Cowboys Season Win Total Prediction
One year after earning the No. 1 seed in the NFC, the Dallas Cowboys suffered a regression in 2017, winning a respectable nine games but just missing a return to the postseason. What does 2018 entail for Dak Prescott and Co.?
Dallas Cowboys Betting Odds
According to oddsmakers, the Cowboys’ over/under for wins in 2018 has been set at 8.5. They’re also 28/1 to win the Super Bowl, 15/1 to win the NFC title, and 13/4 to win the NFC East Division, which puts them behind defending champion Philadelphia (10/17) in terms of odds.
Check out updated 2018 Super Bowl and conference odds
Offseason Additions
The Cowboys acquired defensive ends Kony Ealy and Jihad Ward, receivers Tavon Austin and Allen Hurns, as well as offensive tackle Cameron Fleming in via free agency/trades.
In the draft, the Cowboys used their first-round selection (19th overall) on Boise State linebacker Leighton Vander Esch and then went offense for their next two picks, nabbing Texas guard Connor Williams with the 50th overall pick and Colorado State receiver Michael Gallup with the 81st pick. With a pair of fourth-round selections, Dallas took Kansas defensive end Dorance Armstrong and Stanford tight end Dalton Schultz.
Offseason Departures
Jason Witten retired a day after the draft and receiver Dez Bryant was among the team’s offseason cuts. Dallas also released defensive end Benson Mayowa and cornerback Orlando Scandrick. Receiver Brice Butler (Cardinals) also will not return, neither will running back Alfred Morris (free agent) and guard Jonathan Cooper (49ers).
Cowboys Season Win Total Prediction
The Cowboys made the right financial decision to release Dez Bryant, whose production and ability no longer matched his price tag. Witten, for as great as he was over his career, was also holding the Dallas’ passing game back from an explosive standpoint.
That said, because the Cowboys waited so long to release Bryant, they didn’t do an adequate enough job of supplementing the passing game with better talent. Gallup is a third-round rookie, Hurns has had injury problems the last two years, Austin couldn’t even find a role in Sean McVay’s high-powered offense and holdover Terrance Williams was arrested in May on suspicion of misdemeanor public intoxication. Williams is anywhere from No. 1 receiver to cut candidate.
Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott and the offensive line for the Cowboys are outstanding. That said, in order for a running game to operate at full capacity, a team needs to be able to throw the ball downfield at a successful rate. Simply put, Prescott doesn’t have enough help in the passing game and the Cowboys’ refusal to get Elliott involved in that area is baffling.
Defensively, the Cowboys have loads of potential in the front seven but pass defense remains an issue. To win in today’s NFL, you need to have success through the air on both sides of the ball and both are weaknesses for the Cowboys. Thus, I’m taking the under, as I see this being an 8-8 team.
Dallas Cowboys Season Win Total Prediction: Under 8.5