The Cowboys and NFL betting fans alike enjoyed Thanksgiving Day immensely. While we feasted on Turkey, the Cowboys feasted on the Raiders. Can they keep their momentum going against the reeling New York Giants this week?

Week 13 – DALLAS COWBOYS @ NEW YORK GIANTS

Sunday, December 6, 4:15 p.m. ET

Favorite: Cowboys -2.5

Cowboys offense vs Giants defense

Tony Romo dazzled against a solid Raiders pass defense last week, recapturing his big-play connection with Miles Austin. But that was November – Romo’s best statistical month – and that was a home game in comfy Dallas. Now, Romo enters December, during which he has a 71.9 rating and 14:19 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Nursing a sore back, he travels to the Meadowlands to face a Giants team that picked him off twice in Week 2.

In theory, Romo should do some damage to the Giants since they’re missing Kenny Phillips from the secondary and just lost linebacker and defensive captain Antonio Pierce for the season. Despite their injuries, the Giants still have the NFL’s No. 4 overall defense, but that rank reflects a cupcake early schedule in which they beat Washington, Tampa, Kansas City and Oakland. Online sportsbook sharps will point out that New York has struggled to contain good offensive groups like New Orleans, Arizona, Philadelphia, San Diego and Atlanta. Even if Romo’s December jitters return, the Cowboys can capitalize on Pierce’s absence and run the football.

Cowboys defense vs Giants offense

After preying on the weak early in the season, the Giants’ offense is regressing. Brandon Jacobs just can’t break through for that big game and Eli Manning’s foot continues to hinder him on his dropbacks. The Cowboys allow a fair amount of passing yardage but they at least pressure the quarterback well; 23 of their 28 team sacks have come in their last seven games – an average of 3.3 sacks per contest. The increasingly immobile Manning has eaten 11 sacks, thrown four interceptions and fumbled three times in his last four games. The Cowboys will likely pressure him early and often.

Outlook

The Giants’ loss to a mentally broken Denver team defied logic last week. I do therefore have the slightest inkling that the Giants will turn NFL picks on their heads by surging back for an improbable victory on Sunday, punctuated by another Romo implosion. But this is a talented Dallas team and the Giants aren’t anywhere near full strength. Dallas’ front seven should beat Manning up and give the Cowboys offense plenty of scoring opportunities. Let’s give Romo one more chance to show he can win in crunch time and pick the Cowboys to win. All eyes will be on America’s team, though the Texas Longhorns will watch the Florida Alabama odds closely too, awaiting a possible BCS title game opponent.

Week 12

OAKLAND RAIDERS @ DALLAS COWBOYS

Thursday, November 26, 4:15 p.m. ET

Favorite: Cowboys -13.5

Cowboys offense vs Raiders defense

True Cowboy fans were happy to just see the Cowboys get the “W” but sports betting fans sure weren’t happy; the Cowboys scored just seven points and questions are starting to pop up again about Tony Romo’s ability to lead this team down the stretch. Romo’s career quarterback rating is higher for November than for any other month – 106.0 over the last three seasons with 30 touchdowns and 11 picks over 12 games. December is the bane of Romo’s existence – a 69.0 rating and eight touchdowns versus 11 picks over eight games during the last three seasons.

This season, however, Romo may be starting his annual slide early. Facing strong pass defenses from Green Bay, Philadelphia and Washington over the past three weeks, he’s thrown just three touchdown passes. The Raiders defend the pass better than many people expect, ranking 12^th in the NFL. Nnamdi Asomugha can shut pretty much anyone down and won’t have trouble with the enigmatic Miles Austin or Roy Williams depending on who his assignment is.

To up its sportsbook odds, America’s Team will have to run the ball – something they’ve done well of late through Marion Barber and Felix Jones.

Cowboys defense vs Raiders offense

Despite the Cowboys’ anemic offense run, the defense is holding strong, as Dallas has allowed more than 21 points just once this year and held the Redskins to six points last week. Against the mobile Jason Campbell last week, the Cowboys didn’t blitz like crazy and their game plan worked. Bruce Gradkowski’s footwork is underrated – he doesn’t take off like Campbell but he does move around a lot – so Dallas may use a similar strategy against him.

Quantity doesn’t equal quality in the Oakland backfield; none of Darren McFadden, Justin Fargas and Michael Bush scares Dallas, which ranks seventh in the league in run defense.

Outlook

Most people planning their Thanksgiving Thursday or making their NFL picks were probably disappointed to hear Dallas was hosting the anemic Raiders on Thursday but they may be in for a surprise. Because of their solid pass defense, Oakland may keep this game closer than people expect. Dallas should still pull out the win in the end, though; Cowboys Stadium will give them a boost.