WagerTalk NFL handicapper Tony Mejia offers his New Orleans Saints vs Dallas Cowboys NFL Week 13 Thursday Night Football betting preview. At the time of posting, the Cowboys are a 4.5-point road favorite in New Orleans with the total sitting at 47 points.<\/p>\n
Stay on top of the latest NFL<\/a> updates direct from Las Vegas!<\/em><\/p>\n Mike McCarthy won\u2019t coach Thursday night\u2019s NFC clash against the Saints due to COVID-19, and you probably won\u2019t have to look hard to catch the addition by subtraction jokes.<\/p>\n Although no one can deny he\u2019s built up a track record of developing teams and getting guys ready to play, there\u2019s also no question in-game decisions and clock management aren\u2019t a strength, so it\u2019s no surprise the betting line hasn\u2019t moved much in the wake of the news that he\u2019d be absent from the sideline. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, formerly head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, will step in and serve as interim head coach.<\/p>\n On the heels of back-to-back losses, Dallas looks to get back on track against the Saints in what will be its fourth nationally-televised primetime game of the season. That doesn\u2019t include that Thanksgiving afternoon game against the Raiders that was the NFL\u2019s most-watched contest since 1990. Whether you love or hate \u201cAmerica\u2019s Team,\u201d there\u2019s no doubt they\u2019re relevant again as they look to finish strong in reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2018.<\/p>\n Las Vegas pulled off a 36-33 upset in Arlington last Thursday, but the fact the Eagles can\u2019t throw or catch means Dallas still enjoys a multi-game lead in the NFC East. The opportunity to get right arrives thanks to the team with the longest losing streak in pro football arriving at the Caesars Superdome. New Orleans has dropped four straight contests since its upset of Tampa Bay on Halloween but remains in the thick of the playoff race since 5-6 is currently good enough for the seventh and final spot in the NFC postseason landscape.<\/p>\n Saints head coach Sean Payton\u2019s brilliance has kept his team afloat despite the retirement of Drew Brees and injuries to his successors, Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill. Still, the team completed a winless November by getting blown out in Buffalo on Thanksgiving night after scoring a season-low six points. Trevor Siemian isn\u2019t solely to blame considering the Saints\u2019 lack of weapons with Alvin Kamara injured, but it is expected that Hill will play more of a role since he\u2019s been practicing again after dealing with a foot injury. The need to keep the ball out of Dak Prescott\u2019s hands certainly calls for a ball-control approach from Payton and the Saints.<\/p>\n Hill is expected to start against the Cowboys after opening the week taking first-team reps while Siemian works with the backups. Kamara and Mark Ingram are hopeful to return for this matchup against the Cowboys, who could get back Amari Cooper off the COVID list in time for this contest.<\/p>\n McCarthy told reporters that Cooper still has a lingering cough and was \u201cstill not feeling the best\u201d after his bout with the virus, adding that he likely won\u2019t play against New Orleans if he doesn\u2019t practice.<\/p>\n Dallas WR CeeDee Lamb is back from concussion protocol after missing out on the Raiders game and will play. There were whispers that Ezekiel Elliott would be asked to sit out what would be a third game in 12 days in order to get his knee back closer to full strength, but he practiced in full on Monday and is expected to participate.<\/p>\n Kamara and tackle Ryan Ramczyk were limited in Monday\u2019s practice for New Orleans but are expected to be a go come game-time. Both Hill and Ingram worked in full. LT Terron Armstrong and defensive ends Marcus Davenport and Tanoh Kpassagnon were out on Monday, so their availability will be a huge question mark for this one. Getting those guys back up front to keep Prescott from getting comfortable will be a major factor in the Saints potentially pulling off an upset.<\/p>\n Even after disappointing backers with a lifeless offensive effort last Thursday since Buffalo\u2019s defense pitched a shutout through three quarters, the Saints are still 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 games as an underdog. The Cowboys are 5-2 SU\/ATS in a favorite\u2019s role.<\/p>\n The total for this one opened at 48 and has been bet down to 47.5, but there may be value in riding the high side indoors since both teams are getting healthier. However, that also may include DeMarcus Lawrence being back in the fold for the \u2018Boys, who should also get back Randy Gregory. The Cowboys hope that they\u2019ll be able to add the speed and dynamic pass-rushing ability of Lawrence and Gregory since they\u2019ll be without starting DT Trysten Hill has been suspended for two games after throwing a punch at Raiders guard John Simpson as the teams were dispersing following last Thursday\u2019s contest. Hill is appealing the NFL\u2019s ruling but isn\u2019t expected to get a reprieve. A decision will likely be made prior to kickoff in New Orleans, so make sure you\u2019re aware of developments.<\/p>\n Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told Dallas\u2019 105.3 The FAN that Lawrence is going to play against the Saints but believed a more realistic timetable for Gregory and DT Neville Gallimore would be for them to return for their Week 14 visit to Washington.<\/p>\n Laying the points with Dallas extending New Orleans\u2019 misery could be the right call with the offense looking like it will be closer to full strength. The Saints are hoping to get a number of key players on both sides of the ball back in order tor pull back even at .500, but not having until Sunday to get guys healthy definitely doesn\u2019t help matters. With the number coming down towards four points, the Cowboys look like the more attractive side.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfc8 There are a lot of moving pieces in advance of Thursday’s Cowboys vs Saints showdown. How is the betting market reacting? On this morning’s edition of WagerTalk Today, @SportsbkConsig<\/a> shared his thoughts on the #NFL<\/a> Week 13 movement. \u2014 WagerTalk (@WagerTalk) December 1, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nNew Orleans Saints vs Dallas Cowboys Predictions<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
\n\ud83d\udcfa Full episode: https:\/\/t.co\/T23PbH7o5O<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/SJtqjLnnXu<\/a><\/p>\n