Dallas least appealing favorite

Some trends in NFL wagering prove worthless. But betting against Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys on their home field has been priceless this season.

Of the three favorites in action today, the Cowboys figure to be the least appealing to the betting public. Dallas is laying 3 points against Washington at most books after the line opened 3½.

The morning kicks off with Houston as a 3- to 3½-point favorite at Detroit, and New England is a 7-point road favorite over the New York Jets in the night game.

"As bookmakers, we always cringe looking at the Thanksgiving schedule, hoping all three favorites don't cover. That would lead to a bad day," LVH sports book director Jay Kornegay said. "If we can get one underdog to bite, we'll be fine."

The Redskins, led by rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III, appear to be live 'dogs after blasting Philadelphia 31-6 on Sunday.

"I'm pretty confident we might get some Redskins money, because the anti-Cowboys sentiment will kick in a little bit," Kornegay said.

Dallas is off another disappointing performance, failing to cover in a 23-20 overtime victory over Cleveland. The Cowboys are 5-15 against the spread at home the past three seasons, including 0-4 this season.

But the line has dropped to a point where handicapper Bryan Leonard (Footballwinners.com) sees value in supporting Romo. He noted Dallas has won six of the past seven meetings with Washington.

"The Redskins looked good against an Eagles team that has thrown in the towel, but the going won't be so easy against the resurgent Cowboys," Leonard said. "While the Redskins travel on a short week, Dallas remains home after surviving against the Browns, and that overtime victory keeps the favorite focused here.

"The Cowboys have been poor home favorites, but with the line being short, they likely cover the number with an outright victory. Dallas is the better team, in my opinion, yet the line is saying these two squads are virtually equal. The Cowboys know this is a game they need."

Detroit has failed to cover eight straight Thanksgiving games, losing each by double digits, including 27-15 to Green Bay last year. So, sleeping in might be a better option than betting on the turkeys known as the Lions.

"I don't anticipate much Lions money," said Kornegay, who moved the line to 3½ on Wednesday night

The LVH posted 10 proposition bets on each of the three games, including touchdown passes (1½, over minus-190) by the Patriots' Tom Brady and yards passing (236½) for the Jets' Mark Sanchez.

■ R-J CHALLENGE - Two of 10 handicappers in the Review-Journal NFL Challenge, which is published Sundays, are playing games today based on the LVH SuperContest lines.

Joe D'Amico (Aasiwins.com) is laying 3½ with the Texans, and Doug Fitz (Systemplays.com) is taking 3½ with the Redskins.

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow him on Twitter: @mattyoumans247.