The bright lights shine on Levi’s Stadium this Sunday night as the Dallas Cowboys visit the San Francisco 49ers in a pivotal NFC showdown. Both teams entered the season with high expectations but have stumbled to lackluster 3-4 starts. Now, they aim to make a statement and ignite a mid-season surge.
Betting Odds: 49ers Favored on Home Turf
Oddsmakers have installed the 49ers as 5-point home favorites, with the over/under total set at 47.5 points. Despite their struggles, San Francisco remains a public darling. However, sharp bettors have taken notice, nudging the line down a half-point from the opening 49ers -5.5.
On the moneyline, San Francisco is a substantial -225 favorite, with Dallas checking in at +190. For those banking on a high-scoring affair, the over 47.5 comes with a price of -110, while under backers can get +100.
Quarterback Matchup Under the Microscope
Much of the intrigue centers around the quarterback duel between the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott and the 49ers’ Brock Purdy. Prescott’s passing yardage prop is set at 249.5, with -115 juice on both sides. For passing scores, the over/under is 1.5, with overs getting +120 and unders laying -155.
On the other side, Purdy also has a passing yardage prop of 249.5, again with -115 both ways. His passing touchdown prop is juiced differently, with over 1.5 coming in at -135 and under 1.5 fetching +105.
Evaluating the Ground Game
In the rushing department, the 49ers could be without star ball carrier Christian McCaffrey. That would thrust Jordan Mason into a featured role. His rushing yards prop sits at 79.5, -110 to the over and -120 to the under.
Dallas’ backfield is even more uncertain, with Ezekiel Elliott still recovering from injury. Rico Dowdle could handle the bulk of the work, and his rushing prop reflects that, with over 39.5 juiced to -110.
Betting Trends to Watch
For those weighing situational trends, consider this: Dallas is just 1-4 against the spread in their last five overall and 13-6 ATS in primetime games under Mike McCarthy. The ‘Boys have also hit six straight primetime over.
Meanwhile, San Francisco hasn’t been an underdog in 33 straight regular season games. Unders have also cashed at a 32-11 clip in Sunday night games since the start of the 2022 campaign.
Anita Marks’ Best Bet
I’m leaning 49ers -4.5 in this spot. San Fran’s injuries are a concern, but I expect them to lean on their ground game and short passing attack. That approach should neutralize the Dallas pass rush and make Purdy’s life easier. The Cowboys’ run game simply can’t exploit the Niners’ stout front, putting too much on Dak’s plate in a hostile road environment.
Anita Marks, ESPN Betting Analyst
The table is set for an NFC showdown under the primetime lights. Will the 49ers protect their house and reassert themselves as contenders? Or can the Cowboys lasso a signature road win and jumpstart a second-half surge? Grab your popcorn and get those wagers in, it should be a Texas-sized tussle by the Bay.
