From 7.30pm on Sunday September 13 at AT&T Stadium Arlington, Texas
THE first Sunday night football game of the new 2015/2016 season is a barnstormer as ‘America’s team’ the Dallas Cowboys host the New York Giants at 7:30pm Sunday local time.
The Dallas Cowboys surprised even themselves and owner Jerry Jones last season when they went 12-4, on the back on a strong running game from DeMarco Murray.
Murray led the NFL rushing stats last season, but he has been transferred to the Philadelphia Eagles and the Cowboys will have to likely use Darren McFadden instead.
For the Giants, they will be looking to rebound after two below-par seasons and former Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning will be out to silence his critics. The Giants are in a tough division and it’s key they get off to a good start this season, but taking on the Cowboys in Arlington isn’t easy.
Place a 4-leg NFL multi bet this week and get a 20% bonus on your winnings at Sportsbet.com.au.
Cowboys vs. Giants betting options
The Dallas Cowboys are often well-backed in the NFL as there is plenty of public interest in the Texas-based side.
The Giants are quite the opposite. Although a popular team by the numbers, punters don’t enjoy betting on them until they show something worthwhile. Slow starts have cost the Giants in recent seasons and the market suggests punters are taking their time before betting on them.
Dallas Cowboys – $1.38 (-6.0)
New York Giants – $3.17 (+6.0)
We were expecting a line around this mark and if this game was being played in New York, the line would be much closer.
For multi-bet punters, adding the $1.38 for Dallas head-to-head might seem like the best option, especially with the 20 percent bonus from Sportsbet.
Betting underdogs in all American-based sports can be rewarding, however, and underdog bettors’ eyes will light up at the $3.17 available for the Giants, which have won two Superbowl’s in the last 10 years.
Punters can also bet on the Tri-bet option. This gives bettors three options involving a points spread and also a middle option.
Giants (-7.5) – $8.60
Cowboys (-7.5) – $2.18
Either team by 7 points or less – $1.65
We like the $1.65 option as we’re predicting a close game from two teams that will likely show some rust. Teams rarely fire on all cylinders in Week 1 and both teams are dealing with changes in the off-season.
Why to bet on the Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys exceeded expectations last season and the pressure goes straight back on them now, but losing running back Demarco Murray is a key loss to their lineup.
Despite that loss, the Cowboys have been well backed to win Super Bowl 50 at $21 with WilliamHill.com.au and coach Jason Garrett believes in his team this season.
“We start from ground zero and that’s a point that we’ve tried to make for our football team right from the start and I think they understood that way back in April and probably before that,” Garrett said. “2014 is done with and we need to focus on being the best version of the Dallas Cowboys we can be in 2015.”
Garrett doesn’t think the loss of Murray will negatively affect their rushing numbers.
“I think we’re always at our best when we can attack defenses different ways and that starts with the run and the pass,” Garrett said.
“I think we’ve made a concerted effort in our organisation to be stronger and better on our offensive line.”
The Cowboys have dominated this matchup over the past two years, going 4-0 since losing 24-29 at home in 2012.
All four wins have come by a combined margin of only 21 points which suggests this will be another closely fought contest, but the Cowboys have the edge and the head-to-head betting option looks the best way to go if you’re backing the Cowboys.
Is backing the Giants a good bet?
The Giants are rarely hot favourites, so backing them every week can be a profitable exercise.
They are outsiders for their Week 1 game against the Cowboys and the $3.17 price looks about right considering their injury problems.
Starting left tackle Will Beatty tore a pectoral muscle in May and his season is in doubt. That injury coupled with Jason Pierre-Paul’s hand injury and Victor Cruz’ torn patella tendon doesn’t bode well for the Giants here.
“We have a few things, obviously, that need to be ironed out and need to be clarified,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. “Hopefully that’s what will happen right here.”
The Giants do have a classy one-two punch with Eli Manning and rising star Odell Beckham Jr. Manning threw for 30 touchdowns last season and Beckham has the ability to catch any ball thrown in his general direction.
Beckham went for 1,305 receiving yards with 12 touchdown catches last season and he missed the first four games due to a hamstring injury. He caught four touchdown passes in the Giants 28-31 loss to the Cowboys last season, so he remains the Giants biggest scoring asset.
Manning is looking forward to facing the Cowboys, despite the Giants not winning a season opener in the last four years.
“I think it’s a good start in the division,” Manning said. “And Sunday night, it should be a great environment.”
NFL multi-bet
We’re going to select a five-leg multi bet and take advantage of the incredible offer from Sportsbet.com.au.
We don’t mind putting in some short favourites, seeing as we’re getting an added 20 percent on top of our profits. Quality teams such as Green Bay and Seattle have been well favoured, but there are some sneaky bets on under-performing sides that we like the look of.
Green Bay ($1.35) vs. Chicago Bears
New York Jets ($1.56) vs. Cleveland Browns
Miami Dolphins ($1.52) vs. Washington Redskins
Seattle Seahawks ($1.50) vs. St. Louis Rams
Dallas Cowboys ($1.38) vs. New York Giants
