‘Monday Night Football’ Betting Preview: Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys

For the second straight week, we had an NFL game end on a walk-off blocked field goal. The Detroit Lions are a steamroller, and it’s not clear if anyone can stop them. Both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills made their claims for the top of the AFC, and in the process of that, Bills quarterback Josh Allen made a claim for his first MVP.

Now we have a Texas showdown as the final game of Week 11.

Game Line: Texans (-7)

Jake Paul was a winner at AT&T Stadium on Friday night over 58-year-old Mike Tyson, giving Paul more wins at “Jerry World” in 2024 than the Dallas Cowboys. And fittingly, the Cowboys have looked like Tyson, barely throwing a punch while only being a showcase piece because of past glory

Not since their 1-15 season in 1989 have the Cowboys failed to win a game at home in a full season, but they are underdogs on Monday, and they are likely to be underdogs in three of the four home games that are remaining after this one. Only on Thanksgiving Day against the New York Giants will Dallas be favored to win.

The Houston Texans don’t care about any of the drama going on in Dallas. They just need a win. A loss to the New York Jets was bad, but then losing the next week despite intercepting Lions quarterback Jared Goff five times was unforgivable. The rest of the AFC leaders are winning, and if Houston thinks they belong in that group, this next stretch of games is a chance to get back into it.

After Dallas on Monday, the Texans have very winnable games against the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars, then they have their bye.

Quarterback Proposition Bets

With Dak Prescott sidelined for the remainder of the season, the Cowboys have turned to Cooper Rush to be their quarterback. His over/under of passing yards for the night is 178.5, and that feels exceedingly high. Against the Atlanta Falcons, he threw 25 passes and managed just 115 yards. The next week against the Philadelphia Eagles, he threw 23 passes for 45 yards, and was eventually pulled for Trey Lance.

C.J. Stroud has had a bad year by the standard he set last year. But his over/under of 238.5 passing yards is a total he’s gone over four times this season.

Running Back Proposition Bets

One of the biggest issues with the Cowboys offense is running the football. Dallas ranks 31st in rushing yards per game, and 31st in yards per rush. Their leading rusher, Rico Dowdle, only ranks 35th in rushing in the NFL. His over/under on rush yards on Monday is 55.5, which is a number he’s only gone over twice this season.

For the Texans, it’s a very different story. Joe Mixon has been one of the most consistent backs in football this season. He’s gone over 100 yards in five of his seven games, has touchdowns in six of seven games, and is riding a five-game touchdown streak.

Mixon’s rush yards line is 86.5, and he is -200 to score a touchdown. He is the favorite at +265 to be the game’s first touchdown scorer. Dowdle is +135 to find the end zone on Monday.

Pass Catcher Proposition Bets

As bad as the Cowboys have been, they do still have greatness in wide receiving CeeDee Lamb. Although, even he has seen a big dip in production this season. Through nine games played this season, he has 681 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Compare that to 975 yards through nine games in 2023, and the career-high he set with 12 touchdown catches.

Lamb’s over/under on receiving yards is 60.5 and he is +215 to score a touchdown. Tight end Jake Perguson has a line of 35.5, and Jalen Tolbert is 25.5, and both are +370 to score a touchdown.

Nico Collins is back for the Texans, and along with fantasy owners rejoicing, the Houston offense should see a big uptick in production. In the five games he played before getting hurt, he had receiving yards totals of 117, 135, 86, 151, and 78 in the game in which he was injured.

His over/under is 72.5, which would be his lowest total of the season. But you can get +250 on Collins going over 100 yards, which he has done in 60% of his games this season. Collins is +125 to score a touchdown.

Tank Dell is at 49.5 yards and +210 to score a touchdown, former Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz is at 29.5 yards and +255 to score a touchdown, and John Metchie III, who had his first career touchdown last week, is +750 to score with an over/under of 12.5 receiving yards.