Sports betting players don’t know what to think about Dallas, one of the most physically gifted teams in the league, but they have trouble putting teams away in the fourth quarter. However, this week’s visit from winless St. Louis should be over by then as the Rams’ quarterback is ailing and the Cowboys’ pass rush will be on the swarm.
What: NFL Betting
When: Sunday, October 23rd, 4:15 PM ET
Where: Cowboys Stadium, Dallas, TX
Pick: Dallas Cowboys -12.5
Why Bet On St. Louis Rams (0-5 SU, 0-5 ATS)
To be fair, the Rams’ 24-3 loss in Green Bay isn’t as bad as you think when you dig a little deeper into the numbers. The No.25-ranked offense put up 424 yards on the Packers, while Sam Bradford was 29-of-45 for 328 yards and a pick. Steven Jackson ran for 96 yards, and the Rams had more first downs (22) than the Packers (20). But St. Louis was 3-of-13 on third down and 0-of-3 in the red zone, and you have to take advantage of your opportunities when you play the defending Super Bowl champions. Seven penalties didn’t help their cause, either. The defense allowed a couple of big plays in the second quarter that took the wind out of their sails, and then the offense couldn’t bail them out. However, more help came for the Rams this week in the form of receiver Brandon Lloyd, who was brought over in a trade from Denver before the deadline. Lloyd may take some time to get used to his teammates, but he is, far and away, the best option for Bradford. Also, Lloyd flourished under St. Louis coordinator Josh McDaniels in Denver, so that is promising.
However, NFL betting players have to wait and see if Bradford (ankle) will be on the field after being injured against the Packers. A.J. Feeley has been getting the snaps all week, but Bradford will test his ankle on Friday and the Rams think he’ll be able to go. Running back “Cadillac” Williams (thigh) and offensive tackle Rodger Saffold (leg) are questionable for the Rams, who will get receiver Mark Clayton (knee) back.
Why Bet On Dallas Cowboys (2-3 SU, 2-2-1 ATS)
Oh, you Cowboys. Once again, the fourth quarter was the bane of Dallas’ existence in a 20-16 loss in New England and it wasn’t even Tony Romo’s fault (not entirely, anyway). Romo was 27-of-41 for 317 yards, a touchdown and a pick, but head coach Jason Garrett obviously didn’t trust Romo with the lead late in the game, instead preferring to be conservative when it came to playcalling, but the Cowboys left too much time on the clock and Tom Brady does what Tom Brady does. The defense forced four turnovers, but they also allowed New England tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez to run wild throughout the game. Linebacker DeMarcus Ware had two of Dallas’ three sacks, and they didn’t make life easy for Brady, but the pass rush stopped late in the game and they failed to figure out a way to slow down the Patriots’ underneath passing game, which is their bread and butter.
It was a busy week on the trainer’s table in Dallas as running back Felix Jones (ankle) is out for at least two weeks, maybe longer, left guard Bill Nagy (ankle) is gone for the season, and defensive lineman Jason Hatcher (calf) is out this week as well. But the Cowboys’ biggest worry is their fourth-quarter woes, and realistically, Dallas would be 5-0 if they knew how to handle the final 15 minutes of a game. Last week’s loss is on Garrett, but Romo has taken his share of the blame and the defense hasn’t helped either. That is what is holding the Cowboys back from being one of the elite NFL betting options in the league, although it’s never a dull moment in Dallas.
How It Will Play Out
NFL betting odds have the Cowboys as a 12.5-point favorite at home, and they’re 2-2 SU and ATS in four games against the Rams since 2002, with three games going under the posted total. The two have split the two meetings in Dallas, with both games coming in under the total. The Cowboys are 0-2 ATS at home this season.
This seems like a large spread, especially as all five of the Cowboys’ games have been decided by four points or less. But we’re going with them this week as the Rams may be without Bradford and even if he is healthy, he’ll have to face a Dallas pass rush that has 16.0 sacks, and his line is weakened. Don’t expect too much of Lloyd as he gets used to his new team. The defense gives up big plays and the Cowboys have the explosiveness to take advantage of it. Go with Dallas to cover the online betting spread here.
Rams Cowboys Betting Pick: Dallas Cowboys