The first installment of Sunday Night Football graces NFL bettors with a matchup of current and former NFC powerhouses in the third meeting between the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams over the last two years. Sean McVay got the best of “America’s Team” in the playoffs back in 2019, but Big D avenged that defeat in a big way by logging the emphatic 44-21 outright win and cover as 1-point home dogs in last year’s rematch. Scoreboard operators could get a major workout this evening in the showdown between Dak Prescott and Jared Goff. Each of the team’s last three meetings dating back to the 2017 season combined for easy overs. As it is, the Cowboys have been bet up to 3-point favorites at online sportsbooks with the total situated at 51.5.
Watch this regular season Week 1 matchup on Sunday, September 13, 2020, at 8:20 p.m. ET at SoFi Stadium. You can bet on NFL odds at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
NFL Odds at Bookmaker.eu
Dallas Cowboys -3
Los Angeles Rams +3
Over/Under 51.5
Odds Analysis
Dallas initially hit the board as 2.5-point road favorites with -105 juice attached to the impost in Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys debut. It sat there a bulk of the offseason, but has since bumped up to -3 with +107 juice in the days leading up to kickoff. The Cowboys have taken 64 percent of the betting handle mid-week. The total has jumped up two full points after originally hitting the board at 49.5. The O/U currently checks in at 50.5 with a healthy 71 percent of the bets taken in support of the line move. Dallas currently offers up a +1349 return should it win the Super Bowl, while the Rams check in at +3567. Dallas is the favored side of oddsmakers to win the NFC East (-153), while the Rams +450 sit in back of the 49ers and Seahawks for NFC West bragging rights.
Injury Report
The Cowboys have a couple of injuries you’re going to want to keep track of before throwing any money down on this game. For starters, Amari Cooper is still having issues with a hamstring injury that’s kept him out of numerous practices leading up to the regular season kick-off; he’s currently listed as probable. Starting free safety Xavier Woods is nursing a groin strain while backup corner backs Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis are tending to knee and ankle injuries. The last thing Dallas can afford is a lack of secondary depth with LA likely to look to the air over the game’s entirety. Then there’s the hip injury sustained by offensive tackle La’el Collins that has him on IR.
The Rams look to be much better off in the injury department. The most bothersome is the ankle soreness wide receiver Cooper Kupp has been dealing with throughout training camp. The Pro Bowler has been hampered by injuries the last few seasons, so it is a concern. However, he’s currently listed as probable and will more than likely be on the gridiron come Sunday night. How long his ankle holds up remains to be seen. Running back Darrell Henderson has been hampered by a low-grade hamstring strain, but is listed as probable and is expected to get some burn in Sunday night’s game. Starting strong safety Taylor Rapp is also listed as probable with a knee injury.
Matchup to Watch
The ultimate game of chess will play out between the Cowboys power run game and the Rams potent passing attack. Both defenses are going to struggle. Los Angeles lost some integral pieces up front as well as in the linebacker corps which was already pretty bad to begin with. Though Dallas’ offensive line is minus Travis Fredrick and Collins, it’s still one of the best in the league and Ezekiel Elliott is also one of the best in the business; look for him to eat! But LA’s pass catchers are going to have themselves a good ‘ol time against a Cowboys secondary that wasn’t especially strong defending the pass. The unit allowed a passer rating over 90 (#20), surrendered a 65 percent completion percentage (#25) and lost top corner back Byron Jones in free agency. Dallas took a gamble on Aldon Smith and signed Everson Griffen in hopes that they help improve the team’s No. 19 ranked sack total and help make DeMarcus Lawrence’s job a bit easier after only registering five sacks in 2019. Improvement out of the gate could be rough considering the Rams O-Line allowed the fewest sacks in the league last season (22).
Free ATS Pick
This one has the makings of being the highest scoring game of Week 1! The Rams allowed chunk yards on the ground to just about every opponent it faced last season. On the flipside, the Cowboys secondary was beaten like a drum. With that, I fully expect both teams to exchange scores throughout the night. I’d look to hit the over for the first half, full game as well as both squad’s team totals. Should each team get out to a slow start getting used to playing in a real game, I’d look to hit the over on the readjusted live betting line. I think we see a ton of points scored early on in the season as defenses across the league round into form. While taking the points with the Rams looks to be the prudent move, I’m buying into Dallas in a big way this season. Kellen Moore should have the offense firing on all cylinders right out of the gate, and it has the ground attack to take control of the game in hostile territory. If Dallas is able to get better than average pressure on Goff a majority of the game, it could win going away! I don’t believe Big D loses this game, so they make for a decent teaser leg as well.
NFL Pick: Cowboys 38, Rams 28
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