NFC East Odds: Bettors Take Eagles To Help Cowboys Win NFC East
The NFC East will be the last division and last playoff spot decided on Sunday. The Washington Football Team, Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants are all still alive for the NFC East title.
Entering the pivotal Week17, Washington and Dallas both sit at 6-9, with the Giants one game back at 5-10. The Philadelphia Eagles were eliminated last week in their 37-17 loss to the Cowboys. A game, if the Eagles won, that would have set up a winner-take all this week against the Washington Football Team.
Now, the Eagles will play in the deciding game for the NFC East as the team who decides the winner of the NFC East Champ. Which has bettors locked in a game of chess.
After opening the week as a 1.5-point favorit, the Eagles are now 3-point underdogs. A swing that was caused by more Eagles injuries and the possible return of Washington QB Alex Smith. But, bettors are now returning to the Eagles with 54.3% of bets being placed on the Eagles +3, as well as 52% of the bets being placed on the Eagles moneyline.
Even though the last six Eagles night games have went under, 64% of the bets being placed are on over 43.5. Something that has hit in each of the last three meetings between Washington and Philadelphia, including seven of the last ten meetings.
With bettors returning to the Eagles, the Dallas Cowboys are also getting most of the money to win the NFC East, with 71.1% of the bets being placed on the Cowboys to win the division.
If Washington beats Philadelphia, the Washington Football Team will be the NFC East Champs and would get the final playoff spot. However, if Philadelphia beats Washington, the winner of the Cowboys vs. Giants game will be the NFC East Champs and would get the final playoff spot.
The latest odds for the NFC East futures market
Washington Football Team -125 (55.6% implied probability)
Dallas Cowboys +260 (27.8% implied probability)
New York Giants +360 (21.7% implied probability)
With the Washington Football Team in control of their own destiny, win or go home, they are the odds-on favorite to win the NFC East. However, after bettors lost faith in the Eagles, the money is starting to come back to both the Eagles and Cowboys.
“Even with Washington controlling their own destiny, the late money has been on the Eagles to beat Washington and the Cowboys to beat the Giants and win the NFC East. Which, with the uncertainty of who is playing for Washington on Sunday, including who is starting at QB, is very much possible. But, on the opposite side, the Eagles will have 9 new starters, an offensive line that will start its 15th combination of the season and an offense that will be missing its starting running back, tight end, left and right tackle and right guard. Even though the Eagles offense has looked much better under Hurts, the depleted and undermanned Eagles will need somewhat of a miracle on Sunday. Especially against the top-5 ranked Washington defensive line who had 8 sacks against a healthy Eagles offensive line in Week 1.” – OddsChecker handicapper Brandon Sommermann