The New Orleans Saints (-7.5) are traveling west to take on the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. The game starts at 8:20 p.m. ET and fans can catch it live by tuning in to FOX.
Thursday NightBetting Preview: New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys
In a game that’s featuring two teams that could very well meet again in the NFC playoffs, New Orleans is projected as the favorite and is currently giving up 7.5 points. The Saints are also receiving -310 moneyline odds while the Cowboys are +250. If one side can create a bunch of points early it will create a solid betting opportunity in-game. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 53 points.
The game’s total has been driven lower after initially being set at 54.5. The opening line (7.5) has remained firm.
Both of these teams have been profitable this season as the Saints have gained 5.8 units and the Cowboys are up 2.3 units.
The Saints have gone 10-1 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Cowboys are 6-5 SU.
The Saints hope to keep things rolling after a 31-17 win over Atlanta in Week 12. Drew Brees completed 15-of-22 passes for only 171 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Alvin Kamara (89 yards on 14 rushes) and Mark Ingram (52 yards on 11 carries) led the ground attack while Dan Arnold (four receptions, 45 yards, one TD) and Michael Thomas (four catches, 38 yards) handled the receiving duties in the win.
Dallas just put together a 31-23 win over Washington in Week 12. The defensive secondary let the Redskins air it out for 268 yards and two touchdowns. Jordan Reed had a productive outing in the loss for Washington, recording 75 yards on six catches. For Dallas, Dak Prescott completed 22-of-31 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns. Ezekiel Elliott (121 rushing yards on 26 attempts, one TD) handled the running attack while Amari Cooper (eight receptions, 180 yards, two TDs) led the pass-catching corps in the win.
Each squad has a similar run-pass ratio on the season. New Orleans has run the ball on 48.7 percent of its offensive possessions while Dallas has an overall rush percentage of 47.4. The Saints have rushed for 133.1 yards/game and have 19 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Cowboys are averaging 134.5 rush yards per game and have 11 total rushing TDs.
It seems like the Saints could have an edge when it comes to applying pressure, as their offensive line has yielded only 20 sacks while the D-line logged 42 sacks. The Cowboys, on the other hand, have allowed 32 sacks and their defense has sacked opposing QBs just 38 times.
The Saints offense has averaged 290.8 yards in the air overall and has 29 passing scores so far. The Cowboys have recorded 220.6 pass yards per game and have 13 total pass TDs.
On the defensive side of the ball, New Orleans has allowed 73.2 rush yards and 302.9 pass yards per game. The Dallas defense has allowed 254.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 93.6 yards per game to opposing runners. The Cowboys are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 6.54 to opposing QBs, while the Saints have allowed a 7.29 ANY/A.
Offensively, Brees has put up 2,772 passing yards this season. He’s connected on 77 percent of his 326 attempts with 25 scores through the air and only two interceptions. He has a sparkling 9.24 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 12.13 over the past two games.
We expect the Saints to control tempo by feeding their running backs early and often. Backfield mates Alvin Kamara (635 rush yards, 11 rush TDs, 482 receiving yards, three receiving TDs) and Mark Ingram (337 rush yards, two rush TDs, one receiving TD) have really been focal points in the New Orleans offensive scheme.
On the other sideline, Dak Prescott has connected on 197-of-304 passes for 2,219 yards, 13 TDs and five INTs. Prescott’s ANY/A sits at 6.00 for the year and 7.09 over his last two games.
The Cowboys should also look to control the clock by turning to their backfield. In addition to Ezekiel Elliott (284 receiving yards, two receiving TDs), Amari Cooper (nine rush yards, 593 receiving yards, four receiving TDs) and Cole Beasley (408 receiving yards and two TDs) have seen quite a few looks recently.
New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys NFL Prediction
SU Winner: Saints, ATS Winner: Cowboys, O/U: UndeTeam Betting Trends
- The Saints offense has recorded four pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Cowboys have accounted for six such plays.
- The New Orleans defense has allowed 10 pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Dallas has given up five such plays.
- The New Orleans offense has created five rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Dallas has created seven such runs.
- Both teams have allowed five rushing plays of 20 or more yards. The Saints have given up 19 running plays of 10+ yards while the Cowboys have given up 29 such plays.
- The Dallas D has sacked opposing QBs 31 times this season. New Orleans has registered 30 sacks.
- New Orleans has averaged 4.9 yards per rush attempt over its past three contests and 4.8 over its last two.
- Dallas has averaged 4.9 yards per carry over its last three outings and 4.4 over its past two.
