NFL Betting Preview: Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals

Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals
Saturday, 8/17/13, 4:30 PM EST, TV: NFL Network
Opening Point Spread: Arizona -2.5
Current Betting Line: Arizona -3.5
Opening Total: 41
Current Total: 41
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Arizona Cardinals defense matches up well with the Dallas Cowboys offense

Dallas has split the first two games on its exhibition schedule, as it comes off a 19-17 victory over the Oakland Raiders as 1.5-point road favorites last time out, while going OVER the betting total for a second consecutive contest. The Cowboys came into training camp with two main focuses of running the ball better on offense and create more turnovers on defense. Dallas intends to play its starters 15 to 20 snaps in this affair, which is important to consider when making your pro football picks.

The Cowboys set a franchise record for rushing futility last season, as they ranked 31st in the NFL—despite having running back DeMarco Murray gain 663 yards in 10 games of action. “The sky’s the limit,” commented Murray in camp this month. Dallas will need that offensive line to also protect quarterback Tony Romo in the passing game, as he completed 6 of 8 passes for 88 yards in his first round of action against the Silver & Black.

Arizona came away with a 17-0 victory over the Green Bay Packers as two-point road underdogs in its NFL preseason opener, which is important to consider when looking over the pro football odds page. The Cardinals received solid contributions from all three of their signal-callers—extending the field with five long passes in the opening half. “We’re not always going to do it,” commented Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer. “When those opportunities present themselves we’re going to try and take advantage of them.” Arizona’s offensive line will need to play better in able to accomplish this task—allowing 58 sacks a year ago.

The Cardinals are definitely underdogs in the NFC West division with the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks receiving most of the headlines, but first-year head coach Bruce Arians isn’t intimidated. His teams have posted a 100-44 record and won two Super Bowls over the past nine seasons—never finishing below .500 in any of those years.