Cowboys vs. 49ers Wild Card Betting Odds, Picks, and Trends

Considered one of the most-bitter rivalries in the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys will lock horns in the Wild Card round of the 2022 NFL playoffs. The 49ers needed a come-from-behind win vs. the Rams in their final game to punch their postseason ticket, while the Cowboys finished Week 18 comfortably with a 25-point win over the Eagles.

The Cowboys opened as 3-point home favorite over the 49ers with a total at 50.

San Francisco 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys

Date/Time: January 16, 4:30 P.M. ET
Arena: AT&T Stadium
How to watch: CBS
Opening odds: Cowboys -3 | O/U 49.5 (BetMGM)

Latest 49ers-Cowboys Odds

Looking for the latest odds for this matchup? Check them out.

Opening Odds – 49ers vs. Cowboys

The Cowboys opened as 3-point faves to take down the 49ers, and 55% of early bets are on America’s Team to win and cover. Dallas has been a home favorite in each game this season and finished 2021 with a 5-3 ATS record.

As for the total, oddsmakers are predicting a shootout for this Wild Card matchup with a total of 50. Early betting is leaning to the OVER, with 62% of early bets projecting a high-scoring elimination game.

Quarterback Analysis – Jimmy Garoppolo vs. Dak Prescott

Two quarterbacks who are well compensated and sometimes feel overpaid, there’s bound to be some mistakes when Cowboys QB Dak Prescott and 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo take the field. Prescott was able to finish the season with no interceptions in his final four games, but only two of those games were against a team with a winning record (Cardinals, Eagles).

The good news for Prescott is he finished with a career-high in passing touchdowns, but the bad news is his scrambling ability is all but gone. Dak has 25 rushing touchdowns in 85 career games but only scored once in the end zone while averaging a career-low in rushing yards per game this season. It’s something to keep in mind when facing a ferocious pass rush like the 49ers.

As for Garoppolo, you can always count on him to make at least one brilliant throw per game and another boneheaded pass that makes you reconsider if he should be a starting quarterback. Jimmy G finished the season with 12 interceptions in 15 games but came up big when it mattered most by leading a game-winning drive over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 18. This has been the book on Garoppolo since he came to San Francisco and was just as evident during their Super Bowl appearance two years ago. The 49ers have a habit of winning in spite of Jimmy G, so it may not matter in the Wild Card round if he can complete a key third down.

Latest Cowboys Betting News & Info

Although the Cowboys can seem to be overrated in many phases of the game, one part they excel at is scoring the ball. Dallas led the NFL in points per game (31.1), and most of that was due to the passing offense putting up points in a hurry. Prescott had 37 passing touchdowns this season and has many weapons at his disposal with WRs Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb and Cedrick Wilson.

With a strong offensive line and running back being paid like a superstar in Ezekiel Elliott, you’d think the ground game would be the bread and butter. Not the case. The Cowboys only had 15 rushing TDs this season, which was bottom-10 in the NFL.

Another area the Cowboys have improved on is on the turnover front. Dallas led the NFL with 34 total takeaways and 26 interceptions in 2021. If the Cowboys want any shot to take down the 49ers in the Wild Card round, their defense will need to step up and cause havoc.

Latest 49ers Betting News & Info

A team that can resemble Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the San Francisco 49ers are in a prime spot to make some noise in the NFL Playoffs. The 49ers seemingly have weapons at every position, and that wealth of talent was on full display in Week 18 when San Francisco erased a two-score deficit over the Rams.

Dual-threat RB/WR Deebo Samuel may deserve the most credit because of his ability to make big plays, while his tackle-breaking ability also keeps the chains moving. In his last eight games, he’s averaged just over 45 rush yards per game while finding the end zone nine times. The run game has always been the strength of Kyle Shanahan’s offense, and to have RB Eli Mitchell and Samuel pacing the offense, the 49ers can score on any defense, especially the Cowboys.

The defensive line for San Francisco will likely cause a lot of pressure on the Cowboys in this matchup. They had 48 sacks this season, which was fifth in the NFL. If they can break down the offensive line and make Prescott uncomfortable, we could see a lot of botched third downs or turnovers generated by the Niners defense.

San Francisco vs. Dallas Betting Picks – NFL Wild Card Round

Most of the public action is on the Cowboys -3, but I think the 49ers may have this one. San Francisco offers too many matchup issues for Dallas that should make it tough for the Cowboys to run away with the score.

As for the total, I like the OVER, as I think both teams will put up at least 25 points.