Cowboys vs. Commanders : NFL Week 17 Christmas Day odds, pick, best bets

The Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders kickoff the NFL’s Christmas Day tripleheader at Northwest Stadium in Landover, MD. Neither team will see the NFL playoffs this season, but that won’t prevent these two rivals from leaving it all on the field.

Every game between Dallas and Washington means something and that’s especially true for a game that will have plenty of eyes on it with millions of people at home for the holidays.

Getting a win will be an uphill climb for the Commanders who lost starting quarterback Jayden Daniels after Week 14 and won’t have backup quarterback Marcus Mariota who is dealing with quad and hand injuries.

NFL Journeyman Josh Johnson will get the start, which moved the spread from Cowboys -6.5 at open to Cowboys -8.5 at some sportsbooks.

Cowboys vs. Commanders odds, prediction

It has been a miserable season for the Commanders, who had the second-best odds to win the NFC East and the fourth-best odds to win the conference in the preseason. Instead, they’ve been hit with injuries up and down the roster, including their prized young quarterback.

The Cowboys have flirted with being a team the public should take serious all season, but have fallen short every time it mattered. They’ve lost three straight games, including back-to-back games at home that they needed if they wanted to make the playoffs.

Now they will go on the road on short rest to face a bunch of backups desperate to show enough to their coaches and scouts to secure a roster spot. I’ll avoid this spread, but take a look at the first half total.

The Cowboys are elite on the offensive side of the ball, which is the only reason they’ve been able to have any success this season.

Betting on the NFL?

• Read our expert guide on how to bet on the NFL
• Check out the best NFL betting sites
• Get the BetMGM Bonus Code

The first-half Over has consistently hit in their games, going 14-1 in 15 games this season according Action Network’s Evan Abrams. They score 15.7 points per game in the first half, third-most in the NFL, and allow 16.5 points per game in the first two quarters, which ranks last in the league.

I’ll grab the first half over at 24.5 and look to cash in early on Christmas.

The Pick: Over 24.5 1st Half points (-110, DraftKings)

Why Trust New York Post Betting

Malik Smith has been immersed in the sports betting industry since 2017. He’s a data nerd with a particular focus on the NBA and combat sports. He spends his weeknights in the winter looking for edges on plus-money NBA player props.