One can’t see the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys clashing in the postseason without thinking about their battles in the 90’s. Just two seasons ago they met at this same stage, and the Packers advanced after a controversial decision by the referees. Did Dez Bryant catch the ball? It’s been two years, and I still can’t tell.

The Packers beat the NY Giants 38-13 last week. After a Hail Mary pass from Aaron Rodgers to Randall Cobb, the G-men deflated. Green Bay is 11-6 straight up this season 9-7-1 against the spread.

The Cowboys are the number one seed in the NFC. It was a shock to many, but they prove their worth week in and week out. Dallas finished with a 13-3 record and 10-5-1 against the spread. Anything but a Super Bowl appearance should be considered a wasted opportunity for the Boys.

These are the NFL Odds & Predictions Packers at Cowboys in the Divisional Playoffs Round

Green Bay Packers (11-6) at Dallas Cowboys (13-3)

• NFL Point Spread: Dallas Cowboys -4.5
• Game Total: 52.5
• Game Time: Sunday, January 15| 4:40 PM ET
• Stadium AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
• TV: FOX

Why Bet the Green Bay Packers to cover the NFL spread against the Cowboys

Perhaps there isn’t a hotter team in the NFL than the Green Bay Packers. Certainly, there isn’t a hotter quarterback than Aaron Rodgers right now. The Packers have won seven straight games entering this meeting. Their last victory over the NY Giants helped them advance to the divisional round. The bookie websites have lost plenty of money betting against the Packers.

The difference maker in this winning streak is Aaron Rodgers. He’s arguably the most talented quarterback in the NFL. And when he gets hot there isn’t anybody better. Aaron Rodgers has thrown 15 touchdowns and zero interceptions in their seven-game winning streak. He destroyed the NY Giants defense in the second half of their wildcard matchup.

Aaron finished the game with four touchdowns passes and 300 yards against one of the best defense in the league.
The Packers are not a great running team. And they will miss WR Jordy Nelson in the passing game for sure. But they are glad WR Randall Cobb is back and as healthy as he has been all season.

Cobb caught three of the four touchdowns passes Rodgers threw last week. He is not a yards-machine as he was in years’ past, but he remains a threat in the red zone.

The price per head sportsbooks will be alert of what the Packers can do on the road. When Rodgers and Green Bay won Super Bowl XLV, all his wins came on the road.

The Packers are 6-1 ATS in their last seven playoff road games, 6-1 ATS in their last seven games following a straight up win, 4-0 ATS in their last four playoff games, 4-1 ATS in their last five games following an ATS win, and 5-1 ATS in their last six vs. NFC.

The Dallas Cowboys don’t have a good enough defense to stop Aaron Rodgers on a consistent basis. Dallas has been good enough on defense, but they can be exposed by one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.

Why Bet the Dallas Cowboys to cover the NFL spread against the Packers

The Dallas Cowboys were the best team in the NFC all season. They looked like the best team in the NFL for a couple of months. Not many people are buying the Cowboys, but the team has a simple combination on offense that will be hard to stop.

Dallas owns the best offensive line in the game. Rookie RB Ezekiel Elliot took advantage of it and finished the regular season with 1631 yards and 15 touchdowns. Elliot is the favorite in the pay per head sportsbooks to become the offensive rookie of the year. But the other rookie on the team will be the key to this game.

QB Dak Prescott impressed everybody with his poise and calmness to be under center. He never looked rattled and showed the confidence of a veteran. No rookie quarterback has won the Super Bowl in the NFL, but Prescott doesn’t care.

“They’re the reason I’m prepared for each and every game,” Prescott said of the Cowboys coaching staff. “All the credit goes to each and every one of them. The little different things they bring to me, the little nuances they get from the defense they add into the game plan, that just helps me out. Having all those quarterbacks around me, great quarterbacks, great men, it’s the reason for my preparation each game.”

The Packers defense is mediocre at best. If the Cowboys follow their game, they will be fine. They need to run the football with Elliot and put Dak into short yardage situations. 

On defense, Dallas caught a break with the injury of Jordy Nelson. The secondary defense of the Cowboys will have a big chance to focus on Randall Cobb and WR DeVante Adams.

The NFL betting trends mention the Cowboys are 5-2 ATS in their last seven home games. Dallas is 7-1 ATS in its last eight games when playing at home against Green Bay and 9-1 SU in its last ten games when playing at home against the Packers.

The Cowboys are 1-4 ATS vs. a team with a winning record, 0-4 ATS in their last four home games vs. a team with a winning road record, 1-5 ATS in their last six vs. NFC, 1-5 ATS in their last six games overall.

How to bet the Game Total in the Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys at NFL divisional playoffs Matchup:

The online bookie software set the total for this game at 52.5 points per game. It is the highest number of the four divisional games this weekend.

The Packers are a team that can put plenty of points if they want to. Eleven of their 17 games this season ended OVER the game total.  The Over is 5-1 in the Packers last six road games, 5-0 in their last five vs. NFC, 5-1 in their last six vs. a team with a winning record, and 4-0 in their last four games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.

Only six of the 16 games played by the Cowboys this season finished OVER the total. But keep in mind the total has gone OVER in 9 of Green Bay’s last ten games when playing on the road against Dallas.

NFL Odds & Predictions Packers at Cowboys Divisional Playoffs Round: I get that most people are riding Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, but their numbers are slightly inflated. The absent of Jordy Nelson is a huge deal. Give me the Cowboys -4.5 on Sunday.