Dallas Cowboys @ Minnesota Vikings<\/strong><\/p>\n Sunday, January 17, 1:00 p.m. ET Before we declare the Cowboys Super Bowl XLIV champs, let\u2019s remember something: the Vikings are an excellent football team and may have more talent on both sides of the ball than any other NFL team. Their second-ranked run defense is formidable as ever; even though Felix Jones looked like a Pro Bowler running through the Eagles last week, he doesn\u2019t have much of a chance against Minnesota\u2019s Williams Wall \u2013 Pat and Kevin, who swallow up runners week after week. They\u2019re joined by NFC sack leader Jared Allen in a fearsome front seven.<\/p>\n They rely on some guy named Adrian Peterson in the backfield. Ever heard of him? AP wasn\u2019t flashy this year, tallying just two 100-yard games, but he topped 80 rushing yards 10 times and ran for a quiet 18 touchdowns. He\u2019s still a horse to bring down .<\/p>\n Last but not least is Brett Favre. Some detractors will tell you he mimicked his New York Jets season and tanked down the stretch. That\u2019s just not true. He stumbled\u00a0briefly <\/em>but ended the year with two straight 300-yard games, no picks and six touchdown passes. He has a talented, versatile receiving corps around him, featuring Offensive Rookie of the Year Percy Harvin and breakout star Sidney Rice. Against a so-so Cowboy secondary, Favre is dangerous. But the Vikings do have some questions to answer. More specifically, Peterson does. Despite his immense talent, he hasn\u2019t yet shown he\u2019s a \u201cbig-game\u201d back. His ball-security issues are well-documented and he averaged less than four yards a carry in six of his last seven games.<\/p>\n If Peterson can\u2019t move the chains, the Cowboys can key on Favre and limit Minny\u2019s offensive opportunity. That\u2019s a serious problem since the Cowboys seem poised to score plenty of points.<\/p>\n Tony Romo\u2019s winter hex appears to be over. In his last six weeks, he\u2019s thrown 11 touchdown passes\u00a0 and two interceptions. He hasn\u2019t fumbled. He\u2019s posted a passer rating over 100 five times. Weather conditions\u00a0 — or lack thereof \u2013 have certainly helped. Four of Romo\u2019s last six games were played indoors. Well, this week at the Metrodome will continue that trend. Against Minnesota\u2019s beatable pass defense, Miles Austin should get open downfield and connect with Romo on some big plays.<\/p>\n We have an extremely tough decision this week since these two teams are so similar. Some bettors will lean Minnesota\u2019s way based solely on home-field advantage. I won\u2019t. The Cowboys aren\u2019t afraid, as they showed when they took down New Orleans at the Louisiana Superdome. Their balanced offense seems unstoppable; their pass rush and run defense are also deadly. I base my pick on momentum and pick football\u2019s hottest team this week.<\/p>\n Gambling Trends:<\/strong><\/p>\n The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Dallas’s last 5 games
\nLine: Vikings -2.5<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/banners.bmaker.ag\/images\/book_football_250_250_2.gif?cmpid=13385_1315\")
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\nDallas is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
\nDallas is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
\nThe total has gone UNDER in 4 of Dallas’s last 5 games on the road
\nMinnesota is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
\nMinnesota is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Dallas
\nMinnesota is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Dallas
\nThe total has gone UNDER in 4 of Minnesota’s last 5 games at home<\/p>\n