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With running back Ezekiel Elliott returning to practice Wednesday, the Dallas Cowboys are now basically in their final form. As they prepare for Week 1’s tilt against the New York Giants, the opportunities of a new season are ready to present themselves.
What’s the outlook on the Cowboys in 2019? In a league built for parity, are they ready to assume the moniker of one of the league’s best franchises? Here’s a look at what Vegas thinks of their chances.
Over/under 9 wins (over +125/under -125) via SportsBettingDime
Since quarterback Dak Prescott has entered the league, he and the Cowboys have amassed a total of 32 wins. Their worst season came in 2017 when Elliott was suspended for six games. It could be argued the six game suspension had less impact than the off again on again nature of the court battles, leaving the team in constant flux. Still, with Prescott at the helm, that version of Dallas still managed to get to nine wins which, if it were repeated this season, would result in a push.
The naysayers will point at the first-place schedule the Cowboys earned after capturing the NFC East title. But what does that really mean? A game apiece against the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams. Two games across sixteen that defines the schedule as more difficult than what their division rivals face. According to Football Outsiders, however, Dallas has the sixth easiest schedule in the league.
Verdict: Take the over. It’s great value for a team that hasn’t won less than that since Prescott has taken over.
NFC East Odds (8/5) via VegasInsider
The Philadelphia Eagles are the odds-on favorites to regain their divisional crown, and with good reason. Repeating as division champion isn’t an everyday occurrence in the NFC East. As a matter of fact, no team in the division has won it in consecutive years since the Eagles ran roughshod over their closest foes for four straight years from 2001-2004.
It’s not a stretch to say that Philadelphia has one of the strongest rosters across the NFL, but they may have met their match in Dallas. A quick positional breakdown of the two rosters reveals that the Eagles can lay claim to the better defensive line and tight ends. The quarterback, offensive line, and wide receiver positions could go either way, but for all intents and purposes they’re similarly talented enough to declare it a draw. Meanwhile, the Cowboys boast a far superior running back, linebacker corps, and secondary.
So what gives? Why are the Eagles the odds-on favorite to take the NFC East? The Cowboys first place schedule, discussed earlier, is potentially slightly more difficult than the Eagles, who have the third easiest schedule in the league. It presumably lies at the feet of the coaching staff.
For all of the criticism about head coach Jason Garrett, and to be certain, it is often merited, his recent success in the regular season can’t be overlooked. After all, these are regular season prop bets, and in the past five years, as long as his franchise quarterback is starting (either Tony Romo or Dak Prescott) he boasts a 47-20 record. He is also coaching for his job. With Garrett in the last year of his contract, combined with new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, expect a more aggressive offense.
The Verdict: Dallas Cowboys repeat as divisional winners.
Continue reading...
What’s the outlook on the Cowboys in 2019? In a league built for parity, are they ready to assume the moniker of one of the league’s best franchises? Here’s a look at what Vegas thinks of their chances.
Over/under 9 wins (over +125/under -125) via SportsBettingDime
Since quarterback Dak Prescott has entered the league, he and the Cowboys have amassed a total of 32 wins. Their worst season came in 2017 when Elliott was suspended for six games. It could be argued the six game suspension had less impact than the off again on again nature of the court battles, leaving the team in constant flux. Still, with Prescott at the helm, that version of Dallas still managed to get to nine wins which, if it were repeated this season, would result in a push.
The naysayers will point at the first-place schedule the Cowboys earned after capturing the NFC East title. But what does that really mean? A game apiece against the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams. Two games across sixteen that defines the schedule as more difficult than what their division rivals face. According to Football Outsiders, however, Dallas has the sixth easiest schedule in the league.
Verdict: Take the over. It’s great value for a team that hasn’t won less than that since Prescott has taken over.
NFC East Odds (8/5) via VegasInsider
The Philadelphia Eagles are the odds-on favorites to regain their divisional crown, and with good reason. Repeating as division champion isn’t an everyday occurrence in the NFC East. As a matter of fact, no team in the division has won it in consecutive years since the Eagles ran roughshod over their closest foes for four straight years from 2001-2004.
It’s not a stretch to say that Philadelphia has one of the strongest rosters across the NFL, but they may have met their match in Dallas. A quick positional breakdown of the two rosters reveals that the Eagles can lay claim to the better defensive line and tight ends. The quarterback, offensive line, and wide receiver positions could go either way, but for all intents and purposes they’re similarly talented enough to declare it a draw. Meanwhile, the Cowboys boast a far superior running back, linebacker corps, and secondary.
So what gives? Why are the Eagles the odds-on favorite to take the NFC East? The Cowboys first place schedule, discussed earlier, is potentially slightly more difficult than the Eagles, who have the third easiest schedule in the league. It presumably lies at the feet of the coaching staff.
For all of the criticism about head coach Jason Garrett, and to be certain, it is often merited, his recent success in the regular season can’t be overlooked. After all, these are regular season prop bets, and in the past five years, as long as his franchise quarterback is starting (either Tony Romo or Dak Prescott) he boasts a 47-20 record. He is also coaching for his job. With Garrett in the last year of his contract, combined with new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, expect a more aggressive offense.
The Verdict: Dallas Cowboys repeat as divisional winners.
Continue reading...
