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Dallas Cowboys vs San Francisco 49ers Odds, Lines, Picks & Prediction for Week 5 Sunday Night Football

Sascha Paruk

by Sascha Paruk in NFL Football

Updated Oct 7, 2023 · 8:17 PM PDT

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy running off the field
Oct 1, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) runs off the field after the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
  • A classic Cowboys vs 49ers battle is in the Sunday Night Football spotlight in Week 5
  • The undefeated Niners are slight home favorites over Dallas
  • See the Cowboys vs 49ers odds, picks, and predictions for Sunday Night Football on Oct. 8

After a string of less-than-ideal primetime NFL games, Week 5’s Sunday Night Football matchup brings a heavyweight tilt between the Dallas Cowboys (3-1 ,1-1 away, 3-1 ATS) and San Francisco 49ers (4-0, 2-0 home, 3-1 ATS) at Levi’s Stadium  at 8:20 pm ET.

One of just two unbeaten teams remaining in the league, the 49ers enter SNF as home favorites against a Dallas team that boasts the best point differential in the NFC (+83).

Cowboys vs 49ers Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Total
Dallas Cowboys +3.5 (-110) +150 Over 45 (-110)
San Francisco 49ers  -3.5 (-110) -183 Under 45 (-110)

The still-perfect Niners are 3.5-point home chalk and -183 moneyline favorites. The Cowboys come back as +150 underdogs to win straight-up, while the game total is sitting at 45, which is the highest this season for a Dallas game and tied for the highest for a 49ers game.

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Odds as of Oct. 7 at BetMGM. Claim a BetMGM bonus code to wager on Sunday Night Football between the Cowboys and 49ers. 

San Francisco is one of two co-favorites in the Super Bowl odds heading into Week 5, sitting at +550 along with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Cowboys are also in the top five at +925. If the playoffs started today, San Francisco would be the #2 seed in the NFC portion of the NFL playoff bracket due to the 4-0 Philadelphia Eagles having a tougher strength-of-schedule so far. But a Week 13 meeting between the Niners and Eagles will render that criterion moot come playoff time.

Dallas vs San Francisco Betting Trends

Dallas and San Francisco met in the playoffs each of the past two seasons with the Niners winning both games (last year at home and the year prior in Dallas).  While both games finished as one-score contests (23-17 in 2021 and 19-12 in 2022), the 49ers were full value for the win both times. They never trailed in either matchup and had more total yards in both games.

San Francisco has also been the more consistent team this season. Both teams boast 3-1 ATS records, but the Niners’ lone ATS loss came in a 30-23 road win over the LA Rams as 7.5-point favorites – failing to cover by a point – whereas Dallas’ ATS loss was also a straight-up defeat to the lowly Arizona Cardinals (28-16) as 11-point road favorites, Arizona’s only win of the season.

Of course, the Cowboys’ three wins have all been impressive and decisive. They routed the Giants 40-0 in Week 1, the Jets 30-10 in Week 2, and the Patriots 38-3 in Week 4.

Dallas looked extremely potent on both sides of the ball in all three matchups, though it should be noted that those three opponents rank in the bottom five of the NFL in points scored and the bottom ten in point differential.

Elijah Mitchell Out for San Francisco, Damone Clark Should Play for Dallas

Both teams come into Week 5 relatively healthy. The biggest absence on either side will be 49ers backup running back Elijah Mitchell, who is out with a knee injury. Mitchell also missed Week 2 and Week 4, and few teams are as equipped to lose a back rusher than San Francisco. Bell-cow Christian McCaffrey leads the NFL in rushing with 459 yards, 95 more than any other player. (Only five other backs have reached 300 rushing yards.)

With Mitchell out, wide receiver Deebo Samuel has served as the backup RB, getting five carries in Week 2 against the Rams and three carries in Week 4 against the Cardinals.

The only other player with an injury designation on the Niners is backup right-guard Jon Feliciano, who is questionable with a concussion.

The Cowboys will be missing backup tight end Peyton Hendershot due to an ankle injury. The second-year pro out of Indiana has just one catch in three games this season on two targets after grabbing 11 receptions in 17 games as a rookie.

Only one other player wasn’t a full participant in practice on Friday – linebacker Damone Clark – but Clark was a limited participant at all practices during the week, strongly suggesting he’ll play on Sunday night. Clark’s absence would be significant; the 2022 fifth-round pick leads the team in tackles and will be a key part of keeping McCaffrey in check.

The NFL player props for Week 5 list McCaffrey with a rushing total over/under ranging from 75.5 to 78.5, depending on the sportsbook.

Dallas Cowboys vs San Francisco 49ers Prediction

The Niners have owned this matchup in recent history and there is little reason to believe that’s going to change in Week 5 with San Francisco at home and healthy.

The best offense the Cowboys have faced this year is, counterintuitively, Arizona, and the Cardinals absolutely shredded the Dallas defense. The Cards racked up a ridiculous 222 yards on the ground on 30 carries (7.4 YPC average). A portion of that can be attributed to runs of 45 and 44 yards from QB Josh Dobbs and receiver Rondale Moore, but RB1 James Conner also had 98 yards on just 14 carries (7.0 YPC). Now Dallas is staring down the league’s top rusher who’s paired with last season’s top scoring defense.

Listing the Niners as just 3.5-point favorites in the Week 5 NFL odds is an insult to a potent and balanced San Francisco team that has its sights squarely set on a first-round bye.

Cowboys vs 49ers Picks:

  • 49ers -3.5(-110)
  • McCaffrey rushing yards over 75.5 (-125)
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