Expectations are high for the Dallas Cowboys in 2023 and the pressure is on for quarterback Dak Prescott.
FanDuel Sportsbook has the Cowboys at +1300 odds to win the Super Bowl, the sixth-best odds on the board and third-best among NFC teams behind the Philadelphia Eagles (+800) and San Francisco 49ers (+1000). Dallas’ win total has been set at 9.5 with the odds leaning toward the over and the Cowboys are -245 to make the playoffs.
All of that leads to Prescott, who threw for 2,860 yards and 23 touchdowns but had a league-high 15 interceptions, despite missing five games with injury, in 2022. The 30-year-old quarterback is +1600 to win the NFL MVP, placing him with a group that includes Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Prescott not only has to lay off the turnovers to help Dallas have great success on the field, but he is also heading into negotiations for a contract extension. Negotiations that likely got much trickier after owner Jerry Jones brokered a trade to acquire Trey Lance from the San Francisco 49ers. Lance was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 Draft.
These and other storylines will come to a head Sunday night when the Cowboys begin their 2023 season against the New York Giants from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Both teams made the playoffs last year and lost in the divisional round. Dallas won both regular-season games against the Giants in 2022.
Let’s take a closer look at the odds and trends (All odds are from FanDuel Sportsbook):
Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants
Time/TV: 7:20 p.m. CT (NBC)
Point Spread: Cowboys -3.5
Over/Under: 45.5
Moneyline: Cowboys -180, Giants +152
Analysis: While much of the pre-game storyline is about the Cowboys and Prescott, the Giants’ offseason has been far from quiet. Quarterback Daniel Jones signed a $160 million contract extension ($82 million guaranteed) and running back Saquon Barkley had contentious negotiations over his contract before agreeing to a one-year deal slightly above the franchise tag. Both teams have a lot to prove and need to get off to a good start in the primetime slot on Sunday. Look to the Cowboys’ defense, led by Micah Parsons, to make a play in the second half that turns the tide for Dallas.
Prediction: Dallas Cowboys 24, New York Giants 20
