The Dallas Cowboys (5-1 SU, 6-0 ATS) and Minnesota Vikings (3-3, 3-3) return from their bye weeks and will square off in an important NFC game on Sunday Night Football that is too close to call according to oddsmakers. The Cowboys are the NFL’s lone unbeaten team against the spread and hit the road in consecutive games after edging the New England Patriots 35-29 in overtime as 3.5-point favorites.
- Date/Time: October 31, 8:20 p.m. ET
- Stadium: U.S. Bank Stadium
- TV Coverage: NBC
- Sportsbook Odds: Cowboys -2.5 | O/U 52.5 (Line History)
- Cowboys vs Vikings Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
The point spread has yet to budge on this one, perhaps because neither team played in Week 7. A perfect ATS mark for Dallas will obviously be on the line here, but Minnesota has played much better recently too, coming off back-to-back wins for the first time this season. The total has surprisingly risen two points, though, in early betting, fueled possibly by a 4-0 OVER run for the Cowboys and their 5-1 mark overall this year. However, the Vikings have gone the other way, with the UNDER on a 3-1 run, including 3-0 at home.
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Dallas News & Notes
Dallas has scored 35 points or more in four straight games since topping the Los Angeles Chargers 20-17 back in Week 2. That correlates directly with the OVER cashing each time during that stretch, so Dallas backers might be considering another correlated parlay in this spot.
The only cause for concern after the bye might be on the defensive side of the ball, as the team has also surrendered at least 20 points in its last four games.
But the most impressive thing about the Cowboys so far has been their resiliency, winning two of the three games they have trailed at halftime, including the victory at New England.
Minnesota News & Notes
Minnesota shares a common opponent with Dallas this year in Carolina and won that game by a nearly identical score (34-28) on the road in Week 6.
The Vikings could easily be riding a four-game winning streak themselves if not for a poor offensive showing in a 14-7 loss to the Cleveland Browns as 1-point home underdogs in Week 4. In fact, they have suffered three losses by a combined 11 points, with the defense giving up 17 points or less in three of the last four overall.
While holding Dallas to 17 or less seems like a nearly impossible task, Minnesota has covered five of the past six meetings.
How Dallas Will Cover
The Cowboys have simply gone out and tried to outscore their opponents without worrying much about defense, and that has helped propel them to a perfect spread record. Sooner or later, that might catch up to them, but if it ain’t broke, why try to fix it?
How Minnesota Will Cover
The Vikings are on the opposite end of the spectrum under head coach Mike Zimmer, who knows how important playing solid defense remains in this league. They have won three of the past four meetings when holding the Cowboys to 24 or less, with a 10-2 record ATS in the past 12 games played between these teams going back to 1998.
Computer Pick: Vikings +2.5
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Buy Sports Picks Now- Minnesota is 10-2 ATS in the past 12 meetings.
- Dallas is 1-7 SU in its last 8 prime-time games.
- The UNDER is 3-0 in Minnesota’s last 3 home games.
