Betting Picks

Giants at Cowboys: SNF NFL Week 2 Betting Preview and Pick

Two of the NFL’s marquee franchises will meet on the gridiron in Week 2 as the New York Giants visit the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Dallas is a consensus 3-point betting favorite at the sportsbooks with a total of 42.5 points. The Cowboys are our SNF NFL Week 2 betting pick for the game, although we are hoping for a drop to 2.5 points.

Dallas leads the all-time series 64-46-2, which includes one postseason meeting (won by the Giants).

Why Dallas will cover the SNF NFL Week 2 betting spread

The Cowboys trounced the Giants twice last year by a combined 46 points. The game in Dallas was Week 1, on a Sunday night, and the final was 19-3. Ezekiel Elliott had 140 yards from scrimmage and Dak Prescott threw for 268 yards and a touchdown. Not sure the 2018 Giants are much better than the 2017 team that finished 4-12.

There’s really nowhere to go but up for the Cowboys offense after a dismal showing Week 1 in a 16-8 loss in Carolina that already has put head coach Jason Garrett on the hottest seat in the NFL. Prescott threw for only 170 yards, apparently missing receiver Dez Bryant (a free agent) and future Hall of Fame tight end Jason Witten (in the ESPN broadcast booth). Elliott rushed for 69 yards and a TD, but only got 15 carries. Expect at least 10 more in Week 2.

NY Giants betting notes for Sunday

No matter how much talent a team might have, it only goes as far as its quarterback. And the Giants’ Eli Manning simply isn’t a very good player these days at age 37. He had a fourth-quarter interception returned for a touchdown in Week 1 by Jacksonville that all but sealed the 20-15 Jaguars’ road win. To be fair to Manning, his offensive line is terrible.

Odell Beckham Jr. had 11 catches for 111 yards, but was kept out of the end zone; he missed both Cowboys games last year due to injury. One bright spot in Week 1 was rookie running back Saquon Barkley, who rushed for 106 yards, including a 68-yard TD. He showed why he was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds favorite entering the season. New York played without one of its best defensive players in linebacker Olivier Vernon (high ankle sprain). He’s considered questionable for Week 2.

NY Giants vs. Dallas SNF NFL Week 2 betting line movement

Some very early Cowboys’ action added a half-point to a spread that opened at -3 at sportsbooks, but it was largely back to a field goal by Tuesday afternoon. The total has dropped a point from opening.

NY Giants vs. Dallas SNF NFL Week 2 matchup trends

• New York has won just two of its past nine road games vs. NFC East foes. They lost them all last year.
• Dallas has won eight of its past 11 at home in September.
• The Cowboys have covered five of their past seven as a betting favorite and won six of those straight up.