NFL Sunday Night Football Predictions: Cowboys vs. Giants Odds

The Week 1 NFL betting weekend concludes with NFL Sunday Night Football when NFC East rivals the Dallas Cowboys take on the New York Giants. There’s a level of excitement surrounding the Giants that hasn’t been felt in several years after the club hired John Harbaugh. He brings instant credibility to a franchise that won a total of seven games over the past two seasons. The Giants did win their final two games last season, including a win over Dallas that ended a 9-game losing streak in the series. The Cowboys opened as a 3-point NFL betting line favorite

NFL Sunday Night Football Schedule & Featured Matchup

The first game on the NFL Sunday Night Football schedule takes place on September 13, 2026 with a classic NFC East rivalry. The broadcast schedule for the season on NBC and Peacock features marquee primetime matchups every week. Both the Cowboys and Giants are looking to rebound from disappointing seasons after combining for 11 wins. New York won its last two games to finish 4-13 and in last place in the division for the second straight season. Doomed by the NFL’s worst defense, the Cowboys went 7-9-1.

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What NFL Teams Are Playing on Sunday Night Football?

• The Dallas Cowboys make the first of three scheduled appearances on Sunday Night Football in the season opener.
• NFC East rival New York makes its only scheduled appearance on Sunday Night Football hosting Dallas in Week 1.
• This will be the 15th meeting between the clubs under the current Sunday Night Football package that started in 2006 making it the second most frequent matchup.

Key Storylines Entering the Matchup

• Longtime successful former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh makes his regular season debut with the Giants. Harbaugh won more than 61 percent of his games with Baltimore.
• During his career Dak Prescott has owned the Giants winning 14 of his 17 starts with 31 TD passes.
• Eyes will be on the Dallas defense to see how the unit adjusts under new coordinator Christian Parker. The group was dead last in the NFL in points allowed last season.

Sunday Night Football Predictions & Game Analysis

There are plenty of unknowns heading into this matchup, as there are with all Week 1 games. For the Giants the biggest question for their Sunday Night Football predictions is can John Harbaugh change the culture quickly and bring a winning attitude to a club that has only one winning campaign in a decade. The continued development of Jaxson Dart is crucial to the offense. If the Cowboys can stop someone they would be dangerous. Their explosive offense was overshadowed by a historically bad defense that allowed 377 yards per game and a NFL worst 30.1 points per outing. Both teams took steps to correct the issues during the offseason.

Predicted Winner

• As much as I think the Giants will be vastly improved under John Harbaugh, the process is going to take time. And the G-Men will have a hard time containing the Dallas offense.
• The Cowboys have dominated the series recently winning nine straight until dropping last season’s finale. Look for Dak Prescott to have another big game helping the Boys cover the slight 3-point spread.
• Both clubs appear to be stronger on offense and they will come out slinging giving plenty of value to the OVER 48.5-point total.

Key Matchups That Could Decide the Game

• Dallas’ offensive tackles have to contain New York’s edge rushers to keep the pocket clean for Dak Prescott. 
• The Cowboys had the worst scoring defense in the NFL last season prompting changes to the group. Any improvement will help considering the offense can score in bunches.
• The Cowboys have weapons in receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, who can consistently open up the middle of the field leading to big plays in the passing game.

Potential Upset Scenario

• With a proven winner in John Harbaugh the Giants have a coaching advantage that could help them pull off the upset.
• New York boasts an elite pass-rushing group that can flip the game if they consistently pressure Dak Prescott and disrupt Dallas’ passing attack.
• Jaxson Dart showed off his dual-threat ability last season leading the Giants to a win over Dallas. If the young QB avoids costly mistakes he puts the team in position to win.

Sunday Night Football Odds & Betting Preview

The Cowboys enter the game as the Sunday Night Football odds betting favorite of 3-points. Season opening games are typically the most chaotic as teams play their first real contest in several months and chisel off the rust. Dak Prescott has put up impressive numbers against the Giants during his career and the Cowboys have a recent track record of covering short numbers against division rivals. That’s why oddsmakers give Dallas the clear edge on the road.

How the Betting Lines Compare

• Dallas opened as a 3-point favorite (+101) with the Giants getting a field goal on the NFL betting line (-116).
• The Cowboys are priced at -152 on the moneyline with the Giants at +132.
• The high-powered offense of the Cowboys has lifted the total to the third-highest on the Week 1 board at 48.5.

Factors That Could Impact the Odds

• With All-Pro guard Tyler Smith out, Dak Prescott could be vulnerable to the Giants pass rush, which could lead to the line shrinking.
• Giants’ receiver Malik Nabers is recovering from injury and trending toward playing on Sunday night in a move that could shift the total slightly higher.
• Early betting trends show heavy backing for the Giants at +3. If the market continues to flood New York the line could shift to balance financial risk for sportsbooks.

Best Bets for Sunday Night Football

As the NFL betting line sits at Dallas -3 for the Week 1 NFC East clash, market consensus and positional breakdowns point toward a few standouts for the Sunday Night Football best bets. New York’s secondary is considered thin and vulnerable leaving them ripe for the picking by Dak Prescott and the Dallas aerial attack. Laying a field goal with a strong passing game gives value to the Cowboys as a Sunday Night Football betting pick.

Betting Markets Worth Considering

• Because the Giants lack secondary depth to double-team premier receivers, CeeDee Lamb is primed for a heavy workload. He’s also a trusted safety valve if the Giants bring pressure making him an ideal candidate to go over his receiving yardage total.
• Consider backing the OVER on the total since the teams have done that in the last three meetings and in four of the last five. The teams averaged 64 points in two meetings last season.

Value Opportunities Before Kickoff

• If you intend to back the Cowboys, research the odds and buy them at -2.5. Buying the hook down to -2.5 insulates you from a push if the Cowboys win by exactly three points.
• While the full-game total is trending upward the first-half UNDER is an intriguing situational option. Week 1 divisional matchups often have early rhythm issues and with both teams breaking in new play-callers, there could be some dull moments early on.

Final Sunday Night Football Pick & Takeaways

As we get closer to kickoff the betting picture for the first NFL Sunday Night Football contest is stabilizing. The line favors the continuity of Dallas’ dynamic passing game over a transitioning division rival. Despite public backing for the home underdog, the Cowboys have a clear edge in the passing game against an unproven New York secondary. Our Sunday Night Football score prediction has Dallas winning 28-22.

Biggest Factors to Watch

• One huge factor to watch is how the teams respond to new coaches. The Giants have a new staff led by longtime Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh, who’s looking to establish a new culture and identity for a team that’s struggled in recent years.
• Christian Parker is tasked with turning Dallas’ league worst scoring defense around. In two games last season against the Giants the Boys conceded a total of 71 points.
• Dallas has a top-tier receiving duo in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens presenting a difficult challenge for New York’s secondary that will lean heavily on rookies.

Final Prediction Before Kickoff

• The Cowboys have dominated the series winning nine of the last 10 matchups and 16 of the last 18. 
• Dak Prescott is 14-3 in his career against the Giants and leads a solid passing game against a fragile secondary. This all sets up for a Dallas win and cover.