The Dallas Cowboys open what looks to be a comfortable three-game stretch by hosting the Indianapolis Colts in the Week 13 edition of Monday Night Football. The Boys gained some separation in the NFC East with last week’s critical division win over the Giants and play the three worst teams in the AFC South in consecutive weeks ahead of their Week 16 rematch with Philadelphia. The Colts dropped their last two games under interim Jeff Saturday and have lost five of their last six games going 2-4 ATS.
The Week 13 Sunday Night Football contest between the Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys will take place at ATT Stadium in Arlington, TX at 8:20 p.m. ET on December 4, 2022 and will be televised on NBC.
Colts vs Cowboys Odds (Week 13)
Indianapolis Colts +11.5 ( +477 )
Dallas Cowboys -11.5 ( -650 )
Over/Under 43.5
Odds Analysis
This interconference matchup has the largest spread on the Week 13 betting board with Dallas favored by 11.5 points. If the line holds it’ll be the second straight week and the third time in five weeks the Boys are laying double figures. Dallas covered the 10.5-point line in a 49-29 win over Chicago in Week 8 but failed to get a payout last week beating the Giants 28-20 again as a 10.5-point fave. Indy’s sorry season continued with a 24-17 loss to the Steelers on Monday night. Following a brief resurgence under Saturday with a win over Las Vegas in his debut, the Colts are back to their bumbling selves. They blew a fourth quarter lead against Philly and questionable clock management on Monday night cost them valuable time while driving for a potential game-tying touchdown. The total of 43.5 looks like a mountain for the Colts, who cashed the UNDER in nine of 12 games.
Indianapolis Colts
You knew it was going to happen the first time Saturday did something remotely wrong. And while it wasn’t even that egregious the media laid into him after Monday’s loss. The coach failed to use a timeout on Indy’s final drive letting a minute run off the clock. Still, when Matt Ryan’s fourth-down incompletion hit the turf there was less than 30 seconds remaining. Having never coached at the pro or college level before, the hire was scrutinized and ridiculed by many in the NFL. One thing clearly evident since Saturday took over is that the Colts play hard. They fell to 1-2 SU and 2-1 ATS under the new coach.
Sometimes things can’t be fixed overnight and that appears to be case with Indy’s offense. The Colts have scored 20 points or less 10 times and only one team averages fewer points than the Colts 15.8. Quarterbacks Matt Ryan and Sam Ehlinger have combined to throw 11 interceptions, the third-highest total in the NFL, while being sacked a league-high 42 times. They’ve killed numerous drives with 21 giveaways matching New Orleans for the most, and they are minus-10 in turnover differential. They’ve been good defensively just not good enough to overcome an inept offense.
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys can’t be caught looking ahead and this is a prime spot for that. Indy, Houston and Jacksonville enter Week 13 with nine wins between them and are the next three on the Boys schedule. Those are ahead of a key divisional matchup with the Eagles in Week 16. We’ve seen a number of double-digit dogs earn outright wins so far this season, which should be enough to keep Dallas focused. And the Boys have the benefit of a little extra down time. They played on Thanksgiving and have the mini bye to get some banged up bodies in shape for the stretch run.
Since Dak Prescott returned in Week 7 the Cowboys have been more of a force offensively. They scored 49 against the Bears and dropped 40 on Minnesota a few weeks ago averaging 33.8 points in the last five outings. Prescott has 10 touchdown passes in those games upping the teams scoring average to 25.4. The defense helped them through some tough times when Prescott was injured and has continued to be menacing. They are No. 1 against the pass and allow the second-fewest points in the NFL with 17.0 per game. With 12 sacks Micah Parsons is one off the NFL lead helping the Boys to a league-best 45 sacks.
Colts vs Cowboys Prediction
I don’t see the Cowboys taking this game lightly with the division lead still in their sights. And the No. 1 pass defense and sack club will give Ryan nightmares. For the Colts to have any chance Jonathan Taylor needs to have a big game and he’s more than capable. However, Dallas is too strong on both sides of the ball and they shouldn’t lose this game. Stranger things have happened and 11.5 points is a lot to pass up.
Prediction: Indianapolis Colts +11.5 and OVER 43.5
