Dallas Cowboys vs. Tennessee Titans 2018: Prediction, Betting Odds For Week 9 Monday Night Football

Despite a disappointing first half of the 2018 NFL season, the Dallas Cowboys are one of the biggest favorites on the upcoming schedule. America’s Team is laying nearly a touchdown in their Week 9 matchup with the Tennessee Titans on “Monday Night Football.”

Both teams are 3-4, but Dallas is a 5.5-point home favorite, according to OddsShark. The total of 41 points is one of the lowest on the schedule.

There are reasons to believe the Cowboys will be better over their final nine games. The team is getting healthier, and they made one of the biggest moves ahead of the trade deadline, acquiring Amari Cooper in exchange for a first-round pick.

Dallas hopes Cooper will be the No.1 wide receiver they’ve desperately needed. Cole Beasley has been Dak Prescott’s top target, and he’s averaging just 50 yards per game. No other wide receiver on the team even has 200 yards receiving.

With the way the Cowboys have played defense, they don’t exactly need an elite offense to start winning more games. Dallas is third in yards per game allowed and second in scoring defense. The Cowboys have given up 20 points or fewer in three of their losses.

Only six teams have scored fewer points per game than the Cowboys. The Titans are among those teams, scoring just 15.1 points per contest. Tennessee has put up 12 points or fewer in three of their last five games, and they’ve scored more than 20 points once.

Like Dallas, Tennessee is hovering around .500 because of their defense. The Titans are right behind the Cowboys when it comes to points allowed. They’ve managed to have success against some good quarterbacks, beating Carson Wentz and the Eagles while being a two-point conversion away from defeating Philip Rivers and the Chargers in their last game.

Unlike Dallas, Tennessee didn’t make any key additions to their offense. Marcus Mariota has thrown for just 483 yards during the team’s three-game losing streak, and things don’t get easier against a Cowboys’ defense that’s allowed 217 passing yards per game.

Prescott has thrown for 183 yards or fewer in four of seven games, and his season-high is 273 yards in the air. The Titans are giving up 226 passing yards per game.

Maybe Cooper will find new life in Dallas and look like the player that made the Pro Bowl in each of his first two seasons. In his first game with a new team, he’s more likely to perform like the wide receiver that’s totaled more than 17 yards just once this season.

The success that Dallas will have on offense still depends on the running game. Ezekiel Elliott is averaging 112 yards on 5.1 yards per carry in the Cowboys’ three wins. Those numbers fall to 71 rushing yards on 4.3 yards per carry in four losses.

The Cowboys have been terrific at home, going 3-0. The Titans are 1-2 on the road, having lost to both the Dolphins and Bills.

Dallas certainly has the edge, though they will likely play a close, low-scoring affair. Five of Tennessee’s games have been decided by a field goal or less, and Monday’s contest could be added to that list.

Prediction: Dallas over Tennessee, 20-17