Sam Panayotovich
FOX Sports activities Betting Analyst
The NFL’s NFC East division is arguably the very best cleaning soap opera in skilled sports activities. Characters are bigger than life, the fan bases border on bonkers and also you by no means know what you’re going to get in a given season.
Final repeat champion, you ask?
Attempt the Philadelphia Eagles in 2004.
I devour extra offseason soccer content material than I’m prepared to confess and most predictions for the upcoming 12 months have both the world champion Eagles or Washington Commanders successful the divisional crown.
The Dallas Cowboys are principally an afterthought.
Final 12 months’s bunch was decimated by accidents on each side of the ball, highlighted by quarterback Dak Prescott making solely eight begins earlier than tearing his hamstring muscle towards the Atlanta Falcons.
The disrespect is so actual on Jerry’s staff that the majority sportsbooks throughout America are dealing Dallas at 6-to-1 or increased to be Beasts of the East. Caesars Sportsbook is sitting at +675 whereas Circa Sports activities in Las Vegas is at +740 and the Westgate SuperBook is all the best way out to +825.
“Appears extraordinarily excessive,” one skilled bettor instructed me.
“It’s a tricky division and schedule, however that’s an enormous quantity. I’m contemplating a guess on something north of seven {dollars}. Dallas ought to have a worth like Pittsburgh. They’re each third wheels of their divisions with a lot of upside.
“If Dak’s wholesome, they will get there. That’s the NFL. You may win when you’re wholesome and everyone else round you is leaking water.”
It’s troublesome to ship more true phrases.
When Prescott is wholesome, they’re harmful. When he’s not, they’re not. The Cowboys rattled off 12 victories in three straight seasons (2021 to 2023) with their quarterback in tow. When Dak’s not on the sector, overlook about it.
Does paying Micah Parsons get the Cowboys nearer or farther from a Tremendous Bowl?
Dallas sputtered to a measly six wins when Prescott fractured his ankle again in 2020 and completed with seven victories final 12 months.
The Cowboys go as he goes.
If America’s Group exceeds expectations, they’ll have earned each little bit of success contemplating how robust the NFC East is shaping as much as be, to not point out their extremely troublesome schedule down the house stretch.
After taking part in Las Vegas on the highway in Week 11, Dallas faces Philadelphia and Kansas Metropolis in Dallas, Detroit at Ford Subject, then Minnesota and the L.A. Chargers again dwelling earlier than a highway tilt towards the Commanders.
Sheesh.
It’s nonetheless {dollars} and cents on the finish of the day, and I’m not excited by laying a worth of -150 or so on the Eagles to win the NFC East.
Sure, they’re the champs and sure, their roster makes basic managers across the league jealous. However too many unusual issues have occurred on this division during the last 20 years to behave like something is a certain factor.
Even the professional bettor agrees.
“Preserve Dak upright and see what occurs.”
Sam Panayotovich is a sports activities betting analyst for FOX Sports activities and the BetMGM Community. He beforehand labored for WGN Radio, NBC Sports activities and VSiN. Observe him on Twitter @spshoot.
Need nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports activities account, and comply with leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a customized publication every day!
Get extra from Nationwide Soccer League Observe your favorites to get details about video games, information and extra
