NFL Preseason Week 1 Predictions: Dallas Cowboys vs. Oakland Raiders

The Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders were on their way to participating in the 2011 NFL playoffs until they both lost four of their last five regular season games.  The two teams will look to move past last year’s troubles in opening up their preseason schedule against each other on ESPN’s Monday Night Football.

NFL oddsmakers have established the Cowboys as 1.5-point road underdogs (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total has moved up by a full point to settle in at 35.

Dallas may be without the services of wide receivers Miles Austin and Dez Bryant due to hamstring injuries, which could hamper an offensive unit that ranked 11th in the league in total offense in 2011.

Head coach Jason Garrett will begin his second full season (third year) in guiding America’s Team, as the franchise looks to improve upon his 2-2 straight-up and 1-3 against-the-spread (ATS) record in preseason play. 

Oakland will begin the Dennis Allen era at the O.co Coliseum, as the 39-year-old is the youngest head coach in the National Football League. He served as the Denver Broncos defensive coordinator last year.

Raiders signal-caller Carson Palmer could potentially play the entire first half against a Cowboys defensive unit that ranked 23rd in the league in pass defense a year ago. The former USC Trojans star played in 10 games for the Silver and Black in 2011 after being acquired by trade from the Cincinnati Bengals.

Sports bettors may elect to take the points in this affair, considering underdogs are 8-6-1 ATS in the opening week, but the Cowboys have failed to cover the number in three of their last four preseason openers.

Despite having three different head coaches over the last six years, Oakland has grabbed the cash in five of six lid lifters to open up an exhibition schedule.

I recommend taking a look at the Cowboys in this spot, as they possess one of the deeper quarterback groups in the league, which should cause problems for Raiders' first-year defensive coordinator Jason Tarver.

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