The 2023 NFL season has delivered some instant-classic NFC clashes through two weeks, complete with back-and-forth battles and overtime upsets. We've also seen some big blowouts from NFC teams, including wins of 40-0 and 30-10 by the Cowboys. Dallas looks to move to 3-0 this Sunday against an 0-2 Cardinals squad that has seen better days. Let's dive into the odds, best bets, and top props for this conference showdown of polar opposites in the Sonoran Desert.
Now +750 to win the Super Bowl — the third-best odds on the BetMGM board — Dallas has knocked around two different New York teams in two weeks. It's not hyperbole to think that this may finally be the year that the Cowboys once again win it all.
The Cardinals, wandering through the start of the season without injured QB Kyler Murray (torn ACL/meniscus) and recently departed wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, put up a good fight against the Giants last week. Arizona's D allowed zero first-half points and looked primed for a big +4 upset, but Daniel Jones and the G-Men battled back to put up some historic second-half numbers, prevailing 31-28. The Cards now find themselves dead last in Super Bowl odds, the only NFL team to reach +100,000 this season, but like Dallas, they have gone 2-0 against the spread.
This one won't always be pretty, but damnit, it's going to be fun. We have been crushing our betting preview picks and props all season, and we're ready to ride that momentum into Week 3 like a rodeo clown on steroids. Let's unveil our best bets for Cowboys-Cardinals, so you can make some cash while Dallas whoops some you-know-what.
Cowboys at Cardinals odds, spread, over/under
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Spread: Cowboys -12.5 (-110) | Cardinals +12.5 (-110)
Total: OVER 43 (-110) | UNDER 43 (-110)
Moneyline: Cowboys -700 | Cardinals +500
Entering the week with a 70-10 point differential this season, the Cowboys' -12.5 spread ranks as the largest of the young season. The Cardinals have covered the spread in each of their first two games, but bettors don't seem to be buying in on their ability to cover this one. According to BetQL's sharp betting report, 94 percent of the ATS money so far has been on the Cowboys.
Should you bet the Cowboys against the spread?
Betting heavy favorites in the NFL — especially heavy road favorites — is almost always a futile exercise. So many variables exist, including injuries, garbage time, and backups coming in off the bench in blowouts. That said, the only bet you could possibly make against the spread in this game is on Dallas.
The Cowboys have been completely dominant on the defensive side of the ball with Micah Parsons looking like the best defender in the league. Dallas has allowed the fewest points (10) and yards (386) in the NFL. They also run No. 1 in takeaways (7), net yards per opponent passing attempt (3.2), and red-zone TD percentage (0%). Dan Quinn's guys have only allowed three attempts from the red zone all season.
Need more stats to blow your mind? This Dallas defense has covered 111 offensive snaps on the season and allowed just 26 first downs and one touchdown. Opponents have converted first downs on just 23 percent of their total plays and 23 percent of their third-down attempts. None of this is great news for a team relying on YAC yards from Marquise Brown and breakaway rushes from James Conner.
So, while I don't typically advise bettors to bet the spread — and I fully recognize that weird stuff happens in the NFL — you can safely put a 50-spot on Dallas in this one. This Cardinals defense has allowed 41 more points than the Cowboys through two games. It might be Dak Prescott's chance to finally make some positive strides himself and not just rely solely on the 'Boys defense to go nuclear. Even if Dak plays just okay, this one's going to be a bloodbath. We would bet Dallas up to -13.5.
Our Pick: Cowboys -12.5
Final score prediction: Cowboys 36, Cardinals 13
Should you bet the Cowboys vs. Cardinals' OVER?
Admittedly, I was generous in saying that Arizona will score a touchdown in this game. Dallas has only allowed one all season, and Josh Dobbs might be a worse quarterback than Zach Wilson (flip a coin). However, garbage-time TDs tend to happen in blowouts, so I'm thinking the Desert Birds eke out at least one score.
However, if you want the best over/under bet of the game, click on the Cowboys-Cardinals box on BetMGM and just bet the Cowboys' OVER of 28.5 points. That's at +105 odds, too, so you're not paying a vig or taking on any juice. Dallas has scored 40 points on the Giants in the Meadowlands and 30 points at home against the Jets, so there's no reason to believe Mike McCarthy's squad won't score another 30 this weekend against the Cardinals.
Our Pick: OVER 43 (-110) or Cowboys OVER 28.5 (+105)
Best Cowboys vs. Cardinals prop bet on SuperDraft
Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys — OVER 231.5 passing yards
We like Dak to finally break out in this one after two subpar performances in the shadows of the Cowboys' defensive dominance. Prescott cruised to the OVER last week with 255 passing yards despite playing against Sauce Gardner and the Jets' secondary, arguably the best pass defense in the NFL.
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The Cardinals have been decent against the pass, but it's important to note that they have only played Daniel Jones and the Giants and Sam Howell and the Commanders. The Cowboys are a bit more threatening of an offense than the 'Manders and G-Men. Book the OVER for Prescott and cross your fingers that he takes us Dak to the Future with a vintage performance.
