Despite looking absolutely horrific on offense for about 10 of their first 12 quarters, the Cowboys responded last Sunday against the Lions and find themselves at 2-2 and right in the thick of things in the NFC East.
This week they travel to play their in-state rivals, the Houston Texans, on Sunday Night Football. Houston came into the season with high hopes due to the belief they had found their franchise quarterback in Deshaun Watson. Things haven’t gone as planned for Houston thus far, though much of that is not Watson’s fault.
Houston enters this game 1-3 on the year and against the spread, while the Cowboys sit at 2-2 and 1-3 against the spread.
Cowboys +3, o/u 45 points.
Dallas Cowboys
As mentioned, the Cowboys found a way to keep their season alive last week against the Lions, defeating Detroit at home 26-24. For the first time all season the Cowboys offense clicked for four quarters, though they did struggle in the red zone much of the game.
Quietly, the Cowboys defense hasn’t looked as strong as expected the past two weeks, mostly due to their safety play. Dreams of Earl Thomas in 2018 have pretty much died with his injury, so Jeff Heath, Xavier Woods and Kavon Frazier will need to figure it out quickly.
Dallas is surprisingly, to me at least, the underdog here, though the 3 point spread doesn’t show much confidence in Houston either.
Houston Texans
After a disappointing 0-3 start to the year, the Texans finally got a victory last week over their division rivals, the Indianapolis Colts. This win came in overtime as a gift by Colts head coach Frank Reich, who inexplicably went for it on fourth down despite being in their own territory. He said after the game that he was playing to win, not to tie, but he ended up losing in the end.
Houston has firepower offensively, led by dynamic second year quarterback Deshaun Watson and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Their offensive line, however, is as weak as the Cowboys have seen this year, and should be exploited by DeMarcus Lawrence and company.
The Texans need this home win to keep any hope at competing in the AFC South alive, especially as both Jacksonville and Tennessee continue to win each week.
Trends
- The Cowboys are 2-3-1 against the spread their last 6 road games.
- The score total has gone under each of the Cowboys’ last 5 road games.
- The score total has gone under in 4 of the Texans’ last 6 games.
- The Texans are 1-8 against the spread their last 9 games, 1-4 their last 5 home games.
- The Cowboys are 3-0 straight up, 2-1 against the spread, in their last 3 meetings with the Texans.
Prediction
Maybe I’m a homer, and maybe I’m falling into the trap after a home win against a 1-3 football team, but I really like the Cowboys this week. Especially getting 3 points.
Houston can put up points, and has the ability to be explosive offensively, but their secondary and offensive line can both be exploited by Dallas. Of course, JJ Watt and Jadeveon Clowney will be a problem for the Cowboys offensive line, but if Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott can play like they did against Detroit, they should be able to defeat the Texans.
I’ll take the Cowboys +3 this week.
