TNF player props: Best bets for Cowboys-Bears
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The Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears open Week 14 on Thursday Night Football at Soldier Field. Let's break down the best player props for the NFC tilt.
Ezekiel Elliott over 82.5 rushing yards
The Bears have become synonymous with good run defense. Don't let that perception fool you. Since defensive lineman Akiem Hicks went down with an injury, Chicago's front seven has allowed an average of 98 yards per game on the ground to opposing running backs. Elliott was on track for a big game last week against Buffalo, averaging 5.7 yards per attempt. But Dallas dug itself an early hole and played from behind for most of the game, limiting his touches on the ground.
The Bears rank No. 12 in rush defense DVOA. Elliott has faced five units that rank inside the top 11 over the last seven weeks.
Mitchell Trubisky over 23.5 completions
Remember when head coach Matt Nagy was all for running the ball after the Bears did so fewer than 10 times in a loss to the Saints? That was pretty short-lived. Trubisky has attempted 38 passes or more in each of the last three. The good news? He's connected on at least 24 of them in each game.
The Cowboys are the No. 2 DVOA offense in the league, and it would be no surprise to see them take a lead on the road as three-point favorites. It won't take much for Nagy to panic and put Trubisky in plenty of drop-back situations, and the quarterback should have some success against the No. 23 pass defense.
Jason Witten over 3.5 receptions
How ironic that the Cowboys' revamped passing game features a stud go-to option in Amari Cooper, a rising No. 2 wide receiver in Michael Gallup, a solid slot option in Randall Cobb and ... Witten, who missed a full year of action to broadcast games but still has a significant role in the offense.
Witten's yard total would scare me - the Bears have allowed a grand total of 65 yards to tight ends over the last three games. But Chicago's defense is giving up close to six receptions per contest to that position this season, and Witten has seen at least five targets in four of his last five outings.
Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKoIodziej.