The Atlanta Falcons opened up as a 1.5-point favorite at BetMGM over the Dallas Cowboys in a Week 9 contest with the Over/Under total in this game set at 48.5. We all watched the Cowboys come up short against the 49ers, and the line ticked up to Falcons -2.5. The total opened at 48.5 and money has been flowing in which caused the total to jump 3.5 points to 52.

We do have some history for this NFC South vs. East matchup but you have to scroll back to the 2021 season when the Cowboys (-7.5) demolished the Falcons 43-3. The total was listed at 54.5 and went low.

Looking ahead, the Falcons take a short flight down to New Orleans to face the Saints, while Cowboys fly back home and entertain the high-flying Philadelphia Eagles.

Cowboys vs Falcons Odds Week 9

Odds as of Oct. 29 at BetMGM

Cowboys vs Falcons Pick Week 9

Cowboys +2.5 (-105) at BetMGM

After an UGLY 7-10 record in 2023, it's surprising to see the Falcons on top of the NFC South with a 5-3 mark.

There are a handful of reasons, but lets start with QB1, Kirk Cousins. Captain Kirk played six years in Washington and six years in Minnesota before coming to the ATL. From 2015 to 2022, he played 16 games each season and his completion percentage was around 65% and he even tickled 70% in 2018.

Last season, Atlanta had to suffer through Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke. Ridder, now warming the bench in Vegas with the Raiders, had a respectable completion percentage (64.2%), but had 12 TDs and 12 INTs. Heinicke, now holding the clipboard for Justin Herbert in Los Angeles, completed only 54.4% of his passes for the Falcs last season, and had 5 TDs with 4 INTs. So Kirk is a YUGE upgrade.   

Then you can look toward RB Bijan Robinson, who fills the stat sheet every single game and is a LEGIT dual threat. On the ground, Robinson almost hit the magic 1,000 yard mark in 2023, coming up just short at 976. He played in ALL 17 games and grabbed 58 balls for 487 yards. This season, he will probably blow past those numbers since he has gobbled up 546 yards on the ground and 238 through the air already.

The other big change is at the X & O level with Raheem Morris taking over from Arthur Smith as the head coach. Morris did a stint as head man in Tampa and it didn't work out too well (17-31). Apparently, he has learned a few new tricks and has Atlanta sitting in the NFC South penthouse.

On the other side of the field, Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy is sitting in water so hot that you can fry an egg on the back of his neck. If the Cowboys lose this game and get smoked by Philly, you can bet that Jerry Jones will be handing out a pink slip.

So you're looking at this spread and telling yourself that Dallas could be a tasty underdog. NOPE! Gotta tell you that the 'Boys have covered only two of their last 11 as a dog. That works out to an 11% cover rate and also works out to a gigantic hole in your wallet.

The good news is, Dallas has won three of the last four on the road and Dak Prescott looked like a $240-million dollar man in the second half against a tough 49ers defense.

But Eck, what about Captain Kirk last week? He was 23 of 29 for 276 yards with 4 TDs and 0 INTs. Sure. But that was against a Tampa Bay defense that has allowed more points than any team in the NFC (213) except the clueless Carolina Panthers (271). Now you have all the info you need on both arms, so which way do you turn? Thinking about putting on my 10 gallon hat and spurs for a taste of the Cowboys. Dak and CeeDee Lamb (13 catches for 146 yards) are heating up and Dallas is 4-0 coming off back-to-back losses since the end of 2021.

How 'BOUT them 'Boys!

Dallas Cowboys vs Atlanta Falcons Betting Trends