Hall of Fame Game Betting Preview: Dolphins vs. Cowboys
By Jason Logan
Covers.com
Miami Dolphins vs. Dallas Cowboys (+2.5, 33)
Two of the NFL’s most storied franchises clash in Canton Ohio for the NFL’s Hall of Fame weekend. The Dolphins are aiming for an improvement in the AFC East, capitalizing on what could be a weak year for the division. The Cowboys hope coaching changes on offense and defense can maximize the team’s potential and get Dallas back to the playoffs in 2013.
Odds
Sportsbooks opened the Cowboys as big as 1.5-point favorites for this neutral-site game but action on the Dolphins has pushed the spread all the way to Dallas +2.5. The total opened at as high as 34.5 and has been bet down to 33 points heading into the weekend.
Hall of Fame Game trends
The New Orleans Saints beat the Arizona Cardinals 17-10 as 3-point favorites in the 2012 Hall of Fame Game. Favorites are 9-6 SU and 7-6-2 SU ATS since 1996 with those games going 8-7 over/under. Four of the last six Hall of Fame Games have played under the total, with the 2011 HoF Game cancelled due to the NFL lockout.
Dallas is 1-3 SU all-time in the Hall of Fame Game, with a 2-0 ATS record and 1-1 O/U mark with spreads available. Miami boasts a 0-3 SU mark all-time in the HoF Game, going 0-1-1 ATS and 1-1 O/U with odds available. These teams met in Week 4 of the 2012 preseason, with the Cowboys winning 30-13 as 2.5-point home favorites. Dallas and Miami have met eight times in the regular season since 1987, with the teams splitting those meetings 4-4 SU and ATS and going 2-6 over/under.
Capping the QBs
Dallas quarterback Tony Romo will not play in Sunday’s Hall of Fame Game, still recovering from having surgery to remove a cyst on his back this summer. Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said that even if Romo was suiting up, he would only see one or two series and would be limited in pass attempts.
The other reason Romo is sitting out is the shaky shape of the Dallas offensive line. The Cowboys protection is still a work in progress and hasn’t looked sharp in camp. That could mean a long night for backups Kyle Orton, Nick Stephens and Alex Tanney. Orton has digressed as Dallas’ second stringer and Stephens is fighting off Tanney, who could be a surprise star this preseason. He’s freakishly athletic and has great arm strength and accuracy.
Miami will give No. 1 Ryan Tannehill some work during Sunday’s game but head coach Joe Philbin is tight lipped about how many snaps his second-year passer will take. He passed for 103.5 yards on 19.5 attempts per game in the preseason last year.
“We’re going to evaluate the practice tape and then we’re going to make a decision in regard to playing time tomorrow as to who’s going to be getting the majority of the snaps and the guidelines,” Philbin told the Palm Beach Post. “We’ll have a guideline of ‘X’ amount of snaps.”
The Dolphins have Matt Moore and Pat Devlin behind Tannehill. Moore was the Fins No. 1 QB in 2011, putting up 2,497 yards, 16 touchdowns and 9 interceptions in 12 games, going 6-6 SU in those contests. He’s regarded as one of the best backups in the NFL heading into 2013. Devlin has impressed this summer and has shown the ability to make plays with his legs, which could come in handy with Miami’s offensive line missing some key cogs.
Dallas notes
Romo isn’t the only Cowboys starter sitting out Sunday’s exhibition kickoff. According to reports out of Dallas, numerous first stringers will pass on Canton. One of those starters expected to be on the field is WR Dez Bryant, who returned to practice this week after sitting out with a sore hip. Bryant, who reeled in 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns, is primed for a breakout season in 2013.
Dallas is working in a new offensive coordinator in Bill Callahan and a new defensive coordinator in Monte Kiffin. Callahan is throwing some wrinkles into the offensive playbook, copying what the New England Patriots have done with their tight end sets. He’s also flirted with a pistol offense to jumpstart the running game behind RB DeMarco Murray, who when healthy can break the back of a defense. The stop unit is switching up from the 3-4 to the 4-3 with Cover 2 schemes. Many players, like DeMarcus Ware moving from LB to DE, are switching positions. Dallas takes the new defense for a test drive Sunday night.
Miami notes
Miami was 0-4 SU and ATS in the preseason last year, focusing more on adjusting to Philbin’s new sets and getting Tannehill some time under center. This time around, the Dolphins are out to win some exhibition games and show they can contend in the AFC East. Philbin’s main focus this summer is playing with speed, which should be easy with some new additions to the WR corps. Miami brought in WRs Mike Wallace and Brandon Gibson as well as TE Dustin Keller. Wallace and fellow receiver Brian Hartline hope to play Sunday after returning from injuries this week.
The Dolphins running game has no face with Reggie Bush leaving for Detroit. Running backs Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas are expected to get the bulk of the carries this season, but fellow rushers Mike Gillislee and Marcus Thigpen will share the load Sunday. The rushing attack could have a tough time gaining traction behind a thinning offensive line. Offensive coordinator Mike Sherman told reporters he’ll likely roll out his best five-player combo, ignoring set positions on the o-line.
