Cowboys vs. Rams Prediction & Odds: NFL Preseason Week 1
While Sean McVay is known for offense, when his Los Angeles Rams take the field in the preseason, don't expect many points.
Both the Rams and Dallas Cowboys are contenders by the Super Bowl odds, but neither is set to have many of their key players take the field for Sunday's game at 4:30 p.m. ET from SoFi Stadium.
Dallas enters the game as a 4.5-point favorite across our best sports betting sites, and we're expecting a low-scoring affair in our Cowboys vs. Rams prediction and odds.
Expect struggling offenses in Cowboys vs. Rams
Odds via our best NFL betting sites; NFL picks confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale.
Prediction: Under 35.5 (-111) ⭐⭐⭐
Like many of the Mike Shanahan tree disciples, McVay doesn't concern himself much with preseason. Since he took over as the Rams' head coach in 2017, LA is just 6-15 in the preseason and averaging 13.4 points per game.
In 21 preseason games under McVay, the Rams have scored 17 points or fewer 14 times. I don't expect that to change much on Sunday with the bulk of LA's familiar faces not expected to play.
The Rams haven't even confirmed whether or not some of their top rookies will play either, but one player we'll see plenty of is quarterback Stetson Bennett. The two-time national champion at Georgia will likely play the bulk of the game and that's encouraging for the Under.
Last preseason, Bennett played in all three games and threw 62 passes while earning the lowest-grade among preseason QBs from PFF. He completed just 58.1% of his pass and threw three interceptions to just one touchdown.
Former first-round picks with something to prove
On the Cowboys side, there's two former first-round picks who could see a heap of snaps. And both are good for the Under.
With Dak Prescott not suiting up, quarterback Trey Lance has a lot on the line as he gets set to make his debut as a Cowboy. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft has already earned the "bust" label at the age of 24, and has reportedly struggled during Dallas' training camp.
Obviously he didn't show much in his handful of starts with the San Francisco 49ers, so don't expect him to lead a scoring onslaught.
But one Cowboy who could be poised for a big afternoon is Mazi Smith. Last year's first-round pick had a quiet rookie season, but was apparently a star of the Cowboys-Rams joint practice this week.
He should be able to lead the way in keeping the points at a minimum in this matchup. If the Under hits, a $10 bet pays a $9.01 profit.
Best odds: -111 via Betway | Implied probability: 52.63%
Terms and conditions apply.
Players to watch
| Career stats | Mazi Smith (DAL) | Stetson Bennett (LAR) |
|---|---|---|
| College | 88 tackles, 6 TFLs, 0.5 sack | 8,429 passing yards, 80 total TDs, 21 INTs |
| NFL | 13 tackles, 3 TFLs, 1 sack | N/A |
Cowboys vs. Rams odds
See our full NFL odds here.
Cowboys vs. Rams game info
- When: Sunday, Aug. 11
- Kick off: 4:30 p.m. ET
- Where: SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles)
- How to watch: NFL Network
- Favorite: Cowboys -4.5 (-105 via Betway)
Here are our best NFL betting sites:
- Caesars Promo Code: SBRBONUS1000 | Read our Caesars Review
- BetMGM Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetMGM Review
- bet365 Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our bet365 Review
- FanDuel Promo Code | Read our FanDuel Review
- DraftKings Promo Code | Read our DraftKings Review
(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.
Not intended for use in MA.
Each betting site featured on SBR has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission.
Related pages
- Best Sports Betting Sites | Best Sportsbook Promos (U.S. only)
Related Articles
