The Dallas Cowboys visit the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night, and the spread reads like a coin flip. Arizona opened as a short home favorite and now sits at just one point, so the market is telling you this is close. It should be. Both teams plan to park their front-line quarterbacks and lean on the depth chart, which turns this preseason meeting into a backup showcase under the State Farm Stadium roof. The public has already leaned hard to one side. Our Cowboys vs. Cardinals prediction weighs that money against the quarterback plans and the total before landing on two plays.
Last Updated: Saturday, August 22, 2026
Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals — Time & How to Watch
| Where | State Farm Stadium, Glendale AZ |
| When | Saturday, August 22 – 10:00 PM ET |
| TV | NFL Network (national); CBS 5 in Arizona, KTVT-11 in Dallas |
Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals Betting Preview
This is a depth-chart game, and both sidelines have made that clear. Arizona will start veteran Gardner Minshew and, per the team, plans to play him at least a half before turning to the reserves. The Cardinals are resting most of their front-line starters for this one, so Minshew and the second unit will carry the load. Rookie passer Carson Beck is dealing with sore ribs and is not expected to play, which leaves Kedon Slovis to handle late-game snaps.
Dallas takes a different but equally cautious approach. Dak Prescott will not suit up, and the staff has kept the door open on its backup competition. Sam Howell and Joe Milton are still splitting reps for the QB2 job, and both looked comfortable in the preseason opener against Seattle. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer has praised how both operated the offense, so expect an even split of playing time as the evaluation continues into the final tune-up.
What does that mean for handicappers? Preseason form matters far less than who is on the field and for how long. Arizona holds a small edge in continuity because Minshew is the most established quarterback likely to see extended action. Still, Dallas has quietly built momentum with its passers, and a backup-heavy game can swing on one broken coverage or a single special-teams play. Both facts keep this line pinned near a pick.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys | +1 (-110) | -105 | U 38 (-120) |
| Cardinals | -1 (-110) | -115 | O 38 (+100) |
Odds accurate as of August 22, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NFL Odds – Futures – Props
Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Cowboys | 76% | 24% | Cardinals |
See the latest NFL Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Cowboys vs. Cardinals Prediction — Can the Home Favorite Hold a Razor-Thin Number?
The betting public is firmly on Dallas here. Roughly three of every four spread tickets sit on the Cowboys and the point that comes with them. That support has nudged the number, too. Arizona opened at -1.5 and has since been bought down to -1, while the moneyline drifted toward Dallas as well. When a preseason line moves toward the popular side like this, it usually reflects casual money chasing a brand-name road team rather than a sharp signal.
The case for Arizona is straightforward. The Cardinals are home, and Minshew is the most seasoned quarterback expected to play meaningful snaps on either side. Continuity at the game’s most important position tends to matter in these backup-heavy contests, especially early, when the starters who do dress are still on the field. A veteran operator against a rotating cast often produces the cleaner first half, and that is where a one-point number gets decided.
The counterargument is real. Dallas has two backups who moved the ball efficiently in the opener, and getting a point in a true toss-up is never nothing. If Howell or Milton gets hot against Arizona’s reserves, the Cowboys can win this outright. However, the price on the home side is fair, the public is stacked against it, and the veteran-quarterback edge tips a coin-flip game just enough for us.
The Pick: Cardinals -1 (-110)
Cowboys vs. Cardinals Prediction — Will the Backups Move the Chains Enough?
The total sits at 38 and has ticked up a half point from its open of 37.5. That is a low number, which already prices in the sloppy, clock-heavy nature of a preseason finale-week game. Sportsbooks juiced the under to -120, so the market’s small lean is toward points staying off the board. Vanilla play-calling, conservative game plans, and long stretches of backups grinding out drives all argue for a quiet night.
The other side has an argument at plus money. Minshew is a capable NFL passer, and Dallas has two backups who put together efficient work in the opener. Three competent quarterbacks who all need reps can produce a couple of scoring drives each, and at a total this low, it does not take much. Getting the over at even money on a number that has already crept upward is the kind of value we chase in games where the offenses may be sharper than the price suggests.
The Pick: Over 38 (+100)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
The moneyline is close to a true pick, with Arizona at -115 and Dallas at -105, so there is little edge in paying up for either side outright. The cleaner route is the spread, where the point and the price line up with the read on quarterback usage. For a broader look at the rest of Saturday’s slate, see our Saints vs. Rams prediction and our Giants vs. Dolphins prediction from today’s coverage.
Preseason betting rewards discipline over volume. These lineups will change by the quarter, so treat both plays as lean-sized rather than heavy positions. To recap, this game produces two picks: Arizona -1 (-110) on the side, and Over 38 (+100) on the total. Both hinge on the same idea — the quarterbacks on the field should be a touch better than a one-point spread and a 38-point total imply.
NFL Cowboys vs. Cardinals FAQ: Saturday August 22, 2026
What time does the Cowboys vs. Cardinals game start?
Kickoff is set for 10:00 PM ET on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. That is 7:00 PM local Arizona time, since the state does not observe daylight saving. It is the late window on a busy preseason Saturday slate.
What channel is the Cowboys vs. Cardinals game on?
The game airs nationally on NFL Network. Locally, it is carried on CBS 5 (KPHO) in the Arizona market and KTVT-11 in the Dallas-Fort Worth market. Cord-cutters can stream it through NFL+ or fubo, both of which carry the broadcast for eligible viewers.
Where are the Cowboys and Cardinals playing?
The teams meet at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the Cardinals’ home venue. Arizona hosts this preseason matchup, so the Cowboys are the visiting team. The stadium features a retractable roof, which keeps conditions controlled regardless of the late-summer desert heat outside.
Who is starting at quarterback for the Cowboys and Cardinals?
Arizona will start Gardner Minshew and play him into the second half. Dallas is resting starter Dak Prescott and has not named a starter, keeping its Sam Howell and Joe Milton competition open. Expect both Cowboys backups to see extended, roughly even playing time as the staff continues its evaluation.