Cowboys vs. Rams Point Spread: NFL Preseason Week 1 Odds
The Cowboys return to action after claiming the top of the NFC East in 2023 with a 12-5 record before making yet another early playoff exit with a 48-32 loss to Green Bay on Wild Card Weekend. Super Bowl champions just two years ago, the Rams overcame a dismal start to the 2023 campaign to win seven of their final eight regular season games and claim a wild card berth, but kick off their August schedule with just one win in their past nine preseason games.
The Cowboys travel to LA perched as 4-point favourites on the NFL Preseason Week 1 odds. The Ram trail as +165 underdogs on the NFL moneyline in their bid to halt a 0-5 preseason slide and the total is pegged at 35.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Sunday afternoon’s matchup marks the Preseason debut for both these squads and the first time they have met in August action since 2019. The Rams hold a slight edge over Dallas in recent Preseason dates, winning four of their past six including two of three in LA, with these teams combining to top 24 total points just once in their past three preseason contests. However, wins have been rare for the Rams in the preseason, with the squad averaging just 11.6 points per game during their current five-game August slide. In addition to their current preseason woes, the Rams also have work to do to raise their current position on the Super Bowl odds, where they lag as a +3000 bet. The Cowboys have also enjoyed little success in preseason action. While Dallas has one three of its past four August outings overall, they have struggled on the road, where they have lost 17 of 19 since 2012 while failing to score more than 10 points nine times.
Dallas Cowboys
While few starters are expected to see much action in Sunday’s contest, there are still some intriguing storylines to keep tabs on ahead of this preseason opener. Trey Lance may need to turn in a strong performance to avoid getting cut after enduring a tough training camp. Selected third overall by San Francisco in the 2021 NFL Draft, Lance found himself squeezed out of the 49ers depth chart by a combination of injuries and the emergence of Brock Purdy. Lance now finds himself in a fight with steady veteran Cooper Rush for the backup role and must prove he has gotten past the serious ankle injury that wiped out his 2023 campaign. With star CeeDee Lamb not at camp as he seeks a new contract, both Lance and Rush could benefit from big performances from receivers looking to fill the void, most notably Jalon Tolbert, who has impressed Dak Prescott with his performance so far at camp.
Los Angeles Rams
Head coach Sean McVay has historically rested starters during the preseason, and there is no reason to expect things to be different on Sunday afternoon. However, this contest should feature the highly anticipated debut of rookie Stetson Bennett. Selected in the fourth round at the 2023 NFL Draft after leading the Georgia Bulldogs to consecutive national championships, Bennett elected to sit out last season for personal reasons. That absence has raised the team’s urgency to get the 26-year-old some playing time during the preseason, as he seeks to win the battle with journeyman Jimmy Garoppolo for the backup job.