News: BTB: Cowboys vs. Giants expert picks: Hardly anybody believes in Dallas after last week

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The odds are not in our favor, at least according to some.

After the Dallas Cowboys laid an egg in their first game of the 2018 season, confidence in the team has waned. Our own FanPulse survey showed a noticeable dip in belief among Cowboys fans, and pickers of the games seem to be following that trend. While some still have faith, our own panel favors the Cowboys, others have moved away from the ‘Boys and are taking the Giants in a slight upset on Sunday night.

The two guys at ESPN played homer, and picked their own teams.

Jordan Raanan’s pick: Odell Beckham Jr. had more than 100 yards receiving, and Saquon Barkley had more than 100 yards rushing in Week 1. That led to only 15 points against a strong Jaguars defense. The Cowboys aren’t at Jacksonville’s level. The Giants will enjoy even more success against Dallas’ defense on Sunday night. Giants 24, Cowboys 17

Todd Archer’s pick: Since 2015, Eli Manning has thrown for more than 220 yards against the Cowboys only once. He has as many games with no touchdown passes (three) as he has touchdown passes against Dallas. He has been intercepted five times and sacked 11 times. For the seventh time in Jason Garrett’s eight years, the Cowboys will open 1-1 after two games. Cowboys 26, Giants 17
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Elliott Harrison at NFL.com is on the Giants train and even references a perception that the Cowboys are already done. After Week 1? That seems a little early.

New York Giants 28, Dallas Cowboys 24

The Giants spoil Dallas’ home opener. They did precisely that nine years ago -- also in Week 2, also on “Sunday Night Football” -- in the grand opening of Jerry World (sort of). Hard to believe it’s been that many years since the palatial football estate opened. Unfortunately, for all its wonder, the stadium just doesn’t present a hostile environment for visiting teams. It’s as if teams enjoy playing there. Big Blue won there in a defensive slugfest -- and in Dak Prescott’s first start -- back in 2016. The G-Men will probably play eight in the box against Dallas -- even on a few obvious passing downs, much like the Panthers did in Week 1, daring Prescott to beat them through the air. The Saquon Barkley-Ezekiel Elliott RB duel is pretty rad. Dallas needs this win more than the Giants, given the Cowboys’ schedule and the perception in some corners that they’re already done. Meanwhile, New York needs to close the deal, unlike last week.
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Over at Bleacher Report, it’s all Giants as all three panel members are picking the guys from the Big Apple.

This meetings are typically toss-ups regardless of the site—the Giants have won five of their last nine in Dallas, while the Cowboys have won four of their last six at MetLife—but rolling the dice on the Cowboys beyond three points seems like quite a risk at the moment.

Davenport: New York (+3)
Gagnon: New York (+3)
Sobleski: New York (+3)
Consensus: New York (+3)

Score Prediction: New York 20, Dallas 17
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Sam Farmer at the L.A. Times isn’t buying the Cowboys, either. Dak Prescott seems to be the issue.

The first half of the Giants’ schedule is tough, but they’re going to finish strong in the second half. Once again, a team is going to load up to stop the Dallas run and challenge Dak Prescott to win it.

Giants 28, Cowboys 20
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NFL writer Don Banks is guesting at Patriots.com and has no love for Dallas.

I didn’t predict the playoffs for either of these NFC East teams and after watching their meager offensive showings in Week 1, I’m thinking I sized things about right. The Giants will likely improve on offense as the season progresses, but with Dallas, I’m not so sure. If [last week is] being Dak Prescott-friendly, then the Dallas quarterback doesn’t need friends.

Winner: New York
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Over at USA Today, four of the five panel members picked the Giants.


David Steele at the Sporting News renews our faith by being in the Cowboys corner. Although he still doesn’t like our long-term odds this year.

The Giants are better with Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquon Barkley, but they’re still not exactly the 2007 Patriots on offense. They’ll just look that way compared to the Cowboys, who basically did nothing to back up their offseason talk that they’d have no problem replacing Dez Bryant and Jason Witten. Tradition and morbid curiosity will drive the interest in this game. Neither looks like it’s either a playoff teams or on its way to being one.

Prediction: Cowboys, 17-13
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At least four out of seven SB Nation panel members took the Cowboys.

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