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Free Pick: Lions vs. Cowboys Wild Card Betting Odds & Over Under Prediction

Wildcard Weekend: Detroit vs Dallas Expert Preview

Two teams sporting blue and silver will square off in an NFC wildcard match up when the Detroit Lions (11-5) take on the Dallas Cowboys (12-4). Cappers Picks will provide free NFL picks all season.

This one could turn into a shootout and is (in my opinion) the most intriguing match up of the four that will take place over the weekend.

Bet on NFL Wildcard Football!

Detroit vs. Dallas
When: Sunday, Jan. 4 2015 at 4:40 pm ET
Where: AT&T Stadium
TV: FOX
NFL Wildcard Gambling Line: Cowboys -7
NFL Wildcard Gambling O/U Line: 48
***2015 BONUSES***
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Click here to view today’s… ATS Matchup Insight | CP Insider Gambling Preview

Lions

Hey, the Lions made the playoffs! It was a bit of a mixed bag from this team throughout the season but at the end of it all they came away with an 11-5 record and the sixth seed in the NFC. As a result they will travel to Dallas to take on the Cowboys who took home the third seed.

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Detroit’s formula for getting where they are was so dominant defense while the offense kind of struggled to get in gear for a lot of the season. The offense will need to show up on Sunday as the Lions will be without defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh who is serving a one game suspension, as well as fellow defensive tackle Nick Fairley who is out with a knee injury.

Two of the team’s best run stoppers are out against one of the best rushing teams in the NFL, averaging the second highest total of rush yards per game at 147.1.

On offense the Lions have been kind of hit and miss but late in the season they seemed to be finding a rhythm, averaging around 25 points per game over their final five games. QB Matt Stafford and receiver Calvin Johnson will need to be near perfect to solve a Dallas defense that has exceeded a lot of people’s expectations this season.

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The Lions’ run game looks banged up as well as Reggie Bush is listed as day to day with an ankle problem and Joique Bell is expected to get the bulk of the carries though he’s been nursing an achilles issue.

Cowboys

Tony Romo and the Cowboys finally got over their 8-8 hump and managed to put together a 12-4 campaign against all odds. Romo was banged up at points throughout the season but when he played he was smart with the football behind a very good offensive line and a heavy workload by running back DeMarco Murray.

The Dallas offense has been rolling coming into the post season, averaging over 40 points per game in their final four games and the defense has been pretty stout, giving up just 14 per game in the final two.

Most of this will rely on the run game as it has all season, when DeMarco Murray is going it eases the pressure on Romo who is able to make smarter decisions with the football and keeps the offense moving.

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If there’s one qualm I may have with Dallas in this game is that they have not been a very impressive home team with a record of just 4-4 at AT&T Stadium, tied for the worst home record of any playoff team along with the Carolina Panthers.

Lions vs. Cowboys 4* Free Pick

As mentioned this has the makings of a shootout. Detroit is going to be hard pressed to stop the Dallas ground attack which will force Matt Stafford and the Lions offense to air the ball out and keep putting points on the board.

This feels like either a Dallas rout or a last possession wins type of game.

Free Over/Under Prediction

My prediction is a 34-31 Cowboys win, so go with the over in this game.

Check out our Updated NFL Wild Card Odds.

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By Matt Durnan

A (self-proclaimed) fantasy sports guru since 2004 and a journalist since 2007. He has been offering unsolicited sports gambling advice to his circle of friends for years and has now put himself at the mercy of online readers everywhere. "It's not whether you win or lose, it's how much fun you have"... His hockey coach told him that when he was 7. His team lost every game that year.