The Super Bowl-champion Rams are struggling a bit so far this season while the Cowboys are playing winning ball with their backup quarterback, heading into Sunday afternoon’s Week 5 NFC showdown in suburban LA. Dallas is 3-0 this season without Dak Prescott; Los Angeles, meanwhile, doesn’t look quite like the team it was last January.
The oddsmakers and the betting public are still showing some faith in the Rams, according to the line and the action. Here’s our homework for this contest, with our free NFL betting pick.
NFL Betting Lines
The Week 5 NFL betting odds opened Los Angeles as a four-point favorite over Dallas, with an over/under of right around 44. Early betting action then edged the Rams up to -5 and the total has dipped to 42 points..
Cowboys-Rams NFL Betting Preview
Dallas is 3-1 on the season after beating Washington at home last week 25-10. The Cowboys scored the first six points of the game and led 12-7 at the half. Dallas later led 15-10 through three quarters, then tacked on the last 10 points of the game for the victory and the cover as a three-point favorite.
The Cowboys actually got out-gained by the Commanders 297-279, out-rushed 142-62, and lost time of possession by a 33:27 split. But Dallas won the turnover battle 2-0 and basically controlled the game most of the way.
The Cowboys are now 4-0, both SU and ATS, with Cooper Rush at QB.
Dallas opened this season with that rather ugly loss to Tampa Bay and lost Prescott to a throwing hand injury. But the Cowboys then beat defending AFC champion Cincinnati 20-17, then won at the Giants 23-16.
While Dallas is certainly not as explosive on offense without Prescott, the team has pulled together and played some good ball these last three weeks.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, is 2-2 on the season after losing at San Francisco Monday night, 24-9. The Rams scored the first three points of the game but trailed 14-6 at the half. They then got within 14-9 in the third quarter and still only trailed by one score midway through the fourth when QB Stafford threw a bad pick-6, and that was about it.
LA got out-gained by the 49ers 327-257, produced just 57 yards on the ground, twice settled for field goals after driving inside the San Francisco 10-yard line, and lost the turnover battle 2-0, resulting in at least a -7 points differential.
The Rams have now been out-gained and out-rushed by three of their four opponents this season.
Los Angeles opened this season with that 31-10 loss to Buffalo, then beat Atlanta 31-27 but gave away the cover at -10, then won ugly at Arizona 20-12, cashing at -3.5.
Cowboys-Rams Recent History
Los Angeles is 3-1, both SU and ATS, over the last four meetings with Dallas, including a divisional-round playoff victory four seasons ago. Most recently, two seasons ago, The Rams beat the Cowboys 20-17 also at SoFi. Jared Goff quarterbacked LA that day against Prescott for the Pokes.
- Get more details: Dallas at LA Rams Week 5 Betting Stats
NFL Betting Trends
- Home teams are 33-29 SU and 31-30 ATS in the NFL this season.
- Favorites are 38-25 SU and 28-34 ATS in the NFL this season.
- Dallas is 9-5 ATS as an underdog under Coach McCarthy.
Totals Report
- The Unders are 3-0-1 in Cowboy games this season, which are averaging just 33 total points.
- The Unders are 3-1 in Rams games this season, which are averaging 41 points.
- The Unders are 38-25 in the NFL this season.
- The Unders are 13-8 in domed stadiums this season.
