The Las Vegas Raiders will host the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium for a preseason showdown. The preseason is always interesting because each team approaches it differently. These two teams have only met four times since 2009, with the Cowboys winning three of those games, but the Raiders won in overtime the last time they met in 2021. Due to the nature of the preseason, it's hard to have high hopes for this matchup as a preview of the season. Either way, this will be a great test for these two teams.
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Dallas adapts to life without lambs
Dallas has looked like one of the better teams in the NFC over the past few seasons, but there is still work to be done. With the playoffs on the line, this is a key season for this team to succeed, as a lot is riding on the franchise going forward. While the preseason hasn't generated as much speculation as the opening week of the season, Saturday night's game is a key opportunity for this team to grow. After losing by one point last week, it will be interesting to see how the second week of the preseason goes.
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The injury report is uncertain, but the Cowboys will certainly be without a few players. Dak Prescott didn't play last week and may not play again, especially as he works toward a new contract. Speaking of contracts, CeeDee Lamb is also on strike and won't play. Everyone else will only play on drives at best, and Dallas will rely on its depth in this game.
They will need to improve their offense after a disappointing showing last week with just 12 points. Trey Lance got the majority of the snaps and threw 41 passes for 188 yards. They had no turnovers, but also no touchdowns. This is a team looking to improve their touchdown efficiency. The good news is their defense was sharp. They were an elite bunch last season, and the second unit looks to keep up adding depth to this group. The Rams are a challenge offensively, and given how they held up last weekend, they should be successful again in this game.
Raiders captivate home crowd
The Raiders missed the playoffs last season, but are hopeful they can make progress this season. It all starts with the preseason. Staying healthy is key, as is the ability to give up-and-coming players a chance to practice. Las Vegas also lost to the Vikings on the road last weekend, losing by one point. Even though it's still preseason, playing at home should give them a better chance of winning, but again, the Raiders will be primarily focused on development in this game.
Vegas didn't hesitate to use many of their starters last week, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see them go for a drive or two in this one. Davonte Adams was the only key player not to play, but given his superstar status, it's likely he won't play in this one either.
Last week's season opener featured two potential starting quarterbacks, with Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew playing most of the time at quarterback. Expect the same this time around, with a bit more emphasis on Zamir White's ground game. There's no doubt the defense was shaky last week and that's something fans will be watching closely. There was very little pass rush and the secondary struggled downfield. The same struggles could be expected this time around against a pass-heavy Dallas offense.
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Best bets for Dallas Cowboys vs Las Vegas Raiders
Full Game Side Bets
Insider Status:
evaluation:
Seven points in a preseason game is a lot for both teams. With a full roster, the Cowboys are a better team than the Raiders and have the depth to make it hard for opponents even if their starters fall. The defense showed last week how strong they are, especially when it comes to creating turnovers. Offensively, Lance is just a couple years away from being the face of the league for years to come. Add in the depth at WR and Dallas is set up to be successful and at least cover the spread.
Prediction: Dallas +7
Full Game Total Picks
Insider Status:
evaluation:
As mentioned above, Dallas had one of the best defenses in the league last year and is looking to do so again. Last weekend, Dallas was running the floor, forcing turnovers and putting pressure on the quarterback, which should bode well for this weekend's matchup. Meanwhile, Vegas has questionable offense and will need to fill holes on both sides of the ball, with their defensive starters likely benched at home. Add in some rust and the general nature of the preseason and points will be valuable in this matchup.
Prediction: 39.5 or less
Eric Ploch, “Eric P.”
