The Dallas Cowboys continue to grab headlines with player contract turmoil surrounding their organization (this time with CeeDee Lamb), but in this NFL Week 1 preseason matchup on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, there is value in backing the favorite.
The most injury-riddled NFL team this summer is none other than the Rams, and I do not envision Sean McVay taking any unnecessary risks in their first preseason game. Find my Cowboys vs Rams prediction and pick in my NFL Preseason Week 1 betting preview below.
Cowboys vs Rams Prediction
I'm on the Cowboys to cover the spread as my Cowboys vs Rams best bet for Sunday. Originally, my pick was on the Cowboys to cover -4. For a while on Sunday morning, the Cowboys were down to -3.5, but Dallas is now -5 at many books. As of 1 p.m. ET, BetMGM and a couple of other books do still have the Cowboys at -4.5.
Cowboys vs Rams Odds
| Cowboys Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5 -110 | 34.5 -110o / -110u | -250 |
| Rams Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5 -110 | 34.5 -110o / -110u | +210 |
The Cowboys are now 5-point favorites (-5) against the Rams in Sunday's preseason Week 1 matchup at most sportsbooks, with Dallas a -250 favorite on the moneyline. The Rams are +210 underdogs to win outright. The over/under is set at 34.5 total points scored.
The Cowboys had been between -4 and -4.5 on Saturday into early Sunday morning, before Dallas moved to -3.5. Action has now swung back the other way, with the Cowboys even bigger favorites.
Cowboys vs Rams Opening Odds
- Point spread: Cowboys -4 | Rams +4
- Total: Over/under 35.5 points scored
- Moneylines: Cowboys -160 | Rams +135
Cowboys vs Rams Betting Trends
- 70% of bets and 75% of the money are on the Cowboys to cover the spread;
- 61% of bets and 42% of the money are on the over.
All data via Action Network's public betting percentages.
John LanFranca's Cowboys vs Rams Preview
Cowboys Preview: Cooper Rush, Trey Lance Headline Cowboys Camp Battles
The Cowboys' backup quarterback competition is heating up, and that should pay dividends for the offense.
Cooper Rush has proven to be a capable backup and has had meaningful regular-season experience in his career. Rush is in a battle with the third overall pick from the 2021 NFL Draft — Trey Lance.
Even Lance himself has acknowledged this is a big game for him. While Lance has only appeared in eight regular-season games in his career, it’s worth noting he has six touchdown passes and only two interceptions during his preseason days with the 49ers. I expect Lance to get an extended look on Sunday as the Cowboys try to figure out if he can become their long-term backup.
The Cowboys have competition at other positions that involve promising rookies. Left tackle Tyler Guyton, the Cowboys’ first-round pick, is in a camp battle with Chuma Edoga. While reports indicate Guyton is favored for the starting job, he was listed as a second-teamer on the team’s unofficial depth chart. The team will need to make further evaluations, thus having two possible starting caliber players anchoring the left side in this game is a definite boost.
Two more rookies vying for starting jobs should also get meaningful snaps in guard Cooper Beebe and linebacker Marist Liufau. Solid performances from each could lock down key roles entering the regular season.
Rams Preview: Rams Banged Up Before Preseason Opener
Rams beat reporter JB Scott projected how Sean McVay will handle playing time in this preseason opener, and it doesn’t look pretty for the home team.
The position group most affected by health has been the offensive line as three potential key contributors are battling injuries. Scott predicts McVay will opt to rest the other top six offensive lineman in this game, meaning the Rams will be missing nine players up front who are likely to make the team. To make matters worse, the top four tight ends on the depth chart are also projected to be limited or sit out.
The two quarterbacks who should take the majority of snaps for the Rams are Stetson Bennett and Dresser Winn. Bennett missed the majority of the 2023 season, thus this will be the first live game action he has seen in quite some time.
As for Winn, he has thrown only five passes in preseason action, averaging just 4.2 yards per attempt. The Rams quarterbacks lack experience and will have to navigate playing behind an unproven offensive line, even for preseason standards.
How to Watch Cowboys vs Rams: Start Time, Channel, Location
As the second game of Sunday's NFL preseason Week 1 doubleheader, Cowboys vs Rams will be live on NFL Network and streaming on NFL+, as well as various streaming services such as YouTube TV. Cowboys vs Rams is scheduled to kick off at 4:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Cowboys vs Rams is being played at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
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My Cowboys vs Rams Prediction: Bet on Dallas to Cover the Spread
In preseason games since 2010, favorites of more than three points have covered at a 56% rate over a 274-game sample size, according to BetLabs. This includes two games during the opening week of games this year, as both favorites of more than three points covered on Thursday night.
Considering the competition up and down the Cowboys’ roster, along with Rams head coach Sean McVay’s conservative exhibition nature, I expect Dallas to be the team putting forth the better effort on Sunday afternoon.
