The New Orleans Saints close the exhibition slate on the road against the Dallas Cowboys on Friday night, and the betting market has already done some talking. Dallas opened as a 3.5-point home favorite, but the spread has since slid to just 1.5. That move, paired with lopsided public support for the Cowboys, sets up the kind of preseason finale where the number matters more than the names on the field. Our full breakdown lands on a side, a total, and a bonus angle below.
Last Updated: Friday, August 28, 2026
New Orleans Saints vs. Dallas Cowboys — Time & How to Watch
| Where | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX |
| When | Friday, August 28 – 8:00 PM ET |
| TV | CBS 11 (Dallas) / FOX 8 (New Orleans); stream on NFL+ |
New Orleans Saints vs. Dallas Cowboys Betting Preview
Dallas enters at 2-0 this preseason after a 34-13 handling of the Arizona Cardinals, a night that showcased a productive backup room. Joe Milton has been the story, throwing for 286 yards and three touchdowns across two games while pushing Sam Howell in the competition to back up Dak Prescott. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer confirmed both Milton and Howell will play Friday, though he had not named a starter for the finale. Rookie safety Caleb Downs and undrafted receiver Camden Brown, who has averaged nearly 28 yards a catch, have given Dallas plenty to evaluate.
New Orleans arrives at 0-2 and searching for rhythm. The Saints dropped their opener to Jacksonville 24-20, then were shut out 34-0 by the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2. The offense has yet to find traction, and the quarterback room of Spencer Rattler, Tyler Shough, and Zach Wilson will get another long look here. With Prescott reportedly ticketed to sit out the preseason and both teams leaning on reserves, this finale is less about star power and more about depth, roster spots, and coaching decisions on the margins.
New Orleans Saints vs. Dallas Cowboys Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saints | +1.5 (+100) | +120 | U 38.5 (-105) |
| Cowboys | -1.5 (-120) | -140 | O 38.5 (-115) |
Odds accurate as of August 28, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NFL Odds – Futures – Props
New Orleans Saints vs. Dallas Cowboys — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Saints | 19% | 81% | Cowboys |
See the latest NFL Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Saints vs. Cowboys Prediction — Line Sliding Towards Saints?
The most interesting development on this game is not the price but the direction. Dallas opened at -3.5 and now sits at -1.5, yet roughly 81% of spread bets are landing on the Cowboys. When the public piles onto one side and the line moves the other way, it usually signals sharper money on the underdog. New Orleans getting a point and a half at even money in a near coin-flip spot fits that pattern.
There is a real case for Dallas, too. The Cowboys are 2-0, they are at home, and their backups have simply outplayed everyone they have faced. Milton’s efficiency and Brown’s explosiveness give Dallas more juice in the second and third units than most teams carry. A motivated group fighting for roster spots at AT&T Stadium is not an easy fade.
Still, preseason finales rarely reward laying points. The Saints hold the pricing edge here, and they will want to avoid an 0-3 finish. The reserves who take most of the snaps are playing for their jobs, and that motivation cuts both ways. The value sits with the side the market is quietly backing.
The Pick: Saints +1.5 (+100)
Saints vs. Cowboys Prediction — Will Offenses Struggle?
The total opened at 37.5 and has ticked up to 38.5, a signal that the market expects at least a moderate flow of points. Milton has moved the ball well, and the Jaguars-Saints opener sailed past this range with 44 combined points. If both offenses lean on their most experienced available arms early, the over has a clear path.
The counter is straightforward. New Orleans was blanked last week and has scored just 20 points in two games. Preseason finales often turn choppy once deep reserves take over, a dynamic we leaned on in our read on Cincinnati with its starter sitting, with vanilla play-calling and long stretches of field-position football. A short, backup-driven game plan on both sidelines points the other way.
The Pick: Under 38.5 (-105)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
One more angle stands out. A team getting just a point and a half will usually win outright whenever it covers, so the moneyline becomes the leveraged version of the same opinion. New Orleans at plus money pays better than laying the juice on Dallas, and it fits a spot where the market has quietly drifted toward the Saints. It carries more variance, so treat it as the smaller play of the two.
Bonus: Saints +120 (moneyline)
None of this is certain in an exhibition where availability changes by the series. If Dallas gives its first team a possession or two while New Orleans empties the bench, the math tilts back toward the Cowboys. Keep stakes modest and let the preseason uncertainty inform the bet size rather than chasing a number.
To recap the card: the featured play is Saints +1.5 at even money, the total lean is Under 38.5, and the bonus is Saints +120 on the moneyline. All three trace back to the same read that the sharp side of this finale is New Orleans and the points.
NFL Saints vs. Cowboys FAQ: Friday August 28, 2026
What time does the Saints vs. Cowboys game start?
The Saints and Cowboys kick off at 8:00 p.m. ET on Friday, August 28, 2026, from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. It is the preseason finale for both teams, and local coverage begins shortly beforehand in each market.
What channel is the Saints vs. Cowboys game on?
The game airs on local broadcast television, with CBS 11 carrying it in the Dallas-Fort Worth market and FOX 8 in New Orleans. Viewers outside those regions can stream it on NFL+. There is no national network broadcast for this preseason finale.
Where are the Saints and Cowboys playing?
The Saints and Cowboys play at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the Cowboys’ home venue. New Orleans is the visiting team for this preseason finale, and kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m. ET on Friday, August 28.
How can I stream the Saints vs. Cowboys game?
You can stream the game on NFL+, which carries local and primetime preseason broadcasts through the NFL app. Both the Cowboys and Saints list NFL+ as the streaming option for this Week 3 exhibition. Local TV in each market also carries the broadcast.
What are the Saints’ and Cowboys’ preseason records?
Dallas enters at 2-0 after beating the Arizona Cardinals 34-13, while New Orleans sits at 0-2 following a loss to Jacksonville and a 34-0 shutout by the Los Angeles Rams. Both teams are expected to lean heavily on backups in the finale.