The NFL 2025 season is just around the corner and, for Dallas Cowboys supporters, that means only one thing: hope eternal.
Whether you’re hoping that your team will make it to the Super Bowl or just hoping to make Sundays much more exciting, many fans will bet on NFL games this season. But before you begin placing your money on the line, there are some significant errors you will want to avoid.
It isn’t necessarily about being loyal to the star on the helmet. It’s about wise decisions, timing and restraint.
Look at the largest wagering traps that Cowboys fans must avoid this season.
Betting With Your Heart, Not Your Head
It’s not easy to be a Cowboys fan sometimes.
Fans stick by the team every year — no matter what. But if you bet with your heart instead of your head, you’ll pay for it.
Just because you think the Cowboys owe you one after a stinker of a loss does not mean this is necessarily an intelligent bet. Betting isn’t based on hope; it’s based on objective observation.
Always ask yourself: “If this weren’t Dallas, would I make this pick?”
It might be best to reconsider if the answer is no.
Smart bettors understand the difference between fandom and strategy. It’s not that you can never bet on the Cowboys; you must do so with a purpose. Consider what’s happening lately, opponent vulnerabilities and individual players’ performances with a critical eye, not rose-tinted sunglasses.
It’s one thing to cheer on Dallas; it’s quite another to bet your cash mindlessly. Emotional betting usually tips over from an uninformed supporter to a serious player.
Keep your wits with you, stay critical and always let the numbers dictate your loyalty. Even top-performing clubs have off games, after all.
Overlooking Most Recent Reports of Injuries
Injuries are a cruel part of NFL life and not checking up on the latest word is like driving blind. Imagine placing a big bet on Dallas after a great week of practice, thinking all systems go, only to hear hours later that, for example, Tyron Smith and Zack Martin will sit out.
Suddenly, that sure bet isn’t so sure after all.
The Cowboys’ offense rises or falls based on the line’s health and losing key protectors can transform a potent offense into a struggle for survival.
Always stay updated on key players’ injury status — not only the stars but also the role players.
Depth means everything in the NFL. One missing cornerback, one backup tackle or one gimpy linebacker can make a tight game turn. League margins are so acceptable that what might appear to be a sure bet on paper can change when the inactive list is released.
Check injury reports often for the week, particularly in the hours leading up to kickoff. Use trustworthy sources such as beat writers, team sources or official press releases.
Occasionally, late-breaking information will revolutionize your opinion of a game.
Patience may not be an exciting personal trait for a bettor, but it will keep you from a lot of grief — not to mention a lot of lost money.
Holding off before placing your bets may be your best move all season.
Betting Without Shopping for the Best Line
Not every sportsbook sees the Cowboys exactly alike. One sportsbook’s lines move quicker than another’s based on the volume of bets and popularity. It is, therefore, a misstep to take the first odds that you get.
It is wise to shop for the best available lines before betting on NFL games. A half-point difference in a spread may be the difference between a winning and losing bet.
By having an account with BetNow sportsbook, for example, one can easily follow various odds and take advantage of the best numbers available. Throughout an entire season, all of these slight differences add up.
Chasing Losses
Everyone does it. You lose a bet, so your instinct is to compensate for all your losses simultaneously. Chasing losses usually means you’ll quickly end up with an even bigger loser.
Successful bettors learn to take an occasional loss like a grown-up.
It’s part of the landscape. Every bettor, no matter how savvy, will have losing days. Discipline determines whether you stay afloat or go off on a lose-his-shinola binge.
Doubling up emotionally after each bad break will lead you to dig a hole from which it’s difficult to escape. You’ll begin placing more desperate bets, throwing your approach to the wind and letting desperation make your calls.
That’s precisely when you stop wagering wisely and begin wagering desperately.
Instead, budget a week’s gambling money — stick to it, win or lose. Play predetermined bet amounts regardless of how desperate you are to “get it all back” in one go.
