Sunday Night Football Preview: New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys

New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys
Sunday, 9/8/13, 8:30 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Dallas -3
Current Betting Line: Dallas -3
Opening Total: 47.5
Current Total: 49
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Dallas Cowboys are searching for their first win against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium

New York is 49-34-5 in season-opening games, which includes a 0-5 mark versus Dallas, which is important to consider when making your pro football picks Sunday night. “It’s a great rivalry over many years,” commented Giants quarterback Eli Manning. The betting public has gotten use to these two teams meeting up in primetime, as this is the 11th consecutive season that at least one of the series meetings has been played under the bright lights. Manning is 4-0 inside AT&T Stadium, with all four of those contests decided by a total of 16 points. New York is 10-3 ATS as underdogs the last two-plus seasons, with the UNDER going 9-5 in that situation.

The Giants have lost their last two season openers, including a 24-17 setback to the Cowboys as 3.5-point home favorites in 2012, as they were outgained by a 434-294 margin in that affair. New York is concerned with its defense heading into a new campaign, as the group ranked 31st in the league in allowing 383.4 yards per game a season ago. The biggest issue for the unit is the back injury to defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who is listed as questionable on the injury report.

Dallas faces plenty of questions after a second straight 8-8 season, while it has also missed the postseason in the last three seasons. The Cowboys made a major move in hiring offensive Bill Callahan, who has taken the play-calling responsibilities from head coach Jason Garrett. Offensively, the team has plenty of weapons for signal-caller Tony Romo, including wide receiver Dez Bryant and tight end Jason Witten. Dallas is 0-5 ATS as home favorites of three points or less the last two-plus seasons.

The Cowboys need a big game out of defensive end DeMarcus Ware in new coordinator Monte Kiffin’s scheme, as he’ll be matched up with Giants offensive tackle Will Beatty. Witten had a career high 18 receptions and 167 yards in the last meeting in this series, as he enters with 806 career catches. Romo will need to limit his mistakes if the team plans on covering this type of number, as he posted a career-low 90.5 passer rating a year ago.