The Dallas Cowboys visit the New York Giants on Sunday, September 13, 2026, opening their season at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Kickoff is 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. John Harbaugh makes his Giants coaching debut against Brian Schottenheimer’s Cowboys, creating an immediate test for two teams seeking a defensive reset.
Dallas has the more established passing attack. New York has home field, Jaxson Dart’s mobility and enough uncertainty surrounding both defenses to make laying points uncomfortable. The preferred play is Cowboys -3, with price discipline more valuable than rivalry history.
Cowboys vs. Giants Odds
| Market | Dallas Cowboys | New York Giants |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | -3 (-112) | +3 (-108) |
| Moneyline | -168 | +148 |
| Total | Over 47.5 (-110) | Under 47.5 (-110) |
These September 13 prices are a betting snapshot, not guaranteed closing lines. Dallas’ -168 moneyline implies approximately 62.7% before removing the bookmaker’s margin. A three-point Dallas victory pushes the spread.
At -112, the spread needs a 52.8% win rate on non-push bets to break even. When evaluating market price across top football betting lines, that is a price threshold, not a projected probability.
Prescott Gives Dallas The Passing Edge
Dak Prescott finished 2025 with 4,552 passing yards, 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. George Pickens supplied 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns; CeeDee Lamb added 1,077 yards in 14 appearances. That production gives Dallas multiple credible answers against coverage.
The matchup is not simply about throwing deep. Dallas can move Lamb across formations, force defensive backs to communicate and use Pickens outside when coverage shifts inward. My expectation is that Prescott’s experience will matter most on third downs, where one accurate throw can turn a potential punt into another scoring opportunity.
New York conceded 5.3 yards per rush last season, the league’s worst mark. That gives Javonte Williams a practical role: productive early carries could keep Prescott out of obvious passing downs. I prefer that balanced route to a cover over betting on Dallas to win entirely through deep passes.
Injuries Complicate Both Offensive Plans
Dallas will be without left guard Tyler Smith following thumb surgery. The Cowboys injury update identifies T.J. Bass as his replacement and projects Smith’s absence at four to six weeks. Bass has 10 career starts, so this is an experienced reserve rather than an untested emergency option.
That replacement still changes the calculation. New York can attack protection exchanges and try to collapse the pocket before Dallas’ receivers separate. Prescott needs manageable passing situations, not repeated third-and-long snaps.
The Giants injury report lists Malik Nabers as questionable with a knee injury, following full participation throughout the practice week. Andrew Thomas carries no game designation. Dallas running back Malik Davis is out with a hip injury.
Nabers’ availability is the largest remaining variable for New York’s passing ceiling. Being active would not automatically establish a full workload, so receiving props require more caution than the headline matchup suggests.
Dart Can Keep New York Competitive
Dart produced 2,272 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns and nine rushing touchdowns as a rookie. His 487 rushing yards illustrate a threat Dallas cannot solve solely by covering receivers.
My concern for Dallas is losing contain after initially defending a play correctly. Dart can extend possessions without completing a difficult pass, forcing defenders to choose between maintaining coverage and closing running lanes.
Dallas surrendered a league-worst 30.1 points per game in 2025. New York allowed 25.8. Those numbers support skepticism about either team controlling this game defensively.
Christian Parker now coordinates Dallas’ defense, with rookie Caleb Downs among the additions. Improvement is plausible, but a changed roster is not proof that communication and tackling problems have disappeared.
Cowboys vs. Giants Best Bets And Prediction
NFL Best spread bet: Cowboys -3 (-112). Prescott’s established connection with Lamb and Pickens gives Dallas the stronger route to sustained scoring. Smith’s absence keeps this from becoming a high-confidence selection. At -3.5, pass rather than surrender protection against a field-goal finish.
Total lean: Over 47.5 (-110), conditional on Nabers’ availability. Both offenses have paths to extended drives, but the over becomes less attractive if New York loses its top receiving threat or announces restrictions. Wait for that information rather than price in an unrestricted return.
Score prediction: Cowboys 27, Giants 23. Dallas’ passing efficiency earns the narrow cover; Dart keeps the Giants involved deep into the fourth quarter.
