HANDICAPPER: Retooled Cowboys show signs of hope
With only two wins and their No. 2 quarterback, Jon Kitna, running the show, the Dallas Cowboys are down on their luck. It can’t get much worse for a team considered a Super Bowl favorite a few months ago.
But the Cowboys still are looking to salvage something from the season, and a change at the top seems to be making a difference. Jason Garrett is in as the interim coach, Wade Phillips is out, and a little hope has resurfaced.
Dallas is 0-4 at home and aiming to end that embarrassing skid today. The Cowboys (2-7) are 6- to 6½-point home favorites over the Detroit Lions (2-7).
It’s a battle of two-win teams with backup quarterbacks taking snaps. With Matthew Stafford injured again, the Lions are starting Shaun Hill.
"I think the Cowboys may have found something with Garrett," Las Vegas handicapper Mike Scalleat said. "Dallas is due to win a home game, and this is the spot."
In Garrett’s first game in charge, the Cowboys pulled off one of the NFL season’s biggest upsets last week, stunning the Giants 33-20 as about two-touchdown underdogs in New York. Kitna passed for 327 yards and three touchdowns.
"Kitna is getting in a groove with the receivers, and Dallas has an explosive offense," Scalleat said. "I expect the Cowboys to score enough to cover the spread."
Kitna’s talented collection of receivers — wideouts Miles Austin, Dez Bryant and Roy Williams and tight end Jason Witten — have combined for 16 touchdown catches. Dallas also is making an effort to get running backs Felix Jones and Marion Barber more involved.
The Lions lost to previously winless Buffalo a week ago.
Scalleat analyzes the rest of today’s Week 11 schedule:
■ Oakland at Pittsburgh (-7): You have to like the Steelers coming off a loss. The Pittsburgh defense will rebound after getting ripped by the Patriots last week. I don’t see the Raiders traveling east and playing well in an early game, and I’m not high on Oakland quarterback Jason Campbell.
■ Houston at New York Jets (-7): The Texans started 2-0 and now are 4-5, so their backs are to the wall. This Jets defense is not as good as the hype, and the offense is not clicking. The Jets’ Mark Sanchez is not throwing many interceptions, but he is not progressing as well as a quarterback such as Atlanta’s Matt Ryan. Three weeks ago, the Jets were shut out at home by Green Bay, then barely beat Detroit and Cleveland on the road. I like the Texans and the points.
■ Baltimore (-11) at Carolina: This game is ugly. The Panthers are depleted at running back, and quarterback Brian St. Pierre is making his first NFL start. I don’t see where the points are going to come from for Carolina. The Ravens’ defense is getting old, but I guess you have to lay double digits here. I wouldn’t bet it, though.
■ Washington at Tennessee (-7): I side with the Redskins. After getting his new contract, quarterback Donovan McNabb is looking to rebound from Monday’s loss to Philadelphia. The Titans’ Vince Young is not playing that well, completing 58 percent of his passes, and running back Chris Johnson is not having a great season.
■ Green Bay (-3) at Minnesota: Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers should have a big game, and Green Bay needs to establish itself as the dominant team in the division. There’s too much turmoil with the Vikings, and their wide receivers are hurting. Packers linebackers Clay Matthews (11 sacks) and A.J. Hawk will be all over Brett Favre, who is too slow to avoid the rush. I like Green Bay.
■ Buffalo at Cincinnati (-5½): The Bengals hung in there in a 23-17 loss at Indianapolis last week. Running back Cedric Benson will be able to run over the Buffalo defense. The Bills are 1-8, so they find ways to lose, and they were lucky to beat Detroit last week. This is the Bengals’ spot to win a home game.
■ Cleveland at Jacksonville (-1½): Rookie quarterback Colt McCoy looks like the real thing. Peyton Hillis, who has 726 yards rushing and eight touchdowns, can run the ball. I’m going with the Browns, who played well against New England and the Jets. The line tells me Cleveland is a live underdog.
■ Arizona at Kansas City (-8): The Chiefs got destroyed last week at Denver, but they are a strong home team. Kansas City can run the ball, and its defense is tough. Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel should have a good game against the Arizona defense. I’m not a fan of Cardinals quarterback Derek Anderson. It seems like a high number for the Chiefs, but I think you have to lay the points. Kansas City is 4-0 straight up and 3-1 against the spread at home. The Cardinals are weak on the road.
■ Seattle at New Orleans (-11½): It’s possible running back Reggie Bush might return, but I don’t see the Saints being the same team as last year. I’m not going to play this, but I probably would take the points. I don’t like these big favorites.
■ Atlanta (-3) at St. Louis: If the Falcons are going to be an elite team, this is a short number to cover. The Rams are getting better, and quarterback Sam Bradford is on the rise. But the Falcons’ Matt Ryan has turned the corner and has enough weapons on offense. As far as young quarterbacks, Ryan is the best of the group. Atlanta has too much offense and a good coach. The Falcons are one of my best bets this week.
■ Tampa Bay at San Francisco (-3½): The Buccaneers have a good shot to win here. Josh Freeman, who has 12 touchdown passes and is a running threat, is playing well at quarterback. The 49ers, who are starting Troy Smith again, struggled to beat the Rams in overtime last week. I’m going with the Bucs.
■ Indianapolis at New England (-4): The Patriots made a statement with their big win at Pittsburgh. Tom Brady was fired up and playing great. New England’s Bill Belichick has a big coaching edge here. The Colts’ Jim Caldwell can’t compete with Belichick. It’s a tough spot for Indianapolis on the road. I will ride the Patriots, but I bet this at minus-3.
■ New York Giants at Philadelphia (-3½): The Giants’ defense will slow Eagles quarterback Michael Vick some but not enough. Philadelphia has too much speed on offense. I don’t think the Giants are going to win because Vick is too much.
Compiled by Review-Journal sports writer Matt Youmans.
