The NFL’s NFC East division is arguably the most effective 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?
Strive the Philadelphia Eagles in 2004.
I eat extra offseason soccer content material than I’m keen to confess and most predictions for the upcoming 12 months have both the world champion Eagles or Washington Commanders profitable the divisional crown.
The Dallas Cowboys are largely an afterthought.
Final 12 months’s bunch was decimated by accidents on either 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 workforce that the majority sportsbooks throughout America are dealing Dallas at 6-to-1 or greater 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 wager on something north of seven {dollars}. Dallas ought to have a worth like Pittsburgh. They’re each third wheels of their divisions with a number of upside.
“If Dak’s wholesome, they’ll get there. That’s the NFL. You may win for those who’re wholesome and all people else round you is leaking water.”
It’s tough 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 sphere, 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 Crew 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 tough schedule down the house stretch.
After enjoying Las Vegas on the street in Week 11, Dallas faces Philadelphia and Kansas Metropolis in Dallas, Detroit at Ford Subject, then Minnesota and the L.A. Chargers again house earlier than a street tilt towards the Commanders.
Sheesh.
It’s nonetheless {dollars} and cents on the finish of the day, and I’m not occupied with 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 common managers across the league jealous. However too many unusual issues have occurred on this division over the past 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. Comply with him on Twitter @spshoot.
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