Dallas at New Orleans

Time: 7:20 PM CST, NBC

Spread: DAL -2.5

Total: 47.5

Odds c/o 5dimes

The 3-0 Dallas Cowboys are 1-0 on the road where it travels to face the New Orleans Saints in Week 4 as 2.5-point favorites at 7:20 PM CST on NBC. The game has an over/under set at 47.5 total points according to NFL oddsmakers at bookmaker 5dimes.

DAL

So far, so good, for the Dallas Cowboys.

The Cowboys are 3-0 somehow thus far, and it has not even had its first close scare. The Cowboys dismantled the struggling Miami Dolphins 31-6 in Week 3, after having knocked off the Washington Redskins in week 2, and the New York Giants in the opener. Dallas now faces what should be a tougher test in visiting New Orleans.

Cowboys’ quarterback Dak Prescott has fared quite well through his first three games. To his credit are 336 yards per game, 74.5 percent passing, a nearly 10-yard-per-reception average and just two sacks thus far, while having completed nine TD passes with just two interceptions and two sacks. Amari Cooper has been the top-beneficiary with 16 catches (a team-high) for 238 yards. He has four touchdown catches, while tight end Jason Witten ranks No. 2 with two.

Ohio State legend Ezekiel Elliot has been a model of consistency and a problem for opponents, too, with 5.3 yards-per-attempt on 55 carries for 96.3 yards-per-game with two rushing touchdowns. Prescott has been good in his own right with 88 yards on 11 attempts and a TD rush of his own. The Cowboys average 5.5 yards-per-attempt as a team, with all four rushers averaging better than five. No. 2 back Tony Pollard has 149 yards and a TD to his credit, as well.

Dallas ranks No. 3 in the NFL in rushing yards per game at 179.0, while also boasting a No. 4 pass attack with 302.3 yards per game. The Cowboys have to be taken seriously on the basis of its 32.3 points per game and just 14.7 allowed, but this week will show what Dallas is made of as its first three opponents were all lackluster enough in their own rights.

N.O.

The New Orleans Saints are 2-1 after defeating the Seattle Seahawks last week 33-27 without Drew Brees available. Teddy Bridgewater stepped in flawlessly. Bridgewater was an efficient 19 of 27 for 177 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed three times for 12 more yards, while Alvin Kamara led the rush attack with 69 yards on 16 carries a TD. Kamara, of course, also led the way with his 92 receiving yards and TD catch as the dual-threat monster he is.

Michael Thomas contributed five more catches for 54 yards, but Kamara accounted for 161 total yards while the team accumulated 265 on the day. Kamara is coming off an 883 yard season a year ago, and he rushed for 728 his rookie year. His dual-threat status is what makes him the true talent he is, though, having caught for 826 yards a year ago with five receiving touchdowns to his 14 via the rush.

A player with such skill is highly valued to any offense, but pairing a dual-threat like Kamara with Brees, or even Bridgewater, can form a very dynamic attack that presents unusual problems for opposing defenses.

ATS TRENDS (C/O COVERS):