After winning just four games in the 2015-16 season, the Dallas Cowboys rode a pair of rookies in Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliot on a worst-to-first trek back into the playoffs last year. But with Elliott suspended for the team’s first six games, their odds to win Super Bowl LII, the NFC and NFC East have all taken a hit. What hasn’t really changed is the team’s win total which opened at 9.5 -110 and remains there with +112 juice attached to the over. With Zeke likely out for almost half the regular season, can Jason Garrett coach this team to double-digit wins?
Dallas Cowboys Futures Odds at BookMaker.eu
Cowboys Over 9.5 Wins +112
Cowboys Under 9.5 Wins -135
2017 Cowboys Offense Preview
Dallas scored an average of 26.6 points per game a season ago, and racked up an average of 379.8 yards per game ( No. 5 ) with 149.1 of those yards coming on the ground ( No. 2 ). All the pieces from that electric offense return with Prescott back under center and Dez Bryant the go to pass catcher in the receiving corps. Dak went on to win offensive rookie of the year honors, while Elliott led the league in rushing with 1,631 yards.
Though the O-Line’s three Pro Bowlers return, they won’t be opening holes up for Elliot for six games as it now stands. That hands the keys to the car over to Darren McFadden who thrived in the RB1 role a couple year’s back. He rushed for over 1,000 yards as the Cowboys feature back in 2015-16, and should be up to the task of filling in for this potent offense until Elliot serves his suspension however many games that might be. Zeke’s suspension is a major downer, but it won’t derail this unit.
2017 Cowboys Defense Preview
Not much to write home about on this side of the ball. Dallas conceded 348 total yards per game ( No. 16 ) a year ago with an average of 264.3 of those yards coming through the air. The secondary was embarrassing, and it will now rely upon a crop of younger guys stepping in and succeeding this season with vets like Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne and Barry Church heading for greener pastures.
That means the front seven is going to have to once again go above and beyond after leading the league in rush defense a short season ago. Rod Marinelli’s stop unit allowed just 83.7 yards per game rushing ( No. 1 ) at 4.0 yards per carry last season ( No. 13 ). Until the secondary proves it can contain opposing passing attacks, this defense will continue to force the offense to win a bulk of its games.
2017 Dallas Cowboys Schedule Analysis
Six of the Cowboys 16 scheduled games come against losing teams from last season. Outside the division, they’ll square off against the AFC West which looks to be a competitive division and the NFC West which enters the regular season top heavy. Big D was only able to split its six NFC East games last season, but went undefeated against the AFC and won six of eight on the road.
The beginning and end of the season can prove to be the toughest. They get the Giants at home and then the Broncos and Cardinals on the road to kick off the year, and then close it out with three of four on the road at the Giants, Raiders and Eagles with the lone home game coming against the Seahawks. Before Elliott was suspended, Dallas was only dogged twice, favored 12 times and listed as a pick ‘em twice on the game of the year lines. Vegas was very high on this team at full strength. Should it have trouble navigating without Zeke early on, it will create some juicy futures odds for savvy NFL bettors to take advantage of.
The Final Verdict
The NFC East is one of the best divisions in pro football this season. Every team went out and improved itself this offseason, so it will be tougher for the Cowboys to repeat as champions. However, Elliott will only miss one divisional game and will be back when it matters most in the second half. With a chip firmly on his shoulder, the rest of the division better hope it’s built a sizeable lead in the standings before he returns.
With a manageable schedule and top end talent on the offensive side of the ball, the Cowboys have the depth and experience to rattle off 10-plus wins for the second straight season. They own the Redskins ( 6-2 SU L/8 ), and have split with the Eagles the last four seasons. If those trends hold true, avenging three straight losses to the Giants should put this club in a solid position to surpass its season-long win total. Games against the Rams, Chargers and 49ers should only sweeten the pot for those long on the over.
NFL Odds: Dallas Cowboys Over 9.5 Wins +112
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