Baltimore Ravens vs Dallas Cowboys Pick and Preview

Ravens (9-5, 4-3 road) vs. Cowboys (9-5, 6-1 home) – Saturday Dec. 20th Texas Stadium

Two teams in the thick of the playoff chase will play a key inter-conference game on Saturday Night Football. The Baltimore Ravens-Dallas Cowboys game Saturday will feature two teams with 9-5 records, both of whom are battling for Wild Card playoff berths.

The NFL Network will broadcast the Ravens-Cowboys matchup at 8:15 p.m. Eastern from Dallas. The Cowboys are favored by 4 points at Bet Ed.

It figures to be an emotional game for Dallas Cowboys fans, because it will be the last scheduled game at Texas Stadium. With the Cowboys unlikely to host any playoff games this season, it probably will be the final game for the franchise in Texas Stadium, which has hosted games involving some of the NFL’s greatest moments and teams. Next season, the Dallas Cowboys will move into a new stadium.

So how does a visiting team deal with an emotionally fueled opponent and fan base? By unleashing a dominating defense that can take any crowd out of a game, and the Baltimore Ravens can deliver on that point. Baltimore has allowed more than 13 points in a game only twice in its past nine contests. The Ravens rank #2 in the NFL in total defense and #3 in scoring defense.

The Dallas Cowboys defense has been strong of late, too, ranking #7 in the NFL in total defense and #12 in scoring defense. Since its early November bye week, Dallas has not allowed more than 22 points in any of its last five games. The Cowboys had allowed more than 22 points in five of their first nine games of the season. Over the past five weeks, the Cowboys are allowing an average of 13.8 points per game, almost a full touchdown under their season scoring defense average. In its past four games, the Baltimore defense is even better, allowing 8.3 points per game, also almost a full touchdown under its season scoring defense average. So with both teams playing well picking tonight's winner will not be easy.

In its final season at Texas Stadium, Dallas has been strong at home, 6-1 overall and covering the spread in four straight home games. As a favorite of less than a touchdown this season, the Dallas Cowboys are 5-2 ATS, including three straight wins ATS.

The Baltimore Ravens have covered the point spread in three of their last four games and in seven of their last nine. Baltimore is 5-2 ATS on the road this season. As an underdog of less than a touchdown, Baltimore is 4-2 ATS, including three straight wins.

One interesting note: Both teams have been involved in “under” games of late. In four of its last five games, Dallas has gone under the total. Meanwhile, Baltimore has gone under the total in its last two games, which ended a streak where the Ravens had gone over the total in seven of eight games. In the Saturday Night Football game, the O/U total is 39.5 points, which is tied for the third highest O/U total for a game involving the Ravens this season.

Common Opponents Against AFC North opponents, Dallas is 1-2 ATS. A 20-13 loss at AFC North leader Pittsburgh two weeks ago is Dallas’ only outright and ATS loss in its last five games. Keep in mind, Dallas led by 10 points entering the fourth quarter of that game. Baltimore lost at home to Pittsburgh last week, 13-9, when the Ravens were favored by 3 points. Against the AFC North overall, Baltimore is 5-1 ATS. Dallas is 2-3 ATS against NFC East opponents. Baltimore, meanwhile, is 2-1 ATS against the NFC East, losing in mid-November at the NFC East leading New York Giants, 30-10. The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Giants last week, 20-8. This will be the first Ravens-Cowboys meeting since 2004, when Dallas lost at Baltimore, 30-10.