Preview Of January 9, 2010 Wildcard Playoff Game: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys
In their third match-up against the Dallas Cowboys, the Philadelphia Eagles are hoping to reverse an earlier streak of bad luck versus their Texas rivals. Based on their strong performances against the Eagles in two previous match-ups this season, Dallas is currently listed as -4 point favorites for the upcoming wildcard playoff fame. Although both teams enjoy identical records, standing at 11-5, the Cowboys will enjoy a home field advantage; this fact is strengthened by Dallas’s two previous wins against their opponents.
Outwardly, the Eagles appear to be heading into this match-up with a strong record; until they lost against the Cowboys in Week 17, they’d won six of their seven previous games. However, only one of those victories was against a team that had a winning record – the Atlanta Falcons. On the other hand, Dallas has now lost six playoff games in a row and have a coach who has never won a single playoff game. Still, in previous match-ups against Philadelphia, Dallas has outgained them to the tune of 828-425.
When playing in January, the Dallas Cowboys are historically 2-8; Philadelphia is historically 5-5 when playing in that same month. The January 9 game’s total sitting stands at 45, which is sure to raise a few eyebrows among those who will be placing bets on it. Both team finished their regular seasons with 9-7 records against the spread, and many betters are skeptical about Dallas’s ability to defeat the Eagles three times in a single season.
Upon weighing all of the relevant information, the odds are still stacked in favor of the Dallas Cowboys for this important game. Vegas has made the Cowboys -3.5 favorites for the playoff wildcard spot, with a total of 45. As unlikely as yet another victory versus Philadelphia may seem, the Cowboys’ momentum, their home turf advantage and several other factors make them the favorite here.
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