Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Redskins Betting Odds, Analysis, NFL Pick

Two divisional rivals going for their first win will collide Sunday as the Washington Redskins host the Dallas Cowboys as small home favorites.

The Redskins are playing on a short week after getting crushed 38-16 by the Pittsburgh Steelers as 2.5-point home underdogs on Monday night, while the Cowboys fell to the New York Giants 20-19 a day earlier as one-point home dogs.

Point spread: The Redskins opened as 3.5-point favorites; the total was 44.5 early in the week, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark (line updates and matchup report).

NFL pick, via Odds Shark computer: 28.0-16.5 Redskins (NFL picks on every game)

Why the Cowboys can cover the spread

Dallas has not had much success in this series with Washington lately but hopes a couple of new faces on offense can help the team win for the first time in three meetings. The Cowboys had beaten the Redskins five straight times before losing the past two head-to-head matchups. This time, they will have a pair of rookies leading the offensive backfield in quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott.

The duo of Prescott and Elliott had a tough time in their debut last week against the Giants, but this is an easier matchup defensively, especially after watching the Steelers.

Why the Redskins can cover the spread

Washington is 9-3 against the spread in the previous 12 meetings with Dallas, according to the Odds Shark NFL Database. The Redskins have also won four of their last five NFC East matchups both straight up and against the spread, which helped propel them to the division title a year ago.

While Pittsburgh did shred the team’s defense, Prescott is not Ben Roethlisberger and will likely struggle again, especially because this is his first road start. Dez Bryant also caught just one pass versus New York, and you can bet Washington’s Josh Norman will be motivated to hold him in check.

Smart pick

One of these teams will obviously be 0-2 after Week 2, and the odds are against making the playoffs in that situation. So who will it be? While the Cowboys did play the Giants tougher, the Steelers were a more difficult Week 1 opponent.

The Redskins should be bigger favorites here, but the public watched how poorly they played against Pittsburgh. They will prove those doubters wrong with a home win and cover.

Betting trends

The Cowboys are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games against the Redskins.

The total has gone over in the Redskins' last four games against the NFC.

The Redskins are 4-1 SU and ATS in their last five games against their division.

All NFL betting lines and point spreads data courtesy of Bleacher Report’s official odds partner Odds Shark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line movement updates and Odds Shark YouTube for picks and analysis, or download the free odds tracker app.