Two of the NFL’s most storied franchises – the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams – share the field at SoFi Stadium for an NFC showdown this Sunday.
Both teams have Super Bowl aspirations – albeit a bit dreamy – and a win here against a quality opponent could pay off by the time the playoffs roll around. With the way both teams have been playing, bettors may have a difficult time deciding which direction to go with their money, so we lay out odds and a prediction for this Week 5 contest.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Rams Betting Lines
The Rams opened -4.5 in Las Vegas last Sunday night and have been adjusted to as high as -5.5 in early wagering.
The betting market still isn’t giving Cooper Rush and “Dem Boyz” the credit they deserve. Dallas is priced between +188 and +200 on the moneyline as of Thursday, with -230 available for a Rams outright victory. Dak Prescott is not expected to play Sunday.
Below are the best current Cowboys vs. Rams moneyline, spread, and total lines from among top sportsbooks
NFL · Sun (10/9) @ 4:25pm ET
| DAL Cowboys | at | LA Rams |
| SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA | ||
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The Cowboys and Rams have faced each other three times since 2019, with the defending champs tasting victory twice. However, those games featured completely different quarterbacks, so Dallas has a chance to tie the recent series up.
The contest’s Over/Under point total of 43.5, which is one of the lowest across Week 5’s slate of games.
Cowboys vs. Rams Betting Preview
Cowboys
The Cowboys have turned heads in recent weeks with Rush filling in for Prescott. The team is three-for-three with Rush under center and is 3-1 on the season.
Rush isn’t a game-changing quarterback. He’s averaging an unspectacular 224.3 passing yards per contest and a 61.8% completion percentage during this winning streak. But he also has the fourth-highest QBR in the NFL and has thrown zero picks. Like many other backup quarterbacks, he’s doing what needs to be done to keep this team afloat.
Rush’s Cinderella story is good for Dallas’ morale, but it’s the defense that’s been driving this team to success. Led by DPOY favorite Micah Parsons, the defense ranks third in the league in points allowed per game (15.5) and second in sacks per game (3.8). Now facing a team that just endured seven sacks last week, Parsons and this defensive unit may be the key to achieving the upset.
Also read: Early Week 5 bettors backing backups Rush, Bridgewater
Rams
Los Angeles rebounded well after getting walloped by Super Bowl betting favorite Buffalo Bills in the opener. They won back-to-back games against the Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals. Just when we thought the Rams had returned to Super Bowl form, they then lose to the San Francisco 49ers by double digits on Monday night.
The offense can’t seem to function as properly now that Odell Beckham and Robert Woods are out of town. Outside of receiver Cooper Kupp – and maybe tight end Tyler Higbee, the rest of the skill players haven’t pulled their weight. Receiver Allen Robinson is a perennial no-show, and Darrell Henderson and Cam Akers lead a running attack that averages just 68.5 yards on the ground per game and 3.3 yards per carry.
L.A.’s saving grace is Number 99 – Aaron Donald. The future Hall-of-Fame defensive tackle continually positions his defensive line to minimize other teams’ run game. Opposing offenses average just 92.3 yards on the ground (seventh lowest in the league) and 3.9 per carry (eighth lowest) against this Rams’ defensive unit.
Cowboys vs. Rams Betting Trends
The Cowboys are living up to their “America’s Team” nickname by helping American bettors cash tickets. Los Angeles, on the other hand, hasn’t brought bettors much profit this season.
Cowboys
- 3-1 moneyline overall; 2-1 ATS at home; 1-0 ATS on the road
- 3-1 ATS overall; 2-1 ATS at home; 1-0 ATS on the road
- 1-3 O/U
- 2-0 ATS as favorite; 1-0 ATS as underdog
Rams
- 2-2 ML overall; 1-1 ML at home; 1-1 ML on the road
- 1-3 ATS overall; 0-2 ATS at home; 1-1 ATS on the road
- 1-3 O/U
- 1-1 ATS as favorite; 0-2 ATS as underdog
Cowboys vs. Rams Prediction
Based on stats and the eye test, the Cowboys are playing better football than the Rams. Dallas’ offensive ceiling is capped under Rush (season-high for points scored is 25), but when you’re accompanied by a stifling defense, you don’t need to drop 30-plus points.
Los Angeles is the second pass-heaviest team in the league, and passing makes up nearly 77% of its offensive yardage. Dallas has one of the league’s best passing defenses and will welcome however many passing plays the Rams decide to call.
The Rams’ best shot at beating the Cowboys is to win a shootout. But based on how both teams’ seasons have gone, that’s highly unlikely. Dallas is one of two teams (49ers) to not give up 20-plus points in a single game, and Los Angeles has point totals of nine, 10, and 20 just four games into the season.
We’re taking America’s Team to claim victory here for reasons mentioned above, but when you add in the fact that they come with plus-money odds on the moneyline, then the choice is a no-brainer.
Prediction: Cowboys 23, Broncos 20; Cowboys ML (+200, BetMGM)
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Cowboys vs. Rams Broadcast Information
- Location: SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA
- Date/Time: Sunday, October 9; 4:25 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: FOX
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