The San Francisco 49ers clinched their playoff spot with one of the biggest comebacks this season against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 18. The Dallas Cowboys dominated their division rival Philadelphia Eagles 51-26, although Philadelphia played their backups throughout that game. These are two teams on the upward swing, making this an elite playoff matchup. You’ll find the NFL odds, along with my pick and prediction for the 49ers vs. Cowboys below.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys pick, prediction | Wild Card Weekend
- Spread: Cowboys -3 (Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook)
- Moneyline: 49ers +130, Cowboys -150
- Over/Under: 51
Is Dak Prescott finally healthy?
Prescott started the year out with several elite performances. He averaged 302.2 yards with 2.7 touchdowns and 0.7 interceptions on 36 pass attempts per game through six contests. He posted 3+ passing touchdowns in five of those six games.
Prescott missed Week 8 with an injury, and he wasn’t the same when he returned. He averaged 255 yards with only 1.3 touchdowns and 0.9 interceptions on 39.4 pass attempts per game. Prescott failed to throw for 3 or more TDs in any of those seven games.
[bet-bonus id=”164810″ ]The switch flipped for Dallas’ signal-caller in Week 16, and he’s looked significantly better ever since. Over his last three outings, Prescott has averaged 283.7 yards and 4 TDs per game without throwing any INTs.
When Prescott is playing at his highest level, the Cowboys become one of the best teams in the NFL. If he’s finally healthy, they are a true Super Bowl contender.
49ers vs. Cowboys betting trends
San Francisco’s found some success against the spread (ATS) this season. They own a 9-7 ATS record, covering by an average of 0.2 points per game. The 49ers have quietly covered the spread in seven of their last nine games.
Dallas boasts a league-best 13-4 ATS record in 2021. They’re covering the spread by an average of 5.9 points per game, ranking second in the NFL. They’ve also covered in five of their last six matchups.
Both of these teams lean slightly toward the under in their games. They each enter Sunday with an 8-9 over/under record.
The 49ers have hit the under in four of their last five games. The Cowboys have found the under in eight of their last 10.
49ers vs. Cowboys prediction
It’s a bit surprising that the 49ers are only 3-point underdogs, and it’s a bit concerning that the number sits exactly on a field goal. There has been a lot of public talk about the Cowboys being the NFC favorites, and this line initially makes me lean toward San Francisco.
The 49ers had to fight back from a 17-point deficit to make the playoffs, while the Cowboys have seemingly gotten their offense right in the last three weeks.
I’m going to stick with my gut on this early prediction and side with Dallas. However, Vegas points toward a San Francisco upset, and it’s generally a bad idea to bet against the oddsmakers.
49ers vs. Cowboys Prediction: Cowboys 28, 49ers 24