Colts vs Cowboys Week 13: Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy Calling the Shots on Their Return to Former Glory

• The Indianapolis Colts must get better converting on 3rd downs (36%), ranked 28th

• The 8-3 Dallas Cowboys are one game behind the Eagles in the NFC East

• Watch Colts vs Cowboys live on Sunday, December 4, 2022, at 8:20 PM ET on NBC

Colts vs Cowboys Week 13 Odds

Colts vs Cowboys Week 13 Picks

POINT SPREAD: Indianapolis Colts +10.5 (-105) at FanDuel

POINTS TOTAL: Under 44.5 (-110) at BetRivers

MONEY LINE: Dallas Cowboys (-560) at Unibet

POINT SPREAD: Indianapolis Colts +10.5 (-105) at FanDuel

This NFL Week 13 interconference matchup features the AFC South’s Indianapolis Colts facing the NFC East’s Dallas Cowboys as both teams vie for the playoffs, the Colts now being guided by interim HC Jeff Saturday (1-2) who copped to a major game clock mistake in Week 12 and the Cowboys still with veteran HC Mike McCarthy calling the shots on their ongoing return to former glory.

The oddsmakers say that the Dallas Cowboys have covered the spread in each of their last eight home games against teams that held a losing record, but there are so many free points going to the underdog that we think that is a good bet for the Colts to cover, but only if DC Gus Bradley can game plan a way for his 17th ranked run defense to neutralize the Cowboys rushing attack.

The Dallas Cowboys have won each of their last five home games and their 7th-ranked rushing attack helped with that, this season averaging 139 total yards on the ground per game thanks to their two-headed backfield monster – RB Zeke Elliott who looks healthy now and RB Tony Pollard who’s a dual threat workhorse so far with 159 touches for 1,005 yards from scrimmage and 8 TDs.

POINTS TOTAL: Under 44.5 (-110) at BetRivers

This points total bet has the gambler guessing if the Colts and Cowboys combined Week 13 score goes over or under 44.5 total points, and considering the oddsmakers say that eight of the Colts' last nine road games have gone under the total points line and these two offenses combine for just 41.2 total points each week we like the under for this points total wager.

Just to be sure, check the record books to see how the defenses defend their endzones, with the Indy Colts allowing opponents to score 20.3 points per week and the Cowboys defense allowing 17 points per week, that total of 37.3 still under what this bet allows, and given that this game will be played indoors, expect both teams to play at their full weather-free capacities.

A fun one on one matchup to watch for will be Cowboys' number one WR CeeDee Lamb facing the Colts’ best CB Stephon Gilmore, with Lamb capable of running crisp routes and getting open, so far with 64 catches for 857 yards and 5 TDs against Gilmore’s shutdown brand of coverage that’s generated an interception, 6 passes defended, and 46 total tackles in 2022.

MONEY LINE: Dallas Cowboys (-560) at Unibet

When there is such a wide spread between the favorite team and the underdog as is here when the Colts (+10.5) play the Cowboys (-10.5), the money line bet gets exciting, because Dallas Cowboys fans with complete faith that their team will win this game outright can place this $560 money line bet that pays winners $100 plus the original bet back and feel confident about victory.

Colts fans would have to take a leap of faith here to bet the money line for Indy, the team that has lost five of their last six games while in the middle of a head coaching transition, but a $100 bet here would pay out $444 plus the initial wager, a great deal for those true believers who think veteran QB Matt Ryan can outplay Dallas’ top-7 defense with its speed, power, and the most sacks (45) in the NFL.

These two pass rushes should play a big role in this matchup with the Colts' defense starting three players with 4+ sacks (DE Yannick Ngakoue - 8.5, DT DeForest Buckner - 5.5, DE Kwity Paye - 4), all set to get after Cowboys QB Prescott whose O-line has allowed him to be sacked just seven times in the six games he’s played in this season, with four sacks in the last three games.  

How to Watch Colts vs Cowboys

• What: Indianapolis Colts vs Dallas Cowboys

• Where: AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX

• When: Sunday, December 4, 2022, at 8:20 PM ET

• How: NBC