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NFL Preseason: Cowboys vs. Steelers Best Bets, Odds

Mike Tomlin

Mike Tomlin

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

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The NFL preseason returns tonight with the Hall of Fame game from Canton, Ohio. The Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers meet in the first game of the NFL preseason. Odds powered by PointsBet.

Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (-1) Total: 32.5

Handicapping NFL preseason games can be difficult. In the preseason you have to turn over every stone before you can make a sound decision. It is also very important to try to get the best of the number. Sharp action on these games can cause big line movement particularly when it comes to a Total. It’s also very important to know the quarterback depth chart, as well as coaches preseason tendencies.

PointsBet opened up this game with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a 1.5 point favorite. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has a 31-23 record in preseason games. Prior to 2020, because there were no preseason games last year, the Steelers were 3-1 in each of their past three preseasons. Ben Roethlisberger will not play for the Steelers tonight. Pittsburgh will play Mason Rudolph, Dwayne Haskins and Joshua Dobbs. Haskins has been talked up in the preseason and could very well see significant action tonight as he tries to get his career back on after leaving Washington.

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Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthey was 28-23 in preseason games as head coach of the Green Bay Packers. Dak Prescott and most of the Cowboys stars on offense will not play a single snap tonight. Last season with Prescott out, the Cowboys saw backups like Garrett Gilbert and Ben DiNucci get starts. We will see both of those quarterbacks tonight along with Cooper Rush. There is nothing to get excited about in that bunch.

PointsBet is reporting 70% of the Money Line Bet and 80% of the Money Line handle backing the Steelers. 80% of the spread tickets are backing the Steelers. I’m not touching the spread or the money line, but it’s likely a good idea to fade it.

What I do like, however, is the Total. The Total in this game opened up at 34 in most shops; that number is now sitting at 32.5 on PointsBet. In the preseason when the Total steams down, pay attention. In preseason games where a Total drops by more than a full point, the Under cashes around 53% of the time historically.

EDGE: Under 32.5

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