The Dallas Cowboys vs Cleveland Browns, arguably the perfect week one matchup to kickoff the NFL football season, a dynamic offense takes on a brick wall defense. Who will come out on top? After last seasons disappointing losses in the playoffs, both teams look to this week one matchup to start their journey back to the playoffs contending for a Super Bowl. Both teams had issues playing on the road a season ago, the Cowboys struggled offensively on the road, meanwhile, the Browns defense was lights out at home, on the road it was completely different.
I think these trends come into play in this matchup. Let’s dive into it.
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Cowboys vs Browns Odds
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Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson getting reps up in training camp
Spread
Cowboys: +2.5 (-105)
Browns: -2.5 (-115)
Total
Over: 42.0 (-108)
Under: 42.0 (-112)
Moneyline
Cowboys: +120
Browns: -140
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Cowboys vs Browns Predictions
The Stank:
Sometimes trends work in your favor, and other times they don’t. In Week 1, I’m focusing on the trends that plagued the Cowboys and Browns last season.
Dallas’ explosive offense thrived at home in AT&T Stadium, leading the league with 36.8 points per game. However, on the road, their scoring dropped significantly to 23.3 points per game—a two-touchdown difference. While the Cowboys hope to fix this issue, I’m skeptical.
This year, Dallas features a new offensive line and a backfield with veteran backs Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook. Head Coach Mike McCarthy has stated that the offense will be a running back by committee, with CeeDee Lamb as the star wide receiver. However, aside from Lamb, the offense lacks depth. Brandin Cooks is a solid third receiver but not a strong second option, and tight end Jake Ferguson had a decent year but doesn’t impress me enough, especially given their road struggles last season.
On the other hand, Cleveland’s defense was formidable at home last season, allowing just 13.9 points per game. Unfortunately for them, they’re starting the season at home, where they excelled, while their road defense was much weaker, giving up 31.3 points per game. This stark contrast highlights their home-field advantage.
For the offense, all eyes are on quarterback Deshaun Watson, entering his third season with the Browns. Can he return to his former Houston form? He does have solid weapons, including Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, and tight end David Njoku. However, the absence of star running back Nick Chubb will hurt the Browns’ offensive rhythm. With Watson not taking any preseason snaps, I expect a sluggish start for the Browns’ offense. Preseason reps are crucial for a smooth Week 1 performance, regardless of who’s under center.
With that in mind, I’ve been leaning towards the under for almost two weeks now. It’s the only play I’m confident in for this matchup. I expect a close game, with the Browns narrowly edging out the Cowboys for the win.
Prediction: Browns win
Best Bet: Under 42.5 on BetOnline
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