Cowboys vs Giants Betting Preview: Waller a Tough Cover for Dallas
Giants coming off first postseason victory since Super Bowl XLVI
The New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys will rekindle their rivalry in primetime Sunday night at MetLife Stadium. Both teams are coming off playoff appearances, and although it’s only Week 1, the winner will gain a significant leg up in the NFC East standings.
Dallas opened as a 2.5-point favorite and is now -3 (-120). The Cowboys are also -165 to win outright, while the Giants are +145. Meanwhile, the projected total is 45 flat.
Read on as we break down the matchup in our Cowboys vs Giants betting preview.
Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants 
Day/Time:
Location: MetLife Stadium; East Rutherford, N.J.
Streaming: NBC
Surprising Giants Bolster Offense
Brian Daboll was an instant hit in New York, winning NFL Coach of the Year after guiding the Giants back to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The Giants picked up their first postseason victory since Super Bowl XLVI in the process, beating the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card round along the way to a 10-8-1 finish.
The Giants then bolstered their offense this offseason, dealing a third-round pick to the Las Vegas Raiders for tight end Darren Waller. A former Pro Bowler, Waller provides quarterback Daniel Jones with a big-play target in the passing game. Waller produced back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2019 and 2020 before being plagued by injuries the past two years, per NFL stats.
Will he help New York take another step forward in the NFL football standings? Expectations are modest for the Giants, with oddsmakers projecting them for 8.0 regular-season wins (+110 Over, -140 Under). They’re also +170 to return to the playoffs. Part of that is because of their schedule, which ranks among the toughest in the NFL. The NFC is also difficult, headlined by the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers.
The Giants went 0-2 against Dallas last season, losing 23-16 in Week 3 and 28-20 in Week 12. Protecting Jones was an issue in both NFL matchups, as the Cowboys sacked him eight times. Keep that in mind when assessing the odds in our Cowboys vs Giants betting preview.
Pressure’s on Dak to Reach Next Level
The Dallas Cowboys won 12 games but floundered again in the playoffs last season, falling in the Divisional Round to San Francisco. Much of that team is back, including quarterback Dak Prescott, receiver CeeDee Lamb and linebacker Micah Parsons, the +475 favorite to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Projected for 9.5 wins (-180 Over, +150 Under), the Cowboys continue to generate a lot of buzz. They’re +600 to win the NFC — the third-best odds on the board behind Philadelphia (+325) and San Francisco (+375) — and +1400 to win the Super Bowl. But, like New York, they face a daunting schedule, including within the NFC East.
Whether they can cash in on those odds will largely depend on Prescott. The two-time Pro Bowler was solid again last season, passing for 2,860 yards and 23 touchdowns in 12 games. But he also threw a career-high 15 interceptions and averaged only 7.3 yards per attempt, his lowest mark since 2017 (6.8).
While the offense remains largely in place, Dallas let Ezekiel Elliott leave in free agency. Elliott, who rushed for 876 yards and 12 touchdowns, joined the New England Patriots on an incentive-laden one-year deal worth up to $6 million. Tony Pollard (1,007 yards, nine TDs) is slated to take over as Dallas’ lead ball carrier.
Odds Outlook
The Giants were the most profitable team for bettors last season, with an NFL-best 14-5 record against the spread. That includes a 6-3 mark at home. Meanwhile, the Cowboys were 11-8 ATS but just 5-5 on the road. That’s important to remember when evaluating our Cowboys vs Giants betting preview odds.
Handicapping the Game
In both matchups last season, New York had no answer for Dallas’ pass rush. Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence pressured Jones relentlessly, never letting the Giants’ offense get into any rhythm. Part of the issue was New York’s lack of playmakers. Outside of Barkley, the Giants were devoid of much talent. It’s a big reason why the front office brought in Waller, a big-play target capable of spreading the field.
Dallas is a tough Week 1 assignment, but following another productive offseason, the Giants seem poised to improve on their 2022 finish. Expect New York to keep this close and cover the NFL point spread.
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