Prop It Up: Eagles-Cowboys Game Boosts Monday Night Football Betting Action

Written By Dave Bontempo on September 27, 2021
Eagles-Cowboys MNF

Opportunity greets the Philadelphia Eagles and “prop-ortunity” awaits New Jersey online bettors tonight.

It’s prime time, baby. The Week 3, Monday Night Football finale between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys brought both teams an emotional boost on Sunday.

Their two big NFC East division rivals lost. The Washington Football Team was physically crushed by the Buffalo Bills, 43-31. And the New York Giants were emotionally crushed by, what else, a field goal on the final play in a 17-14 setback to the Atlanta Falcons.

The winner of tonight’s match of 1-1 teams will occupy first place in the NFC East.

The Eagles have lost six of their last seven road games. Can they change that here?

Here is a closer look at the Eagles’ odds at NJ online sportsbooks heading into tonight’s game.

Eagles-Cowboys bettors are conflicted

Although gamblers agree on the game going over 51.5 points at most books, a classic public-versus-sharps matchup surrounds the Dallas -3.5 betting line at one of them.

At Caesars Sportsbook, the majority of bets are on the Cowboys. The majority of the money is on the Eagles.

Translation: The big gamblers are backing the Eagles.

Here is a closer look at some ways New Jersey gamblers can cash in on the Birds vs the Cowboys

 The total and the spread

DraftKings and Caesars sportsbooks, among others, favor a high-scoring matchup.

Caesars indicated 76% for the over while DraftKings Sportsbook was 71% as of Sunday afternoon.

Seven of the last eight Cowboys home games vs NFC East opponents have gone over the total. That includes a 37-17 Dallas romp over the Eagles late last season when the over-under was 50.

The bettors agree that these teams will light it up, but they don’t know who will light it up more.

As for the spread, DraftKings has 71% of the money backing the Cowboys at -3.5.

In a surprising contrast at Caesars, 70% of the tickets are written on Dallas, but 53% of the money is on the Eagles to cover that number.

The “sharps,” the big bettors, are Bird Watchers.

 Dak vs Jalen, the game within the game

Quarterbacks Dak Prescott of the Cowboys and Jalen Hurts of the Eagles have filled the DraftKings prop board with their own competition.

They work together on one prop to each notch a rushing TD at +500.

Here’s where they go separate ways.

Hurts has a price of +250 for 350 all-purpose yards.

As for the passing total, Prescott’s is 299.5. Hurts has to eclipse 248.5. yards. The price on each one is -115.

For passing touchdowns, Prescott is +165 to throw at least three of them. Hurts is +110 to toss at least two.

Then there are the odds for each QB to throw at least one interception. Prescott is -105 while Hurts is -155.

For the total yardage prop, Prescott is 315.5 and Hurts is 308.5. The price of each one is -115. Notice the price difference for Hurts at 308.5 compared to the odds boost of +250 for 350 yards.

Prescott has gone over 403 yards in three of his last four matchups against NFC opponents.

Eagles-Cowboys paydirt props

This is interesting both regarding a first touchdown scorer, which pays significantly, and an anytime scorer, which is far more modest but pays reasonably.

At DraftKings, Hurts to tally first is +1000. To hit the end zone at all is +125.

Hurts did score against the San Francisco 49ers last week. He may be forced to improvise against an improved Dallas defense.

Miles Sanders is due to find the end zone. The Eagles running back is +1000 to score first and +140 anytime.

Sanders has a scoring touchdown in his last two appearances against the Cowboys.

Do you have a feeling about Kenneth Gainwell taking a short plunge? He is +1600 as the first TD scorer and + 225 overall.

Don’t forget DeVonta Smith. The Eagles’ No. 1 pick is +1200 to score first. They were the exact betting odds he stood at in Week 1 when he did notch the first TD of the game in Philadelphia’s 32-6 triumph. Smith also is +150 as an anytime scorer.

Dallas Goedert has similar numbers. If the Eagles find themselves first-and-goal around the Dallas 10, this is a prime opportunity for Goedert.

On the Dallas side, Zeke Elliott is +650 for a first-time tally and an unattractive -135  to score anytime.

A fun Eagles-Cowboys side bet

DraftKings added this one in the Pools section. It’s called the $50K Eagles-Cowboys pool, has a $10 entry fee, and offers a top prize of $15,000.

Here are some of the questions:

  • Which team will win?
  • Will the total points be “over” or “under” 52.5?
  • Who will score the first rushing or passing touchdowns? (Choose one of six players)
  • Will DeVonta Smith have over or under 4.5 receptions?

More props from Caesars Sportsbook

The Eagles starting WR duo of Smith and Jalen Reagor to combine for 91 or more yards and the Eagles to win is a fat +750.

Prescott to throw at least three touchdowns and rush for at least 25 yards is +450.

Here is a trio of +240 payouts:

  • Hurts to throw for 245 or more yards and Sanders to reach 60 rushing yards.
  • Hurts to throw for 245 and Elliott to surpass 62.5 yards
  • Sanders to hit at least 60 yards and Smith to reach 55.

BetMGM and the Monday Night Football focus

Don’t want to worry about the first touchdown overall? Here’s a good one from MGM regarding the first TD from each team.

Eagles:

  • Sanders +550
  • Hurts +600
  • Reagor +750
  • Gainwell +1000
  • Quez Watkins +1000
  • Defensive player +2500

Cowboys:

  • Elliott +325
  • Lamb +450
  • Prescott +900
  • Defensive player +2500

Note: Dallas wide receiver Amari Cooper is listed on numerous props and has notched touchdowns in his last three Monday Night Football games. Yet his status won’t be known until game-time but he has been slowed with a rib injury.

How many points will the Eagles score in the first half? The over-under is 10.5 and the juice is -115.

Dallas has a 13.5 total with odds of -120.

AP Photo/Roger Steinman

 

 

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Dave Bontempo

Dave Bontempo, a multiple national award-winning boxing commentator and writer, authors NFL betting columns for the Press of Atlantic City and others. He writes about all major sports in the booming legal New Jersey sports betting industry. Dave also hosts the Why Eagles Why podcast. Dave is a member of the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame and the Atlantic City International Boxing Hall of Fame.

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