Detroit Lions vs. Dallas Cowboys Odds, Wild Card Betting, Analysis, NFL Pick

The Dallas Cowboys will enter the Wild Card Round of the NFL playoffs as one of the hottest teams in the league when they host the Detroit Lions Sunday. The NFC East champion Cowboys have won their past four games both straight up and against the spread, and they will face a Lions team that has won four of five but failed to cover three in a row.

Point spread: The Cowboys opened as seven-point favorites; the total was 48 early in the week, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. (Line updates and matchup report)

NFL pick, via Odds Shark computer: 30.9-23.8 Cowboys

Why the Lions can cover the spread

Before suffering a 30-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers as eight-point road underdogs in Week 17, Detroit had won four consecutive games to earn a shot at the NFC North title. The Lions hung in there against the Packers but could not stop quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who simply willed his team to victory despite playing on an injured calf.

They did win the first meeting with Green Bay, 19-7, back in Week 2 though, and they can’t be too disappointed with their 11-5 record. The good news is Detroit does not have to play on the road in cold weather, where the team clearly struggles offensively. The Lions definitely have the weapons to challenge Dallas and just need to avoid turnovers.

Why the Cowboys can cover the spread

The Cowboys were perfect on the road during the regular season at 8-0 and went 7-1 ATS. While they were not as good at home with a 4-4 record SU and 3-5 mark versus the line, they looked great in their last game at AT&T Stadium, routing the Indianapolis Colts 42-7 as three-point favorites.

Dallas also did not lay down in the regular-season finale against the Washington Redskins, blowing them away in a 44-17 victory as 6.5-point road favorites. The Cowboys possess one of the best offensive teams in the postseason, led by franchise single-season leaders in running back DeMarco Murray (1,845 rushing yards) and wide receiver Dez Bryant (16 touchdown receptions).

Smart Pick

As good as Dallas was this season, it’s still hard to trust quarterback Tony Romo and his 1-3 career playoff record. The Cowboys will be playing one of the NFL’s best defenses in Detroit, and good offenses usually lose those battles.

The Lions ranked first during the regular season in allowing just 69.3 yards per game on the ground, and they will definitely be tested by the league’s leading rusher. But limiting Murray has been a key to beating Dallas this year because it puts more pressure on Romo, as the team lost when he had two of his three lowest rushing totals.

Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford is also a Texas native and should be extra motivated to perform well in this spot, so roll with the underdog to cover the spread and possibly pull off the upset.

Betting Trends

• The total has gone under in eight of Detroit's last nine games on the road.
• The total has gone over in five of Dallas' last seven games.

Note: All spread and odds data powered by Odds Shark. Follow us on Twitter for injury updates and line move updates.