Monday Night Football: Titans vs Cowboys NFL Week 9 Odds & Pick

Week 9 is when the wheat separates from the chaff. It’s when teams that are struggling for wins have to do everything right from here on out or are left out of the playoff picture. The Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys are two teams that are desperate for wins as they’re both 3-4. The latest NFL lines have the Cowboys as the 5-point favorites, but it’s going to be an all-out battle so keep reading to get the latest insights on the game.

Monday Night Football: Titans vs Cowboys NFL Week 9 Odds & Pick

GAMEDAY. MNF in DAL.#TENvsDAL | #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/fMarDNtkhh

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) November 5, 2018

• When: Monday, November 5 at 8:15 PM EST
• Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington
• TV: ESPN
• Radio: SiriusXM/NFL
• Live Stream: NFL League Pass
• NFL Week 9 Odds: Dallas Cowboys -5 (Total 41)

How’s the Weather?

• Clear 18°C/65°F
• Humidity: 71%
• Precipitation %: 2%
• Cloud Cover: 3%
• Wind: 4 mph NNW
• Stadium Type: Retractable

Why Bet on the Titans?

Right after the Titans defeated the Eagles a few weeks ago, they looked like a team that was ready to take control of the AFC South. From that time, however, they went on to lose three games in a row and are now on a slippery slope.

Tennessee has struggled offensively, ranking 30th in the league in points scored. It gets worse when they go on the road where they’ve only managed to win one game of their last five games outside of Tennessee.

Quarterback Marcus Mariota might have a hard time to set up his passing game against the Cowboys’ defense, but if he can find Dion Lewis as an option on short passes, it might help get things going on offense.

The big problem the Titans offense will face is trying to hold back the Cowboys’ rushers led by DeMarcus Lawrence, