Dallas Cowboys (1-1, 1-1 ATS) @ St. Louis Rams (1-1, 1-1 ATS)
*ATS= against the spread
BETDAQ Line: Pick ’em (44)
Significant Injuries
Dallas: DE Lavar Edwards (questionable– knee), WR Dez Bryant (questionable– shoulder), TE Gavin Escobar (questionable– knee), LB Rolando McClain (doubtful– groin), DE Anthony Spencer (out– knee), LB Justin Durant (out– groin)
St. Louis: TE Cory Harkey (questionable– knee), WR Tavon Austin (questionable– knee), QB Shaun Hill (questionable– thigh), CB Trumaine Johnson (out– knee), C Barrett Jones (out– back), CB Brandon McGee (out– foot)
Recent Trends
Dallas is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. NFC opponents
Dallas is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a win of 14 points or more
St. Louis is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games
The home team is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings between these 2 teams
The UNDER is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings between these 2 teams
The UNDER is 4-0 in Dallas’ last 4 games overall
The UNDER is 7-0 in St. Louis’ last 7 games overall
Three reasons to back Dallas
1. The only time the Rams have played at home this season they were beaten 34-6 by Minnesota, and after they pulled out a 2-point win over Tampa last week the Bucs promptly went out and lost 56-14 four days later. So, how good is this St. Louis team? They certainly haven’t proven anything.
2. The Cowboys put it all together last week, beating Tennessee 26-10 in a game that was even more lopsided than the final score indicates. They’re running the ball well, Tony Romo seems comfortable, and their defense has been much-improved after a terrible year in 2013. Dallas is a team on the rise.
3. The Rams have one of the very worst offenses in the NFL, a unit that will either be led by a young guy with no experience (Austin Davis) or an old guy who has been a backup his entire career (Shaun Hill). Whoever starts at quarterback won’t have much skill-position talent to work with, either. There’s just no way the Rams will be able to keep up with the high-flying Cowboys.
Three reasons to back St. Louis
1. The Rams “found themselves” in a road victory over Tampa last week, turning to the power running of Zac Stacy and a talented defensive front to win the Jeff Fisher way. Now they return home, where they’re surely eager to atone for a disastrous Week 1 performance.
2. Dallas had the very worst defense in the league last season, and that’s not an exaggeration– they finished 32nd (a.k.a. dead last) in total yards allowed. They didn’t look like they had improved much after a Week 1 curb stomping at the hands of San Francisco, so there’s no reason to think they’ll be able to slow down a Rams offense that is better than people realize.
3. Tony Romo was limited in practice this week because of a bad back that required offseason surgery, and he’ll be facing a tough St. Louis defense that features one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers, Robert Quinn. Plus, Romo’s favorite target, Dez Bryant, is officially listed as questionable with a shoulder injury. The Cowboys are also banged-up on defense, where linebackers Rolando McClain and Justin Durant and lineman Anthony Spencer are all expected to sit out. It’s all setting up perfectly for the Rams, who are relatively healthy and playing at home.
Prediction
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