Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott. (Getty)
The NFC-leading Dallas Cowboys head to Minneapolis to take on the Minnesota Vikings in a Thursday Night Football showdown.
Game time is scheduled for 8:25 p.m. Eastern from U.S. Bank Stadium and it will be televised by NBC and NFL Network.
Here’s a complete look at all the betting info you need to know, as well as a prediction of the Week 13 game below:
Vikings vs. Cowboys Week 13 Betting Info
Note: All odds and numbers courtesy of OddsShark.com and are updated as of December 1
Spread: Cowboys (-3)
Betting Percentages: 65 percent for the Cowboys (-3)
Over/Under: 44
Betting Percentages: 56 percent on the OVER
Season Results: Vikings 6-5 straight up; 6-5 against the spread; 7-4 for the UNDER — Cowboys 10-1 straight up; 9-1-1 against the spread; 5-6 for the UNDER
Prediction
Not only will the Vikings have to deal with the 10-1 Cowboys, but they will be doing so without head coach Mike Zimmer, who underwent emergency eye surgery for a detached retina on Wednesday night. Special teams coach Mike Priefer will serve as the interim head coach.
Mike Zimmer’s vision became worse after walk-thru. He had surgery for a detached retina. Out tonight. DC George Edwards will run the D.
The Cowboys boast the best offensive line in the NFL. There’s no questioning that. The Vikings are an average run defense and they’re going to be hard-pressed to contain the league’s leading rusher Ezekiel Elliott. Dallas is going to lean on the rookie and that O-Line once again to control the clock. The Cowboys lead the NFL in time of possession at 32:32 per game.
First-year quarterback Dak Prescott has been extremely efficient, especially in the past 4 games, but he won’t be asked to carry the team in this game.
The Cowboys are 5-0 on the road, scoring at least 24 points in each of the those games. The Vikings are 4-1 at home and allow 16.6 points per game, but 23 PPG over the past 2.
As for the Dallas D, it has a top 5 scoring defense and should be able to keep the Minnesota offense in check. Most teams have been able to do that this season as the Vikings lack a running game and don’t do enough through the air to put up many points (19.8 PPG). In fact, the Vikes have the fewest total yards in the NFL. Minnesota will be without center Joe Berger and leading receiver Stefon Diggs is questionable with an ankle injury that kept him out in Week 12. They’ll also be without Marcus Sherels, one the top punt returners in the game.
While the teams are heading in opposite directions, both have played well against the spread. The Cowboys are 5-0 ATS on the road, while the Vikings are 4-1 against the spread at home.
Minnesota is certainly going to be inspired and fired up to host the team with the league’s best record as Zimmer heals from surgery. And for a moment, I had an upset on my mind as the Vikings look to keep their playoff hopes alive. But plain and simple, the Cowboys are much better right now. They are going to win the battle in the trenches — on both sides of the ball. And that’s going to be the difference in this game.
The Cowboys get another road win and go to 11-1. The Vikings drop to 6-6 and their postseason chances take another shot.
The Pick: Cowboys 24-16 (Cowboys win straight up, Cowboys cover the spread, the UNDER wins)
