Cowboys @ Eagles expert picks: Who's picking the Cowboys?

The Philadelphia Eagles have the NFL's best record at 13-2 and, but the Vegas bookmakers have them as home underdogs against an uninspired 8-7 Dallas Cowboys team that was eliminated from playoff contention in a blundering loss to the Seahawks last weekend.

From a pick'em perspective, this regular season finale contains one big unknown in addition to the regular unknowns accompanying every week in the NFL: Which teams are playing to win, and which are not?

Jason Logan of Covers.com explains how Vegas feels about the coming weekend of anarchy:

The books like mystery about as much as Steelers fans like James Harrison right about now, and most shops will drop their bet limits to protect against the pure lunacy that is the final Sunday of the regular season.

Which playoff-bound teams will rest their starters? Which teams are playing for draft position? Which teams are playing to win?

In last year's season finale between the Cowboys and Eagles, the roles of both teams were exactly reversed from this year's season finale. The Cowboys had locked up the No. 1 seed and the Eagles were limping into the finale with a 6-9 record and no chance at the playoffs. A year ago, the Cowboys chose to rest their starters for most of the game, and the Eagles will likely mirror that by pulling their starters early this year as well.

So who will come out on top in this meaningless season finale? Our collection of experts have the lowdown for you:

Wisconsin Post-Crescent (Kohn): Cowboys 27, Eagles 20

The Cowboys blew any shot at the playoffs last week by losing at home to Seattle. The Cowboys would love nothing better than to show the Eagles they will be back in force next season. Philadelphia has nothing to play for and quite possibly could decide to rest some key players.

Pro Football Talk (Smith): Cowboys 23, Eagles 20

Neither team has anything to play for, as the Eagles have clinched home-field advantage while the Cowboys are out of contention. I think the Eagles will rest starters while the Cowboys play to win.

CBS (Prisco): Cowboys 21, Eagles 17

This game means nothing. That's sad. Cowboys-Eagles this late in the season should mean something. The Eagles could rest players in this spot. Dallas will play to win. They get the victory.

Pro Football Talk (Florio): Cowboys 20, Eagles 17

Has a game between these two rivals ever been less meaningful?

NFL (Harrison): Cowboys 20, Eagles 16

Why is Dallas trying to throw touchdown passes to Terrance Williams on first-and-goal from the 3. Feed Zeke. The Raiders just ran right through the Eagles' front.

Fun facts: Nick Foles' completion percentage (56.6), yards per attempt (5.3) and passing yards per game (200.0) all rank last among playoff quarterbacks.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Dulac): Cowboys 17, Eagles 16

Nick Foles has kept the Eagles from collapsing and in possession of the No. 1 seed in the NFC since the injury to Carson Wentz. But they are not the same team. The Cowboys got Ezekiel Elliott back, but losing to the Seahawks ended their postseason hopes.

New York Times (Hoffman): Cowboys

The Eagles (13-2) clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, so beyond keeping the rust off before a two-week break and some notion of pride in beating an N.F.C. East rival, there is little reason to think they will keep the starters in long enough to win. The Cowboys (8-7), on the other hand, have some superficial reasons to care. Ezekiel Elliott needs 120 rushing yards to hit 1,000 for the season, and a ninth win would give Dallas consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 2008 and 2009.

Miami Herald (Cote): Eagles 23, Cowboys 20

That Philly is unbeaten at home but a home ‘dog owes to Birds having already clinched home-field throughout playoffs, so no stakes. But that goes for eliminated Dallas, too. Crapshoot pick because who knows how much starters will play, but still like the better team at home.

Sporting News (Steele): Eagles 20, Cowboys 16

The way the Cowboys exited so meekly from playoff contention last week could play into how they come out in a meaningless game against a rival with nothing for which to play. The Eagles do need to get much sharper than they looked against the Raiders, so there might not be as much resting of starters as expected, especially with a bye coming.

Bleacher Report (Simms): Eagles 17, Cowboys 14

Look for the Eagles to come out and try to get Foles and the offense into an early rhythm. They want to get the backup-turned-starter some confidence and more playing time with the starters before the bye. Expect enough first-stringers to play to win an ugly one.

The Cowboys may play their starters as well, but that may not matter. I think after last week's loss, Dallas is ready to pack it in.