The Dallas Cowboys are underdogs as they prepare to take on the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs. The game starts at 8:15 p.m. ET and FOX is scheduled to have the TV rights.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Rams Betting Preview
Dallas is a live dog and is currently getting 7 points in this Saturday NFC game. The Cowboys are also receiving +230 moneyline odds while the Rams are -280. If one team can find paydirt early on it will produce a decent live betting opportunity. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 49.5 points.
Each team has posted a positive return this season as the Cowboys have gained 8.8 units and the Rams are up 1.4 units.
The Cowboys are 11-6 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Rams are 13-3 SU.
These two teams met a year ago with the final result being a 35-30 victory for Los Angeles.
The Cowboys are coming off a 24-22 win over Seattle last week. The defense did its part in the win, limiting the Seahawks to just 233 passing yards and 73 yards on the ground. Tyler Lockett had a productive day for the Seahawks in that one with 120 yards on four catches. On the offensive side, Dak Prescott completed 22 passes for 226 yards, along with a score and a pick. Ezekiel Elliott (137 rushing yards on 26 attempts, one TD) led the ground attack. Amari Cooper (seven receptions, 106 yards) and Elliott (four catches, 32 yards) shared the receiving duties in the win.
Los Angeles is coming off of a 48-32 win over San Francisco back in Week 17. The team’s defensive unit allowed the 49ers to rush for 127 yards on 22 attempts, along with one rushing TD. George Kittle was a bright spot in the loss for San Francisco, posting 149 yards on nine catches. For Los Angeles, Jared Goff completed 15-of-26 passes for 199 yards and four touchdowns. C.J. Anderson (132 yards on 23 rush attempts, one TD) and John Kelly (30 yards on 15 carries) handled the running game while Brandin Cooks (five receptions, 62 yards, two TDs) and Josh Reynolds (four catches, 55 yards, two TDs) led the receiving corps in the win.
Each of these squads has a similar run-pass ratio on the season. Dallas has run the ball on 45.8 percent of its offensive possessions while Los Angeles has a rush percentage of 44.7. The Cowboys have produced 125 rush yards per game and have 15 scores on the ground this year. The Rams are averaging 139 rush yards per game and have 23 total rushing TDs.
If 2018 results can translate to this game, then it appears the Rams ought to have an edge in the trenches, as their offensive line has allowed only 33 sacks while their D-line has logged 41 sacks. The Cowboys O-line has given up 57 sacks and their defense has recorded only 40 sacks.
The Cowboys offensive scheme has logged 242 yards/game through the air overall and has 23 passing scores so far. The Rams have recorded 296 pass yards per contest and have 32 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Dallas has let opponents run for an average of 93 yards and pass for 248 yards per game. The Los Angeles D has allowed 256.6 yards per game to opposing passers and 122.3 yards per game to opposing runners. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to opponents, as the Cowboys have given up an ANY/A of 6.63 to opposing QBs, while the Rams are allowing an ANY/A of 6.25.
Passing-wise, Prescott is up to 3,724 yards this year. He’s connected on 351-of-515 attempts with 19 passing scores and nine interceptions. He’s got a 5.92 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 7.79 over the last two outings.
Look for a balanced attack offensively from Dallas in this one. As a group, Ezekiel Elliott, Amari Cooper and Blake Jarwin have combined for 440 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns over the last two outings.
In the other huddle, Jared Goff has managed to complete 345-of-537 passes for 4,472 yards, 31 TDs and 12 INTs. Goff’s ANY/A sits at 7.66 for the year and 9.44 over his last two outings.
As a trio, C.J. Anderson, Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks have collectively accounted for 569 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns over the last couple of outings.
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Notes
Team Betting Trends
The O/U for Dallas’ last game was set at 43. The over cashed in the team’s 24-22 win over Seattle.
Dallas has averaged 3.7 yards per rush attempt across its past three outings and 3.8 over its last two.
Los Angeles has averaged 5.0 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 5.1 over its past two.
The Los Angeles offense has lost seven fumbles this season while Dallas has lost nine.
In its last three matches, Dallas is 1-1-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
Dallas has won nine of its last 10 games SU, with a 23-point defeat to Indianapolis on December 16th representing the only loss over that span.
The O/U for Los Angeles’ last game was set at 50. The over cashed in the 48-32 victory over San Francisco.
In its last three matches, Los Angeles is 2-1 ATS.
The Rams have made 24 pass plays of 30+ yards while the Cowboys have produced 22 such plays.
The Dallas defense has allowed nine pass plays of 40+ yards, while Los Angeles has given up 10 such plays.
The Dallas offense has created 11 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Los Angeles has created 14 such runs.
The Cowboys defense has allowed 10 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Rams have given up 16 such runs.
The Los Angeles D has recorded 41 sacks on the year while Dallas has 40.
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