Cowboys vs 49ers | NFL Week 15 Game Analysis
Online Betting
| Game: San Francisco 49ers (5-8) vs Dallas Cowboys (4-9) Location: AT&T Stadium Time: 1:00 PM ET Television: CBS |
Cowboys vs 49ers Betting Lines
| Team | Point Spread | Moneyline | Over/Under | Team Total |
| 49ers | -3 | -160 | 45 | 24 |
| Cowboys | +3 | +140 | 45 | 21 |
Cowboys vs 49ers Head-to-Head
This will be the first meeting between these storied franchises since 2017. Injuries derailed expectations for both teams this year. The Cowboys haven’t been able to find their footing since losing quarterback Dak Prescott for the year, and no team has been more injured than the 49ers.
Both are still mathematically alive in the NFC playoff race, but the odds of a playoff spot are slim to none. San Francisco has opened as three-point favorites for those betting online on this game.
San Francisco 49ers
Betting Record
| Team | Record | ATS | ATS Home | ATS Away | ATS Fave | ATS Dog | O/U |
| 49ers | 5-8 | 5-8 | 4-6 | 1-2 | 2-5 | 3-3 | 6-7 |
Next Game: at Arizona Cardinals
Last Game
The 49ers dropped their most recent game to Washington, 23-15, their second straight loss. Led by quarterback Nick Mullens, the offense couldn’t get going against a stout Washington unit, scoring just seven points in three quarters.
Turnovers proved costly, with Washington returning both a fumble and an interception for a touchdown, effectively sealing the game. San Francisco bettors can be encouraged by their defense, which allowed just nine points, along with their run game racking up over 100 yards once again.
Stats Pack
San Francisco has struggled to pass and pass block all year, with a stronger core of players at the receiver and running back position. Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson are the two running backs to keep an eye on, playing an even split of snaps. Mostert averages five yards a carry, while Wilson comes in at 4.1. Both should have opportunities against a porous Cowboys defense.
Trends
Turnovers continue to be a problem for San Francisco, with the team committing three more against Washington last week. It was the seventh straight game that the 49ers have committed two or more turnovers, the longest streak for the team since the 2008 season, when they did it eight straight games. Dallas is tied for 24th in the league with just 14 takeaways on the season, but the 49ers’ troubles holding onto the ball should definitely be factored in when making your NFL picks this week.
Injury Report
Deebo Samuel, WR Out
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB Out
George Kittle, TE Questionable
Raheem Mostert, RB Questionable
Fred Warner, LB Questionable
K’Waun Williams, CB Questionable
Emmanuel Moseley, CB Questionable
Hroniss Grasu, C Questionable
D.J. Jones, DT Questionable
Dallas Cowboys
Betting Record
| Team | Record | ATS | ATS Home | ATS Away | ATS Fave | ATS Dog | O/U |
| Cowboys | 4-9 | 3-10 | 1-5 | 2-5 | 1-7 | 2-3 | 7-6 |
Next Game: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Last Game
The Cowboys handled business against the Bengals, winning 30-7 and snapping a two-game losing streak. Despite the large margin, it was a middling offensive performance, with Andy Dalton throwing for just 185 yards and running back Ezekiel Elliot rushing for only 48.
Defensive end Aldon Smith helped out the scoring efforts, returning a fumble for a touchdown in the first quarter. Dalton threw two touchdowns and no interceptions in his return to Cincinnati. The defense had its best game of the year, albeit against an extremely poor Bengals offense. San Francisco should offer a tougher test for a defense that has been exposed on a weekly basis.
Stats Pack
Michael Gallup has emerged as the top receiver on this team in terms of snaps played. Gallup has now played 94% of the team’s offensive snaps in back-to-back weeks, compared to just 51% for rookie CeeDee Lamb. Despite the increased playing time, Gallup has struggled to exceed even 40 receiving yards. He is being targeted though, and may be due for a big game with the opportunities he’s had.
Trends
The Cowboys defense is hoping for a strong finish to the 2020 season, especially the team’s defensive coordinator, Mike Nolan. Dallas has allowed the most points per game and most rushing yards per game in the league, leaving some to wonder if Nolan will be in trouble come the offseason. One thing that has hurt the Cowboys defense has been injuries.
Injury Report
Saivion Smith, CB Questionable
Trevon Diggs, CB Questionable
Chidobe Awuzie, CB Questionable
Anthony Brown, CB Questionable
Donovan Wilson, S Questionable
Ezekiel Elliott, RB Questionable
Betting on the Game
Point Spread
In considering the NFL odds, the 49ers have both a better offense and a better defense, which leans towards a San Francisco win and cover. The Cowboys’ best traits, while middling league-wide, are running and receiving. Unfortunately for them, San Francisco is a top-10 defense in rush defense and coverage. Without much resistance offered for the 49ers offense, I would expect a San Francisco cover of the three-point spread.
Moneyline
At -160, the moneyline value for the 49ers is reasonable if you’d like to focus on just the better team winning, and not worry about the points. Again, even if the Cowboys keep this close at home, San Francisco should come out on top.
Over/Under
I would take the over in this latest incarnation of one of the classic NFL matchups. San Francisco’s over in particular should hit. The 49ers are a run-first team going against a Dallas defense that has been gashed on the ground repeatedly this year, letting up an average of 162.7 rushing yards per game. Forty-five is a fine number to take in this one. As is the Niners’ team total of 24.
