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Cowboys vs 49ers Picks, Predictions, Odds | Sunday Night Football Week 5

Michael Crosson
Michael Crosson Sports Betting Expert
5 minute read

It’s a clash of NFC titans on Sunday Night Football, and it’s also a highly anticipated playoff rematch, as the Cowboys visit San Francisco for the first time since their frustrating loss in the Divisional Round of last year’s postseason, a contest in which Dak Prescott and company scored just 12 points on 282 total yards and converted 5-of-15 third downs in a deflating defeat.

Here's everything you need to know about the Cowboys vs. 49ers Picks, Predictions, and Odds for Sunday Night Football Week 5.

Cowboys vs 49ers Picks, Betting Prediction & Odds for Sunday Night Football Week 5

Matchup Spread Total Moneyline

According to VegasInsider’s Patrick Everson, San Francisco opened as a 4-point favorite at TwinSpires Sportsbook, but on Wednesday, that number fell to Niners -3.5. At the time, San Francisco was attracting 72% of early spread bets, but spread money was much closer with a 53% lean towards the Niners thanks to sharp money coming in at Dallas +4.

In some ways, this feels a bit reminiscent of Sunday Night Football Week 2, as the stage appears to be set for another Pros vs. Joes betting matchup in primetime, and once again,  I think we should avoid overthinking this one and side with the Joes.

Back in Week 2, the Dolphins and Patriots met on Sunday night, and Miami took roughly 60% of spread bets at BetMGM. However, sharps managed to balance out that number with roughly 50% of the spread money still landing on New England. For the record, I took the Dolphins -3, and they won that game 24-17.

Well, here we go again this Sunday. The public is all aboard the Niners bandwagon, while sharps seem to be drifting towards the Cowboys in a revenge spot. However, the Niners might be an absolute steal at home on Sunday night, especially if you are willing to buy a point to play it down to an alternate line of San Francisco -2.5.

You could easily argue that the Niners are the best team in the NFL and they just haven’t had a chance to prove it yet due to Brock Purdy’s elbow injury in last year’s NFC Championship Game. The Niners are 9-0 with a +148 point differential in nine regular season contests started by Brock Purdy, and as a team, San Francisco has covered the spread in nine straight home games. 

The Niners have also scored 30+ points in seven straight regular season games, and according to Action Network’s Evan Abrams, that is the longest 30-point scoring streak by an NFC team since the "Greatest Show on Turf" Rams in 1999-2000, who scored 30+ points in 14 straight games. 

While on the other side of that same coin, the Cowboys have posted incredibly impressive numbers to open the season, especially on the defensive side of the ball. But let’s not overreact to Dallas steamrolling the Giants, Jets, and Patriots. The Cowboys’ flaws on offense were on full display in Week 3 when they scored just 16 points in a double-digit loss to Arizona. 

All things considered, if you want to roll the dice on the Cowboys at plus money, I’ll admit that they have a puncher’s chance at winning pretty much any game. That said, you won’t catch me red-handed fading a Niners team that’s pretty much undefeated with Purdy under center. My best advice: ride the wave with San Francisco until we see somebody lay out a blueprint for beating them.

Score Prediction: Niners 30, Cowboys 23
Best Bet: San Francisco -3.5 (-110)

