The online sports betting world would like to think that professional football players just do their jobs and roll with changes in the league. But even in the midst of Super Bowl 45 betting, it is important to remember that these men are people capable of some very strong emotions. Coaching changes happen all the time in the NFL, but it has been years since the Dallas Cowboys have changed their coaching staff. The departure of wide receivers coach Ray Sherman has been especially hard on the Cowboys young receivers.

Wide receiver Miles Austin had a lot to do with the NFL scores that the Cowboys put up this season, but the departure of Sherman has definitely had an effect on Austin’s life. In a recent discussion with betting services experts, Austin said that the departure of Sherman affected him deeply because Ray Sherman was a mentor to Miles Austin. Austin said he was excited to start working with whoever the new wide receivers coach will be.

The AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers have been in Dallas all week getting ready for Super Bowl XLV, and some of the Steelers have been giving advice to the Dallas Cowboys. Even though the two teams have not met since 2008, the some of the Steelers have been saying that chemistry and not talent is the problem for the Cowboys. At the Steelers media day, wide receiver Antwaan Randle El said that the Cowboys missing the playoffs was a shock because Dallas is loaded with talent. Former Cowboy, and current Pittsburgh, offensive lineman Flozell Adams said he was also surprised at the Cowboys’ record and added that it was bad chemistry that ruin Dallas and not a lack of talent.

Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones spent much of the week praising the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers as the two teams get ready to play Super Bowl XLV in Cowboys Stadium. But Jones was getting his fair share of Cowboys questions, and one of the persistent questions is the slow pace at which the Cowboys are putting together their new coaching staff. With the draft approaching and Dallas needing to scout talent to make good picks, you would think that there would be an urgency to put together a staff. Jerry Jones has indicated that he is in no hurry at all and that the staff will be put together in due time.

Jones has also indicated that any players being released or signed from free agency will take time as well. Cowboys fans are getting anxious to see how their team will look if there is a 2011 season, and Jones understands that. But Jerry Jones has indicated that complacency was what caused the Cowboys to fail in 2010, and he wants to make sure that all of the proper roster moves are being made this off-season to strengthen the Cowboys chances of making the playoffs in the next NFL campaign, regardless of whenever that next campaign may be.

When the Green Bay game ended, Jerry Jones was quoted as saying that some people in his organization would face “serious consequences” for the Cowboys’ 1-7 start. So far the only person to experience those consequences is Wade Phillips. For the first time in their history, the Dallas Cowboys fired a head coach during the season. Assistant head coach Jason Garrett takes over as only the seventh head coach in Dallas Cowboys history. Garrett was also the offensive coordinator and he will retain that job as he moves into the head coaching job.

The interest now is to see what Jerry Jones will do with the head coaching job when the season is over. Jason Garrett was lured into staying in Dallas with a $3.5 million per year contract when at least two other teams wanted him as their head coach. Garrett turned down those NFL head coaching jobs to stay in Dallas and take over when Phillips was gone, but now that Phillips is gone it is not a slam dunk that Garrett will take over next season as the full-time head coach.

Garrett is seen by many as part of the problem in Dallas. He does not command a lot of respect in the locker room, and his offensive schemes and decisions have not brought the Cowboys a lot of good fortune this season. There is a growing feeling in Dallas that Garrett may not get the Cowboys head coaching job and that he will have to head to another NFL city to take over as the head man.

One of the leading early candidates who is getting a lot of mentions as the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys is former Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach John Gruden. Gruden is currently an analyst with ESPN Monday Night Football, and his no-nonsense approach and stern demeanor may be just what the Cowboys locker room needs.

During the Green Bay game, Dallas wide receiver Roy Williams was delivered a shot to the back of his head by the helmet of Packers linebacker Nick Collins. The NFL announced Monday that the hit was illegal and fined Collins $50,000. Collins was also given a warning that future hits of that nature will result in more fines and possibly a suspension. Roy Williams did not suffer a concussion and will be ready to play against the upcoming week 11 game against Giants.