Playing intelligently involves playing for the long term, not ruining your campaign with short-term sentiment.
Remember, winning ultimately isn’t about any one Sunday afternoon — it’s about making sound decisions week after week. Be patient and focused and don’t let a poor break spoil a good campaign.
Forgetting About Home/Away Splits
Cowboys fans know that AT&T Stadium is a home fortress in most games, but did you know that Dallas’s away record over their history has been somewhat wobbly? Mindlessly ignoring home-and-away splits can result in poor bets.
Some teams perform better at home but not so well on the road — and vice versa.
Take special notice of where the contest occurs, particularly if it’s a divisional contest with tighter margins. Mindlessly wagering on the Cowboys without considering where the game is being played can turn a shrewd wager into an unfavorable bet in no time.
Overloading on Parlays
Parlays are tempting. Play a little, win a lot — that’s great. It’s like winning the jackpot with basically no up-front risk. But parlays are referred to as “lottery tickets” for a reason.
It’s difficult enough to win one parlay. Winning two or three legs is much tougher, particularly in the NFL, where wacky things crop up every Sunday. One failed field goal, one fourth-quarter turnover, one suspect penalty — that’s all it takes to ruin your entire bet.
So many Cowboys fans fall prey to parlaying moneyline wins, totals and player props together in one bet, thinking this is their jackpot.
They envision collecting a 20-dollar wager for a few hundred dollars and believe that they’ve figured it all out.
What happens, though, is that sportsbooks enjoy parlays exactly because their chances of you winning every single leg are so small. They rely on you getting close — just not close enough.
Keep your wagers small if you enjoy playing parlays for their entertainment value. Use them as the sports wagering equivalent of a scratch-off ticket: exciting, but not a means to make a serious bankroll.
If you cannot resist parlaying your way to a life-altering payday, allocate a small slice of your weekly expenditures to them — consider it entertainment money.
Only by maintaining your wits will you still be wagering — and winning — with December football on the calendar.
Betting Based on Headlines, Not Research
Sports media thrives on drama; the Cowboys are usually in the middle.
But if you place your bets on the all-you-can-read headline — “Dak’s MVP Season Imminent!” — without looking at the underlying numbers, you’re liable to get yourself in trouble.
National narratives aren’t necessarily based on fact.
Drill deep into statistics such as quarterback pressures allowed, third-down conversion rates and red zone performance.
Context does matter and doing one’s due diligence sets skilled bettors apart from emotional bettors.
Forgetting About Bankroll Management
Last but not least: bankroll management.
Betting without strategy is playing offense without a playbook. Don’t think that you’d let Dak Prescott go in without play-calling. Don’t bet any other way.
Plan a weekly or monthly budget, then spend your bets in small, manageable amounts that prevent you from committing too many bets on any one game. It’s easy to go all-in on a so-called “sure thing,” but intelligent bettors understand that there is no such thing as a sure thing in the NFL — particularly with our Dallas Cowboys.
By being consistent with your system, you’ll have capital to wager tomorrow if the Cowboys have a slump (they will; don’t worry).
Maintaining strict limits also ensures that emotions are in check.
Winning feels fantastic, but it tends to make people play wildly. Losing stings, but it shouldn’t lead to panic. Most importantly, a bankroll system ensures you’re steady no matter how crazy the ride.
The smartest bettors aren’t so many winners; instead, they’re winners because of their ability to survive longer. Betting is a marathon, not a sprint.
It’s not so much picking winners but withstanding an unpredictable NFL season’s ups and downs without exploding your bankroll halfway through.
Manage your money well, keep your wits about you, and you’re always getting another chance next Sunday.
Closing Remarks
Gaming can enhance the fun of viewing the Cowboys, but it also involves danger if you don’t watch yourself.
You can have fun throughout the season by avoiding these mistakes and lining your pocket a little. Bet with your head, not your heart and remember it’s a long season.
Play wisely, stay in control and How ‘Bout Them Cowboys!