in NFL Props
NFL Prop Betting - Dallas Cowboys vs. the NFL
by Charles Jay
The schedule for the Dallas Cowboys is not particularly disagreeable. There is, I guess, a benefit to finishing third among four teams in your division and missing out on the playoffs. Of course, when you have to face the improved Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants twice, there is never a cakewalk, but there is a little bit of relief in the non-division slate.
Dallas plays host to NFC South playoff entries Carolina (in a Monday night game) and Atlanta in their brand new Cowboys Stadium, as well as San Diego, Seattle and Oakland. I don't know how much of a home field advantage the Cowboys will have right away; the Indianapolis Colts took a while to get used to their new Lucas Oil Stadium.
However, they should be able to get by the Raiders and Seahawks at home, and you've got to figure that they could get at least one win against the Panthers, Falcons or Chargers. If they sweep all three, that is going to go a long way toward winning the NFC East title, but I don't think they're up to it.
The Cowboys go on the road to play Tampa Bay, Green Bay, Denver, Kansas City and New Orleans. That is not incredibly daunting. When they go to Lambeau Field on November 15, the weather should not be so bone-chilling cold. The game with New Orleans is indoors. Could they win four out of those five games? Sure. They could also win just three. I don't see them losing four of five.
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Last season the Cowboys split with all three of their division rivals. I could easily see that happening again, although 2-4 might happen as well. This team could win up 9-7 again, and 10-6 could certainly happen because the schedule is generous enough. However, 8-8 is a distinct possibility, and I say that based on this club's inability to go out and win those "big" games, and the possible absence of a game-breaking receiver.
Yes, I considered Terrell Owens a selfish presence, but the Cowboys needed to replace him with something that could resemble an upgrade. Jerry Jones explained that letting Owens go was designed to make the team "more Romo-friendly," but I don't know that T.O. at wide receiver wasn't quarterback Tony Romo's best friend. Roy Williams has been a Pro Bowl player in the past, and could be productive, but Dallas doesn't have a lot of depth at wide receiver.
Now let's do some regular season win matchups:
COWBOYS VS TITANS
Dallas Cowboys -½ Win Even
Tennessee Titans +½ Win -140
I don't ever want to count the Tennessee Titans out, as long as they have Jeff Fisher as a head coach and play with sound fundamentals. They run the ball on offense, make very few stupid mistakes, and will manage to adapt without Albert Haynesworth on the defensive line. Tennessee has New England, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Buffalo, Arizona, Miami, Seattle and San Diego outside the division, and that is tougher than what Dallas has to face, but my feeling is that they will be in ten-win territory in the end. TITANS (+1/2 win, -140)
COWBOYS VS BILLS
Dallas Cowboys -1 Win -155
Buffalo Bills +1 Win +115
You know, Buffalo is a team with a lot of upside, but they have to be able to realize it. Playing New England twice may be no bargain, and there are non-division contests with playoff teams like Carolina, Tennessee, Atlanta and Indianapolis. I see the Bills hovering around .500, with a chance for nine wins and maybe ten, which would put them in a position to challenge for a wild card. A lot of things would have to break right for something like that to happen, though. COWBOYS (-1 win, -155)
COWBOYS VS BROWNS
Dallas Cowboys -2 Wins -180
Cleveland Browns +2 Wins +140
I believe this to be a no-brainer, because the Browns are in trouble. I have no confidence they are going to be able to handle the quarterback situation the right way, and they lost so much offense that they look like they are back in an experimental stage. They've got a lot of work to do to undo the negative momentum that brought them down the stretch last year, when they scored ten points or less six straight times. They've got teams on the schedule like Minnesota, Chicago and Green Bay from the NFC North, and Oakland and Kansas City from the AFC West, who could very well beat them. When it comes to the Browns, I'm not sure who is on the schedule. I doubt they'll reach six wins. COWBOYS (-2 wins, -180)
COWBOYS VS DOLPHINS
Dallas Cowboys -2 Wins -125
Miami Dolphins +2 Wins -115
I don't think it would be impossible for the Dolphins to be a more talented team this season. Still, even with Patrick White in the fold, defensive coordinators around the league, and especially within their division, will be better prepared for their version of the Wildcat, and Miami has had to address problems in the secondary. The worst thing is that Miami's schedule is a killer; aside from New England twice, and two games apiece against the Jets and Bills, who are never easy for them, the Dolphins visit Atlanta, Carolina, San Diego, Tennessee and a healthier Jacksonville team, and they play host to Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Tampa Bay and Houston. None of this is going to be easy, and there may be more of a chanced for them to slip- than for Dallas to do a fold-up. COWBOYS (-2 wins, -125)
COWBOYS VS JETS
Dallas Cowboys -2 Wins -125
New York Jets +2 Wins -115
The Jets have a rookie starting at quarterback, and if that's not the case, they'll have someone else (Kellen Clemens) who is not good enough to be a first-stringer in the NFL. They also have a running game that won't be as good as they thought, unless Shonn Greene, the rookie, gets enough playing time to become a revelation. The receivers are non-threatening, so it may be a matter of Rex Ryan's defense having to carry more of the load than expected. This is a transitional year for the Jets, so they're certainly not on the same level as the Dolphins. COWBOYS (-2 wins, -125)