Dallas Cowboys

Where to even start? The Cowboys are now 1-6 after an awful 35-17 loss at home against Jacksonville, and Jaguars quarterback David Garrard said that the Cowboys didn’t even look into the game. No one has answers, but you have to think that Wade Phillips’ time is almost up in Dallas (you could probably find decent odds on that prop if you’re betting on NFL lines). How far can they go with Jon Kitna? They’ll find out soon since Tony Romo is likely gone for the year. There hasn’t been an implosion of a team like this in, well, it’s hard to even think of one. It gets no better for the Cowboys, who head to Lambeau Field to face Green Bay on Sunday night.

Texas Rangers

The Rangers’ bats were silent in their five-game loss to San Francisco in the World Series, hitting an anemic .190 against the Giants. Possibly more surprising was that ace Cliff Lee was beaten twice by San Francisco counterpart Tim Lincecum, and although he pitched far better in Game 5 than he did in Game 1, when he didn’t make it out of the fifth inning, that performance must leave a bad taste in the mouth of Lee (and MLB betting players who wagered on the Rangers). Now, the Rangers have a couple of major decisions to make in the offseason. Will they bring back Vladdy Guerrero, as they declined his option but are hoping to re-sign him at a cheaper price? The bigger question is Lee, who is a free agent and will command $20 million a year. Can the Rangers afford to keep him? Can they afford to let him go?

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks have won three of their first four of the gate in the NBA season, rolling over Charlotte before a one-point loss to Memphis, with both games coming at home. The next games were on the road and the Mavericks passed their tests with flying colors, romping to a win over the Los Angeles Clippers before edging Denver in a one-point win on Wednesday. The usual suspects are leading the way as Dirk Nowitki has averaged 26.5 points and 9.8 rebounds, while Jason Terry has 17.5 points, and Caron Butler isn’t far behind with 16.5 points. Jason Kidd is still steering the team with 11.8 assists. The Mavericks are off to a great start, but it’s going to take some more convincing of the sportsbooks if they want to boost their betting odds this year.

Ryan Grant injury update: Word broke today that injured Packers RB Ryan Grant suffered an ankle injury that could keep him out “quite awhile” according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, via MSNBC.com.

Grant was off to a good start in the Packers’ Week 1 victory over Philadelphia before getting hurt. He ran 8 times for 45 yards. Picking up the slack once Grant was injured was three-year Packers backup RB Brandon Jackson. Jackson, a must-add in all formats this week with the Packers set to take on the Bills and their porous run defense, ran for 63 yards on 18 carries in place of Grant.

Brandon Jackson Week 2 fantasy projection: With Grant already being ruled out for Week 2, Jackson is looking at 20-25 carries with the Packers undoubtedly planning to sidestep the Bills’ top-notch pass defense if they can. Assuming this is what happens, Jackson is a realistic possibility for 100 yards and a score or two.

Run, don’t walk, to the waiver wire and get your claim in on Jackson. The Packers have a high-powered offense that will provide scoring opportunities to whoever is toting the rock. Remember, Grant is not considered special from a talent standpoint, though is a tough, physical runner. Still, there is not reason to believe Jackson can’t be 90-95% as effective, which is a solid #2 RB starter every week.

Week 10

DALLAS COWBOYS @ GREEN BAY PACKERS

Sunday, November 15, 4:15 p.m. ET

Favorite: Cowboys -3

Cowboys offense vs Packers defense

Tony Romo and company shouldn’t expect a total offensive cakewalk this week. The good news is that Green Bay struggles mightily to pressure the quarterback; the Pack have 13 sacks, good for last in the NFC. The bad news is that they’re still a big-play defense. They rank fourth in the NFL with 12 interceptions and have scored two defensive touchdowns. Historically, Tony Romo gets worse as an NFL season progresses and the weather gets colder. He therefore could make a few mistakes at Lambeau Field on the tundra.

Thankfully for Romo, his rapport with Miles Austin continues to grow. Austin overcame double teams against the Eagles last week for another 40-plus-yard touchdown. Since the Pack are also solid against the run, however, the Cowboys may not score big points this week. Remember that if you like betting on totals with your NFL picks.

