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San Francisco 49ers vs Dallas Cowboys Public Betting Trends – Is the Public Betting the 49ers or Cowboys?

Daniel Coyle

by Daniel Coyle in NFL Football

Updated Jan 16, 2022 · 8:28 AM PST

Jimmy Garoppolo throwing a football during an NFL game.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) throws a pass during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
  • The Dallas Cowboys host the San Francisco 49ers on NFL Wild Card Weekend as 3-point favorites
  • The Cowboys have attracted 61% of the moneyline betting handle, but just 51% of bets laid against the spread
  • Read on for all the betting trends ahead of Sunday afternoon’s matchup at AT&T Stadium

An old NFC playoff rivalry will be rekindled on NFL Wild Card Weekend, as the Dallas Cowboys play host to the San Francisco 49ers. Game time is set for Sunday afternoon at 4:30pm at AT&T Stadium.

The Cowboys claimed this season’s NFC East divisional crown with a 12-5 straight up record, and open their playoff drive as the No. 3 seed in the conference. The 49ers clinched the No. 6 seed in thrilling fashion with last weekend’s 27-24 overtime win in Los Angeles, and closed out their schedule with a 10-7 SU record.

Unbeaten in their past three Wild Card Weekend appearances, the Cowboys host the Niners as 3-point favorites. However, according to the NFL betting trends, Dallas has commanded just 55% of the betting handle and 51% of bets laid on Sunday’s contest.

The Cowboys have struggled to win over sports bettors despite closing out their schedule with a crushing 51-26 win in Philadelphia that marked their fifth SU and against the spread win in six contests. Last week’s victory over the Rams extended a late-season surge by San Francisco, which currently enjoys an 8-3 SU run that features wins in four of six road contests. However, the 49ers are winless in two all-time playoff matchups in Dallas.

San Francisco 49ers vs Dallas Betting Trends

Team Spread ATS Handle% ATS Bet% Total O/U Handle% O/U Bet% Moneyline ML Handle% ML Bet%
San Francisco 49ers +3 45 49 50.5 59 63 +135 39 49
Dallas Cowboys -3 55 51 50.5 41 47 -155 61 51

Odds as of January 16th at DraftKings.

Cowboys an Uneven Bet at Home

With the Cowboys getting backed by a slim majority of the betting action, the point spread has remained stable since opening with Dallas pegged as a 3-point favorite. However, that has been enough to move the Cowboys to a -115 bet to cover for the third time in as many dates with San Francisco.

The Cowboys’ recent uneven performances on home turf have not helped their cause at the sportsbooks. Dallas has compiled a middling 2-3 SU record over its past five home dates, and has also lost outright in four of six home dates while favored by four or fewer points. That trend extends to recent playoff games in Dallas, with the Cowboys covering just once during a 3-3 SU run, all as betting chalk.

Conversely, it has been the Niners’ recent exploits on the road that have blazed their trail back to the postseason. San Francisco has won two of three on the road, with both those victories coming against playoff-bound opponents.

Opinion remains divided on whether quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo can take this team to the next level, but the recent performance of Deebo Samuel has warmed the hearts of the Niners faithful. The versatile receiver has averaged 127 receiving yards over his past two road appearances. In addition, he has run for seven scores in his past eight outings, making him an attractive option in the 49ers vs Cowboys props.

Total on the Rise

The total has remained largely stable since opening at 50.5. But with the OVER attracting 63% of bets and 59% of the handle, there is clear indication that the number is climbing to 51 in the hours before game time. That could offer appeal for sports bettors loyal to the Cowboys, who have scored 51 or more points in two of their past three outings, capped by last week’s rout in Philadelphia.

Recent road dates involving the Niners have tended towards low scoring, with the total topping 50 just twice in their past eight.

Niners Fading on Moneyline

The Cowboys’ backing on the spread may be paper-thin, but they enjoy considerable support on the moneyline. Dallas has attracted 61% of the handle since opening as -152 chalk, and have seen their odds continue to gain ground on Sunday morning.

The 49ers’ efforts have not been helped by their lengthy track record of futility while pegged as road underdogs in playoff action. The Niners have fallen to outright defeat in their past seven including a 38-21 loss in their last postseason visit to Dallas in 1994.

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