NFL enthusiast Callum Wilson (@CallumWilsonSJ) shares his expert opinion on the best bets available from another exciting Red-Zone Sunday, featuring a titanic tussle between Prescott's Dallas and Ryan's Atlanta.
Dallas Cowboys @ Atlanta Falcons | Sunday 21:25 | Sky Sports
As another Sunday rolls around, the same familiar buzz surrounds an action-packed day of American Football. Following a tumultuous start to the season, things are starting to shape up in each team’s respective divisions – with shock and awe consequences featuring in equal measure.
This weekend boasts a plethora of pig-skin action, with the Cowboys travelling to the Falcons, a Giants party in San Francisco and a bullish Bills team hosting Drew Brees and co. The clash at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium between Dallas and Atlanta is where I’ll be focusing my attention.
A Zeke-less Cowboys is not a problem that Jason Garrett wants to ponder, but due to legal rulings, the superstar running back will not feature this weekend. Impacting a seismic shift in the betting line for Dak’s attack.
Dallas’ dearth of creative dynamism could prove detrimental
There’s no denying it, a Dallas outfit without Ezekiel Elliot is like Barcelona without Busquets. The Johann Strauss Orchestra without Andre Rieu or the Cleveland Cavaliers without Kyrie Irving. They just don’t tick to the same metronome without their heralded creative genius.
If they don’t feature, the team don’t work as cohesively and offer that degree of dynamism, and that alone should be a massive red flag for Garrett and the rest of the Cowboys back-room staff. The Falcons are dangerous.
Much was made over the supposed Super Bowl hangover that Matt Ryan and his Atlanta team were supposed to endure. In reality, Ryan and his ensemble have had a pint of water before going to bed.
A steady start to the season sees the Falcons sitting at a respectable 4-4. Not pulling up any trees, but by no means sinking after being submerged by Tom Brady and co on the biggest stage of them all.
Look for a low scoring affair with the absence of a star man
If the much maligned but supremely talented Elliot plays here, the Cowboys’ odds shrink from the juicy 7/5 best price to around an 8/13 favourite. It’s that big of a loss. The question is, how much will the absence of the Freak impact proceedings?
I think quite drastically. Not just on the money-line of backing Dallas, but the points total market is screaming out to me. Currently sitting at 48.5 points scored, this is a god-send for those who don’t want to back either team straight up.
The ingenuity being sucked out of the Cowboys’ offence will impact this game in a massive way, and I can see a relatively low-to-medium scoring affair. Quite simply, without the ability to punch the ball in the End-Zone with Zeke’s machismo and power running, I don’t think the scoring will be anywhere near the target set.
As the Falcons' offence attempts to get firing, there’s one thing that is steadily consistent in Atalanta – the ever improving running game between a perfectly balanced partnership between Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman. With the Cowboys ranking at 30th in the DVOA in defending the run, I can see this having a major influence in the outcome of this game.
The Falcons nick it, in a low-scoring affair.
Best Bets
Dallas Cowboys @ Atlanta Falcons – Under 48.5 points scored (10/11 188BET)
Dallas Cowboys @ Atlanta Falcons – Atlanta Falcons to win (4/6 SkyBet)
