Dallas Cowboys vs. Cleveland Browns prediction: Odds, best bets, player news, injuries, and stats for Week 1

By
NBC Sports Bet Staff,

By
NBC Sports Bet Staff

Published September 7, 2024 09:47 PM

A marquee matchup late Sunday afternoon in Cleveland features two exceptional defenses as Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys take on Myles Garrett and the Browns.

Cleveland finished the regular season with a record of 11-6 but were knocked out of the playoffs in the Wild Card round. The Browns averaged 23.3 points per game (10th in NFL) on offense and gave up 21.3 (13th) on defense.

The Cowboys finished 12-5 last season but were also knocked out of the playoffs in the Wild Card round. On offense, Dallas averaged 29.9 points per game (first in NFL), and they gave up 18.5 per game (fifth in league) on defense.

Dallas’ offensive line with three new starters will be thrown right into the fire as they must find a way to slow Garrett and the Browns’ pass rush. Meanwhile Deshaun Watson will have to make plays for Cleveland if the Browns are to win without the injured Nick Chubb.

NBC Sports has all the latest info and analysis you need, including how to tune in for kickoff, live odds from BetMGM, player news and updates, and of course our predictions and best bets for the game from our staff of experts.

Listen to the Bet the Edge podcast as hosts Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick provide listeners with sharp actionable insight, market analysis and statistical data to help bettors gain more information before placing their wagers. So, whether you’re targeting spreads and totals, looking for value in futures markets or circling player props, give their podcast a listen to give you that extra edge.

How to watch Dallas Cowboys vs. Cleveland Browns live Sunday afternoon:

Date: Sunday, September 8, 2024
Time: 4:25 PM EST
Site: Huntington Bank Stadium
City: Cleveland, OH
TV/Streaming: FOX

Want to check out the other games on the NFL schedule this week? We’ve got you covered right here on NBC Sports with all the matchup, venue, game-time and TV/streaming info so you won’t miss any of the action!

Latest Game odds for Cowboys vs. Browns - Week 1

The latest odds as of Saturday afternoon via DraftKings:

Moneyline: Dallas (+115), Browns (-135)
Spread: Browns -2.5
Total: 41

This line continues to move towards Cleveland. It opened at Cleveland -1. The Total has also moved substantially as it opened at 44.5.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NFL schedule!

NBC Sports Bet Best Bets

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes the UNDER on a Dallas running back.

“Dallas at Cleveland is probably going to be the most bet game on Sunday. The Browns were 8-1 at home last year, and they still have one of the best defense in the NFL. So I’m not going to talk anyone off of Browns’ Moneyline or the Game Total UNDER, but the best bet is to fade Ezekiel Elliott UNDER 34½ rushing yards.”

Dallas vs. Cleveland team stats, betting trends

According to PFF, the Cowboys’ defense ranked 5^th in the NFL. The Browns’ defense ranked 6^th.
Cleveland was 8-1 both against the spread and on the moneyline at home last season.
The Browns were 4-0 at home ATS when favored by 2.5pts. or more.
Cleveland struggled to hit the OVER at home last season going 7-2 to the UNDER.

Quarterback matchup for Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns

Cowboys: Dak Prescott – career regular season for the Cowboys’ signal-caller in 2023. His season will only be judged by wins…more specifically playoff wins. Those are the only numbers that will resonate with Dallas fans’ and more importantly Jerry Jones.
Browns: Deshaun Watson – the former Texans’ star has played just 12 games in 2 seasons in Cleveland. Time for him to play more than 6 games in a season and throw for more than 1100 yards.