Skins 1 1/2 pt dogs to the Boyz at home?

It's Romo of course he'll through errate passes. Plus we like being the underdog. When we are favored we play like crap. So hopefully they're favored by 6 before the game.


GO! SKINS! GO!

I thought Dallas opened as 4 point favs and now it's down to 1.5? I could be wrong on the opening number, I can't get on any betting sites here at work.

I think the Portis thing is a major mover. It makes sense that the spread has moved since we have all of this injury news coming out.

The point spread is based partly on the public's opinion. I bet the spread opened at Wash -3 and the public pounced on Dallas.
You really think that Vegas gives a darn about public opinion?

You really think that Vegas gives a darn about public opinion?

Of course they do. A point spread is designed to even out the money on both sides. If Vegas thinks that people are going to bet heavy on one team, the spread will be set higher to offset that. Spreads are based on the betting public's perception of an event.

I think Dallas wins this game. Campbell will have to throw for 250+ for us to win.

I think people are also forgetting that just because Romo is back, reports indicate that he and his pinky are still not 100% -- at least that's according to Mike Golic and Marcellus Wiley this morning on Mike & Mike.

Maybe we'll see some errant passes going into the wrong hands Sunday night.

That's how our D is going to win this game.

Of course they do. A point spread is designed to even out the money on both sides. If Vegas thinks that people are going to bet heavy on one team, the spread will be set higher to offset that. Spreads are based on the betting public's perception of an event.

No doubt about it. That's why spreads change. That's why Vegas has been around so long, they are pretty smart.

maybe rodgers catches a pick. pinkie 65%

Just remember how badly we've perfromed during the 3rd quarter of the season the past 4 or 5 years.

As you note, we have gone 1-3 in the 3rd quarter every year since 2003. I went back (thank you profootballreference.com) and broke down the 3rd quarter "swoons".

In 2003 (5-11), 2004 (6-10) and 2006 (5-11), we had losing teams that won either two (2003, 2006) or three (2004) games over the of the last half of the season. So the third quarter losses were not so much a let-down as they were indicative of the team's play over the entire season. In each of these seasons, our bye week was either week 7 (2004) or week 8 (2003, 2006).

In 2005 and 2007, came into the 3rd quarter at 5-3 each time and the third quarter records (1-3 in 2005 and 0-4 in 2007), were clear let downs that almost wrecked the seasons. In each case, the team rallied back to finish strong with strings of 4 (2005) and 5 (2007) consecutive wins to make the playoffs.

HOWEVER - The bye weeks in the two winning seasons were very early (week 3 in 2005, week 4 in 2007). Perhaps those teams, much like this one, entered the third quarter somewhat worn down and needed a mental break and only started winning again by finding something to focus on (In 2005, CP saying "put it on me" and dragging the team in; In 2007, the death of ST and the team's determination to win in his memory).

Unlike those two years, the bye week came late enough in the season this year to allow for the mental rest needed. This team was showing signs of mental exhaustion in Detroit and just simply ran out of gas against Pittsburg. The timing, again, is similar to the prior 3rd quarter swoons BUT this time the team gets a break in the midst of their 3rd quarter (which started with Pitt) AND has a nationally televised game against their historic rivals to (to paraphrase Mick Jagger) "start them up".

Third time's a charm guys. Get the bandwagon out - we are riding this wave to Tampa.

(and yes... I am probably reading wayyyyyy too much into this)