NFL
Preseason Preview: Minnesota Vikings at Dallas Cowboys
Written
By David Hess (Follow me on Twitter @DavidHess311)
When: 7:00 PM ET, Saturday,
August 29, 2015
Where: AT&T Stadium in Arlington Texas
Televised: Locally
Where: AT&T Stadium in Arlington Texas
Televised: Locally
Odds: The Cowboys
opened up as 3 point favorites, but money has come in on the Vikings a Dallas
now is just a 1 point favorite at most shops. The OU line has come down from
42.5 to as much as 41.5 in some spots.
The Minnesota Vikings have looked solid in the preseason so
far as they currently stand at 3-0. This will be their first true road game in
the Preseason, as their win over Pittsburgh was at the Hall of Fame game.
Defense, defense and more defense. That is what we have seen from the Vikings
in the preseason so far as they have allowed just 266 ypg and 10.3 ppg in their
3 games thus far. I knew this defense was going to be good this year, but they
really have showed that they just may be a top 5 unit. They are getting
contributions from all over and have shown some solid depth as well. That will
be key for them this year, as having a good defense will take the pressure off
of Bridgewater and allow him to continue to grow. Also helping take the
pressure off of him will be a healthy and pissed off Adrian Petersen. The
Offense won’t need to be all that strong for them to win games, but it will be
good enough to complement that strong defense. I had them pegged for 10 wins
this year and they just might hit it.
The Cowboys come in at 0-2 in the preseason so far, with
the losses coming at Sa Diego and San Francisco. The Cowboy offense has been
horrid in the early goings as they has scored just 13 points in the two games
while averaging just 247.5 ypg of total offense. I felt this offense would suffer some because
of the lack of a running game and that has happened. It has meant that their
QBs will have to make plays and they just can’t. The ground attack was the best
in the league last year, but has averaged just 86 ypg so far, after averaging
143 ypg last year. Romo has been asked to make plays in the past and he just
hasn’t been able. With no running game this offense is in trouble. Getting rid
of Murray was a mistake. The defense has been good in the early going so far,
allowing just 202 ypg, but they have allowed 20 ppg so far. Still this defense
may have to carry them till the offense comes around.
The offense for Dallas has shown nothing at all in the
preseason so far and I just can’t see them getting it turned around in this one
vs a very stout Minnesota defense. Dallas needs a running game and they don’t
have it now that Murray has moved on to Philadelphia. Without a good ground
attack Tomy Romo will need to step up and make plays, which is something he
hasn’t been able to do in the past. Even though he will get much more time in
this one, I just don’t see the Dallas offense putting up many points. On the
other side we have a very average Minnesota going up against a Dallas defense
that has allowed just 202 ypg thus far. You see where I’m heading here. The OU
line is usually higher in week 3 of the preseason because teams play their
starters a bit more, but even if the starters played the whole game during the
regular season I wouldn’t expect more than 35 points here. This OU line is way
to high IMO.
Take the Under 42 in this one.
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