Dallas Cowboys NFL Betting Odds

2010 Season

When the Dallas Cowboys finished the 2009-10 NFL season first in the NFC East division on 11-5 and made it to the divisional playoffs (where they lost 34-3 to the Vikings), they were highly touted for another great season last year. However, right from the start the wheels fell off for the Texas team as they lost six of their first seven games, and ultimately finished the season third in the division on 6-10.

2011 Off Season

Just about everything that could go wrong did go wrong for the Dallas Cowboys last season. They started off the season 6-1 down which contributed to the firing of head coach Wade Phillips mid-season, and then the team was rocked by the loss in December of QB Tony Romo to a broken left clavicle. Which is why the team's new head coach Jason Garrett (who was promoted from offensive coordinator) had his work cut out for him in the off season trying to rebuild the bruised franchise. RB Marion Barber, WRs Roy Williams and Sam Hurd, OT Marc Colombo, G Leonard Davis and DE Stephen Bowen left the team, while veterans DE Kenyon Coleman and S Abram Elam joined. Using the 2011 NFL Draft, the Cowboys snagged OT Tyron Smith, LB Bruce Carter, RB DeMarco Murray, G David Arkin, CB Josh Thomas and WR Dwayne Harris.

2011 Preview

If Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is disappointed his team failed to make it to Super Bowl XLV (which was played in his recently constructed state-of-the-art stadium), he hides it well, and seems confident coach Garrett can turn things around this season. Offensively, the Cowboys should be better off from the get-go with the return of a now fully recovered Tony Romo, who had his best season as a pro in the 2009-10 season, and completed almost 70 percent of his passes last season before his injury. He'll surely be glad to reconnect with WR Miles Austin and TE Jason Witten, and put rookie WR Dwayne Harris through his paces. WR Dez Bryant will also be making a welcome return to the lineup after recovering from a broken ankle, and RB's Felix Jones and Tashard Choice should add to the proceedings the way they did last year. Despite the Cowboy's record last season, they still ranked seventh in the NFL in both yards and points per game. However, defense could be the Cowboys' Achilles heel this season, considering they ranked 23rd overall last season, and 31st in points allowed. That said, newly hired defensive coordinator Rob Ryan may be able to salvage the defensive lineup, provided he can motivate the players to deliver their A-games consistently. Newly signed free agents DE Kenyon Coleman and S Abram Elam should also add some welcome depth to the defensive, which is pretty much the same as it was last season.

2011 Prediction

NFL betting fans will no doubt be very wary of the Dallas Cowboys this season after their lackluster showing last year. The problem is not that the team lacked talent, but that they failed to pull together last season. As such, fans are curious to see if coach Garrett can pull the Cowboys towards themselves this season, even with the return of players like Romo and Bryant, and the addition of some new blood. If Dallas can put last season behind them, they may have a chance to excel again.

**Our Pick

Most NFL betting fans would agree that the big problem with the Dallas Cowboys last season was a lack of consistency, a malady their former head coach had no cure for. But there's a new doctor in town in the form of coach Garrett, who has a cool and contagious confidence about him. As such, this season we see the Cowboys first in the NFC East on 12-4.