Browns vs Cowboys, Odds, Lines, and Spread
- The Dallas Cowboys are 4.5-point home favorites Sunday against the Cleveland Browns
- Dallas was the five-point chalk in the opening line
- Cleveland has lost four straight to the Cowboys and hasn’t won in Dallas since 1994
On paper, the Cleveland Browns are a better team than the Dallas Cowboys.
The Browns are off to a 2-1 start. It’s the first time since the 2014 seasons that Cleveland has been above the .500 mark.
Dallas, on the other hand is 1-2. That’s despite boasting the #1 passing attack in the NFL.
Nonetheless, the oddsmakers are going with the Cowboys in this one. Dallas is the 4.5-home favorite over Cleveland in the Browns vs Cowboys odds.
Kickoff Sunday at AT&T Stadium is at 1pm ET. The forecast is for clear skies, 80-degree temperature and 11 mph winds.
Browns vs Cowboys Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns | +190 | -4.5 (-110) | O 56 (-110) |
| Dallas Cowboys | -225 | +4.5 (-110) | U 56 (-110) |
Odds taken Oct. 3rd at DraftKings
Dallas has won four straight over Cleveland, outscoring the Browns 105-52 in the process.
Browns-Cowboys Line Dancing
There’s been some action on Cleveland since the line opened on this game. Dallas was the five-point chalk in the opening line.
That movement may have more to do with the volatility of the Cowboys than any sort of faith in the Browns. Dallas is 0-3 against the spread this season. Going back to last season, Dallas is just 2-6 ATS in the last eight games.
Cowboys Week ✊@bakermayfield | #CLEvsDAL pic.twitter.com/1L37X9GMl8
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 30, 2020
The belief in the Browns looks to be misplaced, however. Cleveland is 0-7 both straight up and ATS through its last seven road games. They’ve lost all seven of those games by at least a five-point margin.
Cleveland’s most recent win in Dallas was in 1969. That was the first victory there by the Browns since 1969.
Injury Updates
Dallas has a decision to make at tackle. Left tackle Tyron Smith, who’s missed the last two games with a stinger, went through a full practice late this week without suffering a setback.
Brandon Knight has played solidly in Smith’s place but whoever starts at left tackle must deal with Myles Garrett, the linchpin in a Cleveland pass rush that’s accumulated eight sacks. It’s possible that the Cowboys will start Smith and slide Knight over to right tackle in place of rookie Terence Steele.
Myles Garrett will play against the Dallas Cowboys for the first time on Sunday.
A reminder that he asked Jerry Jones to trade Tony Romo and some draft picks to the Cleveland Browns and go get him before the 2017 NFL Draft.
(via @chasepwilliams) pic.twitter.com/SGPH345Nga
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) October 1, 2020
Steele missed much of Sunday’s loss at Seattle due to illness. However, he’s been a full practice participant all week.
Facing the top passing attack in the NFL, both of Cleveland’s starting cornerbacks may not play. Greedy Williams is out with a shoulder ailment. Denzel Ward is questionable due to a groin injury.
Olivier Vernon, Cleveland’s starting right defensive end, is questionable (abdominal). That’s doubly problematic, because his backup Adrian Clayborn (hip flexor) is out.
Cowboys Win Ugly
Neither of these teams has what would be classified as a signature victory. The Browns dropped the Bengals and Washington, and were rolled by the Ravens.
Dallas lost to Seattle and the Rams, while rallying to outscore the woeful Falcons 40-39.
This game could come down to how well the Cleveland pass rush is able to control the Dallas passing game. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has thrown for a league-leading 1,150 yards.
Good news: the Browns really don't blitz. Cowboys will generally just be dealing with four pass rushers.
Bad news: those four are, like, really good.
— Bobby Belt (@BobbyBeltTX) September 29, 2020
Cleveland is 12th in the NFL at defending the pass, allowing 253.6 yards per game. But the Browns may be minus both starting cornerbacks.
Dallas has scored 71 points the last two weeks. However, the Cowboys have allowed 77 points over the same span.
Cleveland has tallied 69 points through the past two games. Starting QBs Prescott and Baker Mayfield figure to be lighting it up. There will be a lot of points and whoever gets the ball last wins.
Best Bet: Over 56 points (-110).
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
