The Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys will both look to improve to 2-1 in the scrimmage season when they hook up in the always important Week 3 matchup on Saturday at AT&T Stadium. With both Lone Star State-based teams looking to improve on their playoff appearances from a year ago, let’s find out where the best betting value lies in this intriguing contest.
Texans vs Cowboys 2019 NFL Preseason Week 3 Spread, Preview & Prediction
- When: Saturday August 24, 2019, 7:00 PM ET
- Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
- TV: NFL Network
- Live Stream: NFL Network
- NFL Preseason Week 3 Odds: PK, Total: 40.5
Weather Forecast
- Partly Cloudy: 34°C/94°F
- Humidity: 63%
- Precipitation: 20%
- Wind: 8 mph SE
- Cloud Cover: 62%
- Type of Stadium: Retractable
Head-to-Head Trends
- Under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings.
- Underdog is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
Why Bet On Houston as a Pick ‘Em?
After coming up just short in their 28-26 preseason-opening loss against Green Bay, the Texans bounced back nicely to beat Detroit 30-23 last weekend as Deshaun Watson went 5 of 7 for 60 yards and a four-yard touchdown pass to Deandre Hopkins in his preseason debut.
“It felt great to be back out there, get some live action and try to get myself ready to prepare for the real season,” Watson said. “Each game I try to make sure I’m focused and locked in. Whenever my opportunity comes, when I step on that field I try to take advantage of it.”
Backup quarterback Joe Webb III also had a solid outing by going 14 of 25 for 186 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Defensively, Derrick Baity Jr. recorded a team-high six tackles while Whitney Mercilus added one sack in the win.
Why Bet On Dallas as a Pick ‘Em?
One week after losing to San Francisco 17-9 in their preseason opener, the Cowboys got past the L.A. Rams 14-10 the last time out as Dak Prescott went a perfect 5 for 5 for 64 yards and running back Tony Pollard rushed five times for 42 yards and a a 14-yard score.
“It is a small sample size and we’re not going crazy about him being 9 for 9, but what he’s done well though is play well. He’s played well in practice, he’s played well in preseason games, he’s handled himself well, he’s making good decisions, making good throws and that follows with how he prepares,” Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said about Prescott.
Backup quarterback Cooper Rush went 10 of 16 for 83 yards and one touchdown in the win. Defensively, Justin March-Lillard had a team-high nine tackles.
Texans vs Cowboys NFL Preseason Week 3 Betting Trends
- Texans are 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 road games.
- Texans are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
- Texans are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 Saturday games.
- Cowboys are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
- Cowboys are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 Saturday games.
Expert Analysis and Prediction
While Dallas has played well defensively in not allowing more than 17 points in two preseason games, the Houston Texans have clearly come out firing on all cylinders offensively in averaging 29.0 points per game so far this scrimmage season. Forget the fact that the Texans have gone an uninspiring 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 road games, because the Cowboys are just 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 Saturday games and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
These two teams are very evenly matched on both sides of the ball, which leads me to believe Houston’s superior offense and Bill O’Brien’s desire to win in the preseason (13-8) will be the two driving forces that that puts the Texans over the top against Jason Garrett’s far less modest winning ways in the preseason (13-22).
Pick: Houston 23 Dallas 20