Cowboys defense vs Packers offense

Here’s where the Cowboys will win the game. The Cowboys “D” started slowly this season but is really rounding into form of late – especially the pass rush, which led the NFL in sacks last year. The Cowboys sacked Donovan McNabb four times last week. If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can sack Aaron Rodgers six times, which they did last week, you know Green Bay has major O-line woes. The Packer linemen are revolving doors, allowing an NFL-worst 37 sacks this season. The Pack’s franchise worst for sacks allowed is 62; they’re on pace to allow 74 this season. Making matters worse, Aaron Rodgers holds onto the ball too long even when he has time. He’s having a phenomenal year but isn’t taking many shots downfield. Sportsbook betting fans should expect the improving Cowboy pass rush to have an absolute field day against poor Rodgers.

Outlook

The Cowboys are gaining serious momentum in the NFC playoff picture and, even though they have another tough road game this week, the matchup is favorable. They should ride their “D” to another win in a potentially low-scoring matchup. The Pack will look like the loser of Pacquiao Cotto betting in the end: battered and bruised.

Last Week: The Cowboys marched into Philadelphia last week and beat the Eagles in a close game. All the talk leading up to the game was about the beating the Eagles layed on the Boys at the end of last season and the Roy Williams – Tony Romo controversy. Widespread panic spread throughout the media that Romo and Williams were not on the same page. Against the Eagles there was some definite improvement Williams ended the day with 5 catches for 75 yards. So maybe this will not be the hot topic this week, however there is still work to be done, Tony threw a ball behind an open Roy Williams in the end zone Sunday.

This week the boys will travel up north to Lambeau Field and face a Packers team that lost to Tampa Bay on Sunday….ouch thats embarrassing. The game was in Tampa and the Packers don’t have anything that resembles an offensive line right now, but a loss to the Buccaneers?? What is even worse is the Bucs were wearing the awful jerseys from the era when they were a perennial doormat. This is the second year in a row that the Packers have been touted as a NFC power, but once again they are sitting at .500. The Packers are a nice team with an offense that has the potential to be one of the best in the league, but they have one huge problem, they can’t stop the pass rush.

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However traveling up to the frozen tundra is never easy, but the Cowboys will match-up very well with the Packers. The Cowboys offense has enough weapons to get the job done running or passing the ball against just about any team in the league. The Packers defense is ranked 4th in the league giving up 282.9 yards per game which is usually the barometer used when measuring defenses, but when you look at points allowed per game the Packers are ranked 16th allowing 21.5 points per game. In my opinion points allowed per game is the stat that matters on gameday, and looking at this the Packers defense is middle of the road.

So to summarize the Packers would be a good team if that had an offensive line, but they don’t so it is my opinion that the Cowboys will terrorize Aaron Rodgers and the weather on Sunday is supposed to be 50 degrees with a chance of showers.
Prediction: Cowboys 17 Packers 10

Cowboys – Packers Preview & Game Information

Cowboys – Packers Game Time: 3:15 PM – Central Time
Cowboys – Packers Day / Date: Sunday – November 15 2009
Cowboys – Packers Location: Lambeau Field – Green Bay WI
Cowboys – Packers TV Channel: FOX
Cowboys – Packers Broadcast Announcers: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman
Cowboys – Packers Betting:

• Odds, Point Spread, Advice
• Early Point Spread: Cowboys -2.5
• Early Over-Under: 47.5

Cowboys – Packers Tickets:

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• Cowboys Stadium Parking Information

Injury Information

Dallas Cowboys Injuries
Allen Rossum CB | Hamstring – No Practice
Marion Barber RB | Thumb – Full Practice
Gerald Sensabaugh S | Thumb – Full Practice
DeMarcus Ware LB | Foot – Full Practice
Andre Gurode C | Ankle – Limited Practice
Ken Hamlin S | Groin – Limited Practice

Green Bay Packers Injuries
Brandon Chillar LB | Hand – No Practice
Jermichael Finley TE | Knee – No Practice
Aaron Kampman LB | Concussion – No Practice
Brady Poppinga LB | Quadricep – No Practice
Mark Tauscher T | Knee – No Practice
Jake Allen WR | Quadricep – Full Practice
Allen Barbre T | Concussion – Full Practice
Korey Hall RB | Calf – Full Practice
Derrick Martin S | Concussion – Full Practice
Jordy Nelson WR | Knee – Full Practice
Aaron Rodgers QB | Feet – Full Practice
Charles Woodson CB | Hip – Full Practice
Cullen Jenkins DE | Ankle – Limited Practice