Dallas Cowboys vs New York Giants Picks, Predictions, and Best Bets for Thursday Night Football

Expert Picks: Dallas Defense Gets Daniel Jones Moving

Jason Logan: Senior Betting Analyst at Covers
Jason Logan • Senior Betting Analyst
Sep 26, 2024 • 18:47 ET • 4 min read
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This article contains predictions for an old game!

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Daniel Jones and Dak Prescott on NFL TNF
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New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is one of the more polarizing players in the NFL, especially after the G-Men started the season 0-2, and many called on the team to bench their high-priced passer.

However, Jones played his best game in a long time in the Week 3 win over Cleveland, and tonight's Cowboys vs. Giants predictions expect him to carry that momentum into TNF by putting his legs to work.

Find out all the deets in my NFL picks for the latest primetime matchup. 

Cowboys vs Giants TNF prediction

My best bet
Daniel Jones Over 6.5 rushing attempts (+100 at FanDuel)

My analysis
Daniel Jones makes up for his ho-hum passing prowess with his ability to break off plays with his legs, and against an aggressive Dallas Cowboys defense, he could be running for his life.

The Cowboys continue to blitz a lot under new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, generating the highest pressure rate per dropback entering Week 4. That will have Jones hearing footsteps in the pocket, tucking and taking off as Dallas turns up the heat.

While Jones struggles as a passer under pressure, PFF charts him as one of the better running QBs in those situations. He ran six times vs. the Vikings’ blitz-heavy schemes in Week 1, five times in the weirdo loss to Washington in Week 2, and carried the ball eight times against the Browns last Sunday.

On top of those carries prompted by pass pressure, the New York Giants will call Jones’ number on designed runs and give him the choice to rush with plenty of RPO schemes in the playbook.

The Giants should go after the Cowboys' defense on the ground, considering Dallas ranks dead last in many run-stop stats to start the season. Big D watched Lamar Jackson run 14 times for 87 yards rushing and a touchdown last Sunday.

Jones, who has recorded nine or more carries in three of his last five full games against Dallas, is projected for as many as 7.6 rushing attempts on Thursday night. My number is a bit more tempered at 6.6 with a higher ceiling, considering the makeup of the Cowboys’ stop unit.

Cowboys vs Giants TNF same-game parlay

Daniel Jones 25+ rushing yards

Daniel Jones anytime touchdown

New York Giants +5.5

With all those carries come rushing yards. Jones is projected for more than 25 yards on the ground this Thursday.

With Malik Nabers getting blanketed in the red zone, Jones is a threat to tuck and take it. Dallas has already allowed two touchdowns to QBs this season.

The Cowboys defense is losing faith in new DC Mike Zimmer and the offense can’t do much beyond CeeDee Lamb. I like the divisional dog at home on Thursday.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

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Cowboys vs Giants odds

Cowboys vs Giants live odds

Cowboys vs Giants opening odds

  • Spread: Dallas -6.5 (-120) | New York +6.5 (-102)
  • Moneyline: Dallas -334 | New York +270
  • Over/Under: Over 43.5 (-115) | Under 43.5 (-105)

Odds courtesy of FanDuel

Cowboys vs Giants spread and Over/Under analysis

  • The look-ahead line for this NFC East rivalry was Dallas -7 in the summer, but with the Cowboys buckling for big points the past two weeks, the official Week 4 open hit the board at Dallas -5.5.
  • That spread dropped quickly, with Giants money moving the line as low as -4. Respected money bought back the Cowboys at that low and pumped this spread back to Dallas -5.5 and even -6 at some shops.
  • A whopping 83% of tickets and 86% of handle are on the Cowboys spread according to FanDuel.
  • The Over/Under total opened at 43.5 points and has crept up to 45.5 O/U after the Giant's offense showed life in the win over Cleveland.
  • Bettors are nearly divided on the game total, with 55% of tickets and 54 of handle on the Over.
  • The weather for East Rutherford could be wet on Thursday night. Rain showers are in the region, possibly showing up in the second half of Thursday’s outing. 

Cowboys vs Giants betting trend to know

New York is 11-6-1 ATS inside MetLife Stadium under head coach Brian Daboll. Find more NFL betting trends for Cowboys vs. Giants.

Cowboys vs Giants game info

Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Date: Thursday, 9-26, 2024
Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET
TV: Amazon Prime

Find out how to live stream Cowboys vs. Giants for free.

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Jason Logan Senior Industry Analyst Covers.com
Senior Betting Analyst

In his 20 years with Covers, lead NFL betting analyst “JLo” has seen it all and bet it all. Through the wild west of early Internet gambling to lobbying for legalized sports betting to our brave new wagering world, Jason has been a consistent source of actionable info and entertainment for squares and sharps alike.

Since joining the Covers team back in 2005, he’s honed his handicapping skills to provide audiences with the most thorough insights, blending traditional capping methods with advanced modelling and predictive analysis. Jason has studied the ins and outs of the sports betting business, learning from some of the most successful gamblers in the industry and the biggest sportsbook operators on the planet.

He is under center for Covers during NFL season as our top NFL expert, taking the points in his infamous “NFL Underdogs” column and representing the Covers Community at the Super Bowl. While he lives for football season, Jason’s first love is basketball and that shows in his in-depth NBA, NCAA, and WNBA betting breakdowns.

On top of being a mainstay in media from coast to coast – WPIX, PHL17, Fox 5 San Diego, WGNO, TSN, SportsNet, ESPN Radio – he’s had his analysis featured in USA Today, MSNBC, ESPN, the Wall Street Journal, CBS, Bloomberg, the L.A. Times, the New York Times and other major publications. You can also find JLo stuffing all the top picks and predictions he can into 10 minutes as the host of Covers’ flagship podcast, The Sharp 600.

His best advice for bettors new and old is “Handicapping isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ process. The impact and importance of information varies from bet to bet. Treat each wager different than the last.”

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