The Dallas Cowboys are often called "America's Team," and few franchises attract as much attention, debate and public support. That popularity has real effects on how their games are priced. Here's a guide to the Cowboys and their odds.
Who the Dallas Cowboys are
City and stadium
The Cowboys joined the NFL as an expansion team in 1960. They played at the Cotton Bowl and then Texas Stadium, famous for the hole in its roof. Since 2009 they've played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, a huge venue with a retractable roof and one of the largest video boards in sports. The Cowboys traditionally host a game on Thanksgiving Day, one of the most-watched regular-season slots.
Famous eras
- The Landry era: under head coach Tom Landry, the Cowboys reached five Super Bowls in the 1970s, winning Super Bowls VI and XII. The franchise built a reputation for innovation and a strong national following.
- The 1990s dynasty: led by Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin, Dallas won Super Bowls XXVII, XXVIII and XXX in four seasons.
- Since then: the Cowboys have had many winning seasons and division titles, but long playoff droughts have frustrated fans.
Rivalries
The NFC East includes the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants and Washington Commanders. The Washington rivalry is historic, dating to the 1960s. The Eagles rivalry is famously heated. Outside the division, the San Francisco 49ers rivalry produced classic NFC Championship games in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
How to read odds on Cowboys games
The public money effect
The Cowboys are one of the most popular teams with casual fans. When a large share of public support lands on one team, the price can be shaded slightly toward it. This is one of the most discussed ideas in sports markets. It doesn't make the Cowboys an automatic fade. It means you should ask whether a line looks a half point or a point too generous to Dallas.
Favorite or underdog
Cowboys -6 (-110), moneyline -250: implied 250 ÷ 350 = 71.4%. Cowboys +3 (-110), moneyline +140: implied 100 ÷ 240 = 41.7%.
Worked example: public lean and value
Suppose your fair estimate for a Cowboys game is a spread of -4, but the line is -5.5 because of heavy public interest.
- If you pick the opponent at +5.5, you get 1.5 points better than your fair number.
- In the NFL, 1.5 points can be worth several percentage points of cover probability, especially if it crosses 4 and 5.
Of course, your fair estimate has to be right for this to matter. If you're simply guessing the line is inflated, you're not finding value; you're making a different guess. See value betting.
Roof and conditions
AT&T Stadium's roof means weather rarely affects Cowboys home games. Totals reflect team quality, not wind. On the road, December games in Philadelphia, New York or Washington can be cold and windy.
Thanksgiving and short weeks
Thanksgiving games come on a short week for the visiting team as well as Dallas. Short-week effects are debated, but rest differences are always worth checking. See how to read a matchup.
Season-long markets
Cowboys win totals and playoff odds attract a lot of opinions every summer. If the over on 9.5 wins is -125, the implied chance is 125 ÷ 225 = 55.6% that Dallas wins 10 or more. Popular teams' futures can be priced a little short because so many fans want to back them, so check whether the number already includes optimism.
What to check before picking Cowboys games
- Quarterback status. The biggest single factor.
- Public perception. Does the line seem inflated by popularity?
- Venue: indoors at home, outdoors on many road trips.
- Rest: Thanksgiving and prime-time games create short weeks.
- NFC East familiarity. Two games a year against each rival.
- Line movement. See why betting lines move.
Practice with play money
Cowboys games are a great way to study how popularity affects prices. On MockSport you can make free play-money picks on Cowboys games and compare the line with your own estimate before every kickoff. Browse the odds page.
FAQ
Why are the Cowboys called America's Team?
The nickname came from a 1970s team highlight film and stuck because of the franchise's huge national following and TV presence.
How many Super Bowls have the Cowboys won?
Five: Super Bowls VI, XII, XXVII, XXVIII and XXX.
Do the Cowboys always play on Thanksgiving?
Dallas has hosted a Thanksgiving game almost every year since 1966, making it one of the NFL's longest traditions.