense. But in facing a Giants team that is averaging just 4.0 yards per carry at home (29th) and has only 206 rushing yards over its last three games, it could be an easier time for the Cowboys’ front seven this Sunday.

With Jones not being the QB he usually is without his legs, we aren’t liking the Giants to hit their team total of 22.5 and therefore we're taking the Under.

PREDICTION: Under 44.5 (-110)

Team Total Pick

At 5-10 O/U, the New York Giants are the league’s least-profitable team when it comes to team total Overs. This week, they opened with a TT of 22.5 points, which they haven’t topped since Week 9.

This New York offense just went 1-for-10 last week on third down and is scoring TDs in the red zone at a league-low 28 percent over the last three weeks.

Jones seems like he was rushed back from injury to save the season, as backup Colt McCoy was obviously not the answer. McCoy starting this week isn’t out of the question, if the Giants’ brass believes that Jones isn’t healthy enough after giving it a go last week.

At 4.9 yards per play on the year and running just 60.7 plays per game (54 since Week 14), fading the Giants’ offense has been a profitable endeavor all season long. The Dallas defense has been anything but stout, but this is more of a fade on the offense than anything.

PREDICTION: New York Giants team total Under 22.5 (-130)

Cowboys vs Giants Betting Card

• Dallas -2.5 (-120)
• Under 44.5 (-110)
• New York Giants team total Under 22.5 (-130)

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