Week 1 is one of the most important weeks of the season. It’s the week where teams in the NFL give off their true first impression, and a simple mistake, or a big win, can set the tone for the entire season. Plus, if a game is in prime-time, it does not get much bigger than that.
The New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys square off on Sunday Night Football in an NFC East matchup to start Week 1. The Giants enter 2023 with playoff expectations after going to the playoffs in 2022. On the other side, the Cowboys aim to win the division after the Philadelphia Eagles took the crown last year. History is on the side of the Cowboys and Giants: There hasn’t been a repeat NFC East winner in 20 years.
With such high expectations for both sides, and Dallas having won 11 of the last 12 matchups over New York, this season opener carries a lot of different possibilities. With a look at the Cowboys vs. Giants odds, here are the three best bets to take on this matchup.
If Your Bet Wins
Cowboys vs. Giants Odds: Over 46.5 Points
With a line of 46.5, a score of 27-24 seems to be the most realistic outcome for the over to hit. With both offenses having improved over the offseason, 47 seems like it is an appropriate number that both teams can reach.
The Giants continued to add weapons over the off-season. New York signed Parris Campbell to a one-year deal, drafted Biletnikoff Award winner in 2022 Jalin Hyatt in the third round from Tennessee and are bringing back running back Saquon Barkley for one year. Plus, Big Blue traded a compensatory third-round pick to the Las Vegas Raiders for former Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller. Quarterback Daniel Jones has a boatload of weapons entering 2023.
On the other side, Dak Prescott has to improve his interception numbers for the Cowboys to put up points. With receiver Brandin Cooks joining the offense and Michael Gallup entering 2023 healthy, Prescott should have options in the receiving game. As for the rushing attack, it’s Tony Pollard’s show now. Ezekiel Elliott was cut, which leaves Pollard to lead the backfield. In 2022, Pollard had 1,007 yards on the ground.
Both defenses improved as well, with the Giants signing linebacker Bobby Okereke and the Cowboys signing defensive back Stephon Gilmore. Even so, both offenses should put up enough points that add up to at least 47. Take this bet on FanDuel and root for offense.
Cowboys vs. Giants Best Bet: Tony Pollard Under 69.5 Rushing Yards
The game plan for Dallas will be to let Dak Prescott win the football game. The Cowboys go as far as Prescott goes, and it will be no different come Sunday night.
A big reason why that is the game plan for the Cowboys is because the Giants boast one of the best interior defensive lines in the NFL. Leonard Williams and Dexter Lawrence lead the interior defensive line group. The Giants then got some depth this past off-season with Rakeem Nunez-Roches and A’Shawn Robinson. New York also drafted Jordon Riley from Oregon in the seventh round in this past NFL Draft.
Pollard will have a tough time handling that group, so Prescott will be forced to throw the ball, which will lead to more chunk plays. With New York’s defensive coordinator Wink Martindale’s blitz-heavy style, expect Prescott to move in space and throw with more frequency. This is a safe bet to take on DraftKings.
Game Odds: Favor Giants at +3.5 vs. Cowboys
The bet that most people think of: the line. With the home team Giants getting more than a field goal, that’s an important half of a point. If New York were to lose by just three, taking the Giants +3.5 is not a bad idea.
Every bet carries risk, but in both games last season between Dallas and New York, the contest was decided by just one score. The Cowboys won both of those matchups.
Both teams are playoff sides, and both enter 2023 with playoff aspirations. Sunday night in New York will be a raucous crowd environment at MetLife Stadium, and divisional matchups tend to lean more toward games being close. Expect a back-and-forth affair, where every possession builds and gets more important. This will be a one-score game, and taking this bet at BetMGM is a good one to jump on now in case the line shrinks to NY getting just three points.
