NFL betting odds have the Dallas Cowboys as underdogs on Saturday against the unbeaten New Orleans Saints and it does not help the Cowboys that their kicking situation is unsettled. NFL lines have seen the Cowboys struggle in the month of December and even reliable kicker Nick Folk has gone into a slump. NFL betting odds are always popular on the Cowboys but this week the Saints will be getting some play. Using a rookie kicker in the biggest game of the NFL lines season would be unusual but Dallas is considering rookie kickoff specialist David Buehler instead of normal kicker Nick Folk. “We have different options that we’re discussing,” coach Wade Phillips said, “We’re certainly trying to work with Nick still, because I still think he’s a good kicker.
At least, he has been. But we also have to look at the realities, too.” Folk has missed six of his last ten field goal tries as NFL lines stats indicate. Folk has normally been very reliable as NFL betting odds stats show but not this season. Going with a rookie would definitely be unusual in NFL betting odds. Buehler made 26 of 33 field goal tries while kicking at USC but he missed three of his last four. NFL betting odds had Dallas drafting Buehler in the fifth round to improve their kickoffs. Last NFL betting odds season the Cowboys had no touchbacks with Folk kicking off. This NFL lines season with Buehler kicking off, the Cowboys have 20 touchbacks. In the NFL betting odds preseason, Buehler did make a 39-yarder against Oakland.
Folk is 63 of 79 in his career on field goals as NFL betting odds statistics show. He had hip surgery in the offseason and that really hurt his off-season preparation. Folk said he didn’t even start kicking until two weeks before training camp. NFL betting odds indicate that Folk has really struggled with kicks in the 40 to 49 yard range going 4 of 10 including misses on his last four kicks. Dallas even changed holders as NFL betting odds information shows, going back to quarterback Tony Romo. Folk made a 31-yard field goal in the first quarter but he missed 42-yard field goal wide left late in the second quarter in the NFL betting odds loss to the Chargers. “Whatever it is, you’re not going to make them all. But you need to make a certain percentage,” Phillips said. “He’s just not hitting that percentage right now. We changed [the] holder. We hoped [the 42-yarder] would go through. He kicked one early, but we certainly needed that one.”