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NFL picks and best bets for Week 8: Will Cowboys stay hot in Minnesota?

A somewhat hobbled Dak Prescott and the Cowboys are slight favorites on the road against the Vikings. Brian Fluharty/USA TODAY Sports

Intro by Doug Kezirian

The betting public has managed three straight profitable NFL weekends and Sunday night's matchup between the Cowboys (-1.5, 55) and Vikings in will likely determine whether sportsbooks can stop the bleeding.

"No matter how the weekend goes, the Sunday night game is always a huge game for the house," Las Vegas bookmaking veteran and SuperBook vice president of oddsmaking Ed Salmons told ESPN. "Obviously in a game like this with Dallas involved, and even Minnesota is a high-profile team, this game will have tremendous action."

The public figures to back America's Team, given the Cowboys are the NFL's only team to cover every game this season. However, Salmons said professional bettors will "definitely" back Minnesota if the point spread reaches three points. But he's also reluctant to raise the line because star quarterback Dak Prescott strained his right calf.

"They're in a position now, if you look at the standings, if he's not 100% they have no reason to push him out there because they can afford a loss here," Salmons said. "It ain't going to kill him. But if they push him out there and he gets hurt, it could really hurt them."

If Prescott is unable to play, Salmons said he would favor Minnesota by "about 3.5 points."