By Jason Logan
Covers.com
Miami Dolphins vs. Dallas Cowboys (+2.5, 33)
Two of the NFL’s most storied franchises clash in Canton Ohio for the NFL’s Hall of Fame weekend. The Dolphins are aiming for an improvement in the AFC East, capitalizing on what could be a weak year for the division. The Cowboys hope coaching changes on offense and defense can maximize the team’s potential and get Dallas back to the playoffs in 2013.
Odds
Sportsbooks opened the Cowboys as big as 1.5-point favorites for this neutral-site game but action on the Dolphins has pushed the spread all the way to Dallas +2.5. The total opened at as high as 34.5 and has been bet down to 33 points heading into the weekend.
Hall of Fame Game trends
The New Orleans Saints beat the Arizona Cardinals 17-10 as 3-point favorites in the 2012 Hall of Fame Game. Favorites are 9-6 SU and 7-6-2 SU ATS since 1996 with those games going 8-7 over/under. Four of the last six Hall of Fame Games have played under the total, with the 2011 HoF Game cancelled due to the NFL lockout.
Dallas is 1-3 SU all-time in the Hall of Fame Game, with a 2-0 ATS record and 1-1 O/U mark with spreads available. Miami boasts a 0-3 SU mark all-time in the HoF Game, going 0-1-1 ATS and 1-1 O/U with odds available. These teams met in Week 4 of the 2012 preseason, with the Cowboys winning 30-13 as 2.5-point home favorites. Dallas and Miami have met eight times in the regular season since 1987, with the teams splitting those meetings 4-4 SU and ATS and going 2-6 over/under.
Capping the QBs
Dallas quarterback Tony Romo will not play in Sunday’s Hall of Fame Game, still recovering from having surgery to remove a cyst on his back this summer. Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said that even if Romo was suiting up, he would only see one or two series and would be limited in pass attempts.
The other reason Romo is sitting out is the shaky shape of the Dallas offensive line. The Cowboys protection is still a work in progress and hasn’t looked sharp in camp. That could mean a long night for backups Kyle Orton, Nick Stephens and Alex Tanney. Orton has digressed as Dallas’ second stringer and Stephens is fighting off Tanney, who could be a surprise star this preseason. He’s freakishly athletic and has great arm strength and accuracy.
Miami will give No. 1 Ryan Tannehill some work during Sunday’s game but head coach Joe Philbin is tight lipped about how many snaps his second-year passer will take. He passed for 103.5 yards on 19.5 attempts per game in the preseason last year.
“We’re going to evaluate the practice tape and then we’re going to make a decision in regard to playing time tomorrow as to who’s going to be getting the majority of the snaps and the guidelines,” Philbin told the Palm Beach Post. “We’ll have a guideline of ‘X’ amount of snaps.”
The Dolphins have Matt Moore and Pat Devlin behind Tannehill. Moore was the Fins No. 1 QB in 2011, putting up 2,497 yards, 16 touchdowns and 9 interceptions in 12 games, going 6-6 SU in those contests. He’s regarded as one of the best backups in the NFL heading into 2013. Devlin has impressed this summer and has shown the ability to make plays with his legs, which could come in handy with Miami’s offensive line missing some key cogs.
Dallas notes
Romo isn’t the only Cowboys starter sitting out Sunday’s exhibition kickoff. According to reports out of Dallas, numerous first stringers will pass on Canton. One of those starters expected to be on the field is WR Dez Bryant, who returned to practice this week after sitting out with a sore hip. Bryant, who reeled in 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns, is primed for a breakout season in 2013.
Dallas is working in a new offensive coordinator in Bill Callahan and a new defensive coordinator in Monte Kiffin. Callahan is throwing some wrinkles into the offensive playbook, copying what the New England Patriots have done with their tight end sets. He’s also flirted with a pistol offense to jumpstart the running game behind RB DeMarco Murray, who when healthy can break the back of a defense. The stop unit is switching up from the 3-4 to the 4-3 with Cover 2 schemes. Many players, like DeMarcus Ware moving from LB to DE, are switching positions. Dallas takes the new defense for a test drive Sunday night.
Miami notes
Miami was 0-4 SU and ATS in the preseason last year, focusing more on adjusting to Philbin’s new sets and getting Tannehill some time under center. This time around, the Dolphins are out to win some exhibition games and show they can contend in the AFC East. Philbin’s main focus this summer is playing with speed, which should be easy with some new additions to the WR corps. Miami brought in WRs Mike Wallace and Brandon Gibson as well as TE Dustin Keller. Wallace and fellow receiver Brian Hartline hope to play Sunday after returning from injuries this week.
The Dolphins running game has no face with Reggie Bush leaving for Detroit. Running backs Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas are expected to get the bulk of the carries this season, but fellow rushers Mike Gillislee and Marcus Thigpen will share the load Sunday. The rushing attack could have a tough time gaining traction behind a thinning offensive line. Offensive coordinator Mike Sherman told reporters he’ll likely roll out his best five-player combo, ignoring set positions on the o-line.
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