DAL @ SF Odds

  • Full Game
  • 1H
  • 1Q
  • 2Q
  • 3Q
  • 4Q
  • Spread
  • Total
  • Moneyline
Final
Dallas Cowboys 473 Cowboys
N/A +2.5 even +2.5 -105 +2.5 +105 +2.5 even +2.5 even +2.5 +105 +3.5 -115  
San Francisco 49ers 474 49ers
N/A -2.5 -120 -2.5 -115 -2.5 -125 -2.5 -120 -2.5 -120 -2.5 -130 -3.5 -105  
Final
Dallas Cowboys 473 Cowboys
N/A o22.5 -115 o22.5 -110 o22.5 -105 o22 -110 o22.5 -110 o22.5 -120 o45 -110  
San Francisco 49ers 474 49ers
N/A u22.5 -105 u22.5 -110 u22.5 -115 u22 -110 u22.5 -110 u22.5 -105 u45 -110  
Final
Dallas Cowboys 473 Cowboys
N/A +150 +135 +160 +143 +140 +148 +152  
San Francisco 49ers 474 49ers
N/A -170 -160 -192 -170 -170 -182 -180  
Final
Dallas Cowboys 473 Cowboys
N/A +1.5 -115 N/A N/A +1.5 -115 +1.5 -115 +1.5 -132 +3.5 -115  
San Francisco 49ers 474 49ers
N/A -1.5 -105 N/A N/A -1.5 -105 -1.5 -105 -1.5 +107 -3.5 -105  
Final
Dallas Cowboys 473 Cowboys
N/A o22.5 -110 N/A N/A o22.5 -120 o22.5 -110 o23.5 -114 o45 -110  
San Francisco 49ers 474 49ers
N/A u22.5 -110 N/A N/A u22.5 even u22.5 -110 u23.5 -112 u45 -110  
Final
Dallas Cowboys 473 Cowboys
N/A +115 N/A N/A N/A +116 +102 +152  
San Francisco 49ers 474 49ers
N/A -135 N/A N/A N/A -138 -129 -180  
Final
Dallas Cowboys 473 Cowboys
N/A +0.5 -120 +0.5 -130 +0.5 -135 +0.5 -130 +1.5 -142 +1.5 -113 +3.5 -115  
San Francisco 49ers 474 49ers
N/A -0.5 even -0.5 even -0.5 +114 -0.5 +110 -1.5 +116 -1.5 -110 -3.5 -105  
Final
Dallas Cowboys 473 Cowboys
N/A o7.5 -115 o7.5 -120 o7.5 -108 o7.5 -110 o7.5 -108 o9.5 -121 o45 -110  
San Francisco 49ers 474 49ers
N/A u7.5 -105 u7.5 -110 u7.5 -112 u7.5 -110 u7.5 -112 u9.5 -104 u45 -110  
Final
Dallas Cowboys 473 Cowboys
N/A +135 +125 +114 +118 +120 +150 +152  
San Francisco 49ers 474 49ers
N/A -155 -160 -135 -140 -148 -190 -180  
Final
Dallas Cowboys 473 Cowboys
N/A +0.5 -115 N/A +6.5 -105 N/A +1.5 -118 N/A +3.5 -115  
San Francisco 49ers 474 49ers
N/A -0.5 -105 N/A -6.5 -125 N/A -1.5 -104 N/A -3.5 -105  
Final
Dallas Cowboys 473 Cowboys
N/A o13.5 +110 N/A o23.5 -140 N/A o21.5 +122 N/A o45 -110  
San Francisco 49ers 474 49ers
N/A u13.5 -130 N/A u23.5 +110 N/A u21.5 -166 N/A u45 -110  
Final
Dallas Cowboys 473 Cowboys
N/A +115 N/A +120 N/A +122 N/A +152  
San Francisco 49ers 474 49ers
N/A -135 N/A -142 N/A -144 N/A -180  
Final
Dallas Cowboys 473 Cowboys
N/A +0.5 -140 N/A +0.5 -135 N/A +1.5 -152 N/A +3.5 -115  
San Francisco 49ers 474 49ers
N/A -0.5 +120 N/A -0.5 +114 N/A -1.5 +126 N/A -3.5 -105  
Final
Dallas Cowboys 473 Cowboys
N/A o9.5 -105 N/A o9.5 -110 N/A o13.5 -102 N/A o45 -110  
San Francisco 49ers 474 49ers
N/A u9.5 -115 N/A u9.5 -110 N/A u13.5 -130 N/A u45 -110  
Final
Dallas Cowboys 473 Cowboys
N/A -105 N/A +114 N/A +108 N/A +152  
San Francisco 49ers 474 49ers
N/A -115 N/A -135 N/A -126 N/A -180  
Final
Dallas Cowboys 473 Cowboys
N/A +0.5 -125 N/A +0.5 -115 N/A +1.5 -144 N/A +3.5 -115  
San Francisco 49ers 474 49ers
N/A -0.5 +105 N/A -0.5 -105 N/A -1.5 +118 N/A -3.5 -105  
Final
Dallas Cowboys 473 Cowboys
N/A o13.5 +105 N/A o13.5 even N/A o12.5 -128 N/A o45 -110  
San Francisco 49ers 474 49ers
N/A u13.5 -125 N/A u13.5 -120 N/A u12.5 +106 N/A u45 -110  
Final
Dallas Cowboys 473 Cowboys
N/A +105 N/A +114 N/A +106 N/A +152  
San Francisco 49ers 474 49ers
N/A -125 N/A -135 N/A -124 N/A -180  

Cowboys vs 49ers Betting Resources

Date: Sunday, October 8, 2023
Matchup: NFC East vs NFC West
Venue: Levi's Stadium
Location: Santa Clara, California
Time-TV: NBC, 8:20 p.m. ET

Click here for Vegas Insider senior reporter Patrick Everson's full NFL Odds Week 5 Report containing spreads, lines, and trends for every NFL matchup.

Dallas Cowboys Betting Analysis

Calling the Cowboys “the same ole Dallas team” may sound a bit demeaning, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s actually a vote of confidence. The Cowboys have won 12 games in back-to-back regular season campaigns while finishing Top 7 in scoring on offense and defense both years – despite Dak Prescott missing five contests due to injury last season.

However, being “the same ole Dallas team” also includes the inability to generate points in big games against the 49ers’ defense. The Cowboys and 49ers have squared off in back-to-back postseasons, and Dallas scored 17 points or less on sub-310 total yards in both matchups. 

I’m well aware that this isn’t a playoff game, and the Cowboys have been great in primetime over the last few years, boasting records of 10-4 SU and 11-3 ATS in night games since 2021. That said, this is going to be a road matchup with “Game of the Year” vibes against a legitimate Super Bowl contender. And while it certainly isn’t their fault, the Cowboys haven’t really played anybody yet, as they enter this heavyweight bout cold after opening the season with matchups against the Giants, Jets, Cardinals, and Patriots.

Maybe I’ll feel different once January rolls around and these teams inevitably meet again in the playoffs for the third straight year. Like I already mentioned, the Cowboys are an excellent football team. But it’s tough to waltz in and win a title fight after sparring with unranked opponents for four straight weeks; and that’s basically what the Cowboys will be trying to do on Sunday night.

The 49ers are 9-0 ATS in their last nine home games. (Getty)

San Francisco 49ers Betting Analysis

The Niners enter Week 5 favored over Philly to win the NFC. So, the notion of San Francisco arguably being the best team in the league isn’t exactly a secret. However, I don’t think the wide majority of NFL fans truly realize the level of dominance that the 49ers have achieved over the last year or so.

The 49ers have won 14 straight regular season games, and overall, they are 11-1 in their 12 contests started by Brock Purdy, with their only loss during that span coming in the playoff game in which Purdy suffered a torn UCL.

The Cowboys are a very good football team, and by no means are they a weekly fade. But don’t let their dominant performances against subpar opponents fool you. This is the same ole Cowboys squad as years past. They’ll win (most of) the easy ones, and they’ll lose the tough ones. I’m laying the points with San Francisco on Sunday night.

Cowboys vs 49ers Betting Trends

  • The Cowboys are 6-3 ATS in their last nine games.
  • The total has gone UNDER in six of Dallas' last eight games.
  • The 49ers are 12-3 ATS in their last 15 games.
  • The total has gone UNDER in four of San Francisco's last six games.
  • The 49ers are 16-1 SU in their last 17 games.
  • The 49ers are 9-0 ATS in their last nine home games.
  • The Cowboys are 10-4 SU in their last 14 games.
  • The Cowboys are 6-3 SU in their last nine games against San Francisco.

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Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson began his time at VegasInsider as a freelance NBA writer back in 2019 while he continued to study Psychology and Biology at James Madison University. Following his graduation in 2021, Michael joined the team full-time, and he's been with VI ever since. Michael still writes NBA, NFL, and MLB for VI, as well as gambling industry news. He's also become a crucial part of our editorial production team. More from Michael Crosson
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