No better way to get back to football on the field than with one of the most classic matchups in the history of the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers versus the Dallas Cowboys.
Not often do you have a rivalry with a team from a different conference or one that is 1,200 miles away. But with three all-time meetings in the Super Bowl and two rabid fan bases that like to claim the mantle of best in the NFL, the Steelers vs. Cowboys match-up is always fun to watch, even in the early preseason.
Together the teams claim 43 Hall of Famers and are both getting an inductee this weekend – wide receiver Drew Pearson of the Cowboys and guard Alan Faneca for the Steelers.
So let’s get to it this Thursday night and get back to the business of betting on football.
Pittsburgh Steelers (-1.5) vs. Dallas Cowboys
Last year, as the Pittsburgh Steelers raced out to an 11-0 start and flirted with immortality, and the Dallas Cowboys were one of those 11 victims. Of course, by then, Dak Prescott’s season was over, and the quarterbacking duties that day in Dallas had been turned over to Garrett Gilbert.
There isn’t much to glean from that game when assessing what will happen on Thursday. Dak’s ankle and leg have healed, but he won’t play. Neither will Ben Roethlisberger. Meaning that for Pittsburgh, it will be Mason Rudolph to start, Dwayne Haskins to finish the first half, with Josh Dobbs finishing the game.
Also joining Roethlisberger on the sideline are defensive veterans Cam Heyward and Joe Haden. Head coach Mike Tomlin did say, however, that rookie running back Najee Harris will see extensive action in the preseason.
For Dallas, we’ll see Gilbert, Cooper Rush, and Ben DiNucci do battle for the right to be Dak’s backup, a position made even more important by the current shoulder soreness that Prescott is dealing with in camp.
Placing Your Bet: Steelers to Cover; Over 33
Betting on a preseason game is always tricky. With neither coach really trying to win, you have to rely on the performances of players that will likely be off an NFL roster before the regular season begins.
This is one place you give the edge to Pittsburgh. They have a lot of new starting faces on the offensive line, meaning that those faces are likely to stay on the field and work on chemistry for longer than the Cowboys. Add in a steady diet of Harris at running back, and they should move the ball better than Dallas.
The Cowboys also have a new defensive coordinator and a number of new defensive looks. They are going to be working on those different looks without much regard for what Pittsburgh is doing. DC Dan Quinn cares about getting his players on the same page, not stopping the Steelers.
This, too, will work in the Steelers’ favor. A work-in-progress new Dallas defensive scheme means the Steelers will cover the 1.5-point spread and score just enough to hit the over of 33 total points.
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