The NFL Preseason is in full swing and there’s plenty of action to catch as the rest of the first week’s slate continues on Saturday. Today’s slate wraps up in the evening with a battle in Seattle between the Seahawks and the Dallas Cowboys. The reigning champs take on a team with high expectations for the year in what could be an early peek at a couple of contenders.
Here’s a prediction and pick for Cowboys vs. Seahawks in the NFL Preseason on Saturday, courtesy of odds and lines on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Cowboys vs. Seahawks preview
The preseason really doesn’t mean all that much in the grand scheme of things, so it shouldn’t be used as a measuring stick for a team’s future performance. However, for the clubs themselves, there are reasons that these games do matter.
For Seattle, the hope is that the franchise can avoid a Super Bowl hangover this year. There’s been some shuffling in terms of the incoming and outgoing talent this offseason, but at the end of the day, most of the championship core remains intact. However, the established starters won’t suit up tonight, per head coach Mike McDonald, so this is a game for talent evaluation and testing out the depth.
With Sam Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and the newly extended Devon Witherspoon all sure to be on the bench, there are still narratives to follow for the Seahawks. For starters, the approach of new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury is something to keep an eye on as he replaces Klint Kubiak, who is now head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. Likewise, the running-back tandem could become just a smidge clearer depending on which of George Holani, Emanuel Wilson, and first-round pick Jadarian Price get the early touches tonight. Expect to see some Tory Horton snaps early on at wideout, while Drew Lock and Jalen Milroe likely fight for the backup spot.
The Cowboys underwhelmed last season and fell short of even making the playoffs. However, there’s hope for the upcoming campaign, especially on the defensive side of things. Christian Parker is now the new defensive coordinator, and from reports out of training camp, the culture on that side of the ball has been changing over the last couple of weeks. That could also be thanks to the influx of talent like first-round safety Caleb Downs and some other new faces, but whether he even gets on the field is also uncertain.
From the sound of it, the majority of starters won’t suit up tonight, or during the preseason at all. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said the team wouldn’t play the starters a lot, though he did mention young guys needing to get on the field a bit. That means it’s likely Ryan Flournoy and Jonathan Mingo at receiver while Luke Schoonmaker and Michael Trigg – the latter of whom is a particularly interesting UDFA – at tight end. Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah should get backfield looks, and Joe Milton III and Sam Howell likely see the quarterback reps. There are fun, and even recognizable names on this side of the ball, even in terms of depth.
Cowboys vs. Seahawks prediction, pick
DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Seahawks as a three-point favorite in this matchup with -155 odds to win on the Moneyline. The Cowboys are a +130 road underdog with the game total set at only 36.5 combined points.
To be clear, betting on NFL Preseason can prove very tricky. Established names don’t see much action, especially in the earlier weeks, and there’s much more variance in these games due to the roster shuffling and how deep of a player pool coaches draw from.
The over on this game is one to smash for sure, especially at such a low line. There are quarterbacks on both sides with some starting experience in this league, and while the defenses are likely both going to be well-coached this season, they’re not deploying the true playmakers since starters won’t see much action. That could lead to some sloppy play from the depth, helping this over on 36.5 points cash. If I had to pick a winner in the end, I’d lean towards the Cowboys at plus value, but would still much rather play the game total instead given the variance involved with betting on the NFL Preseason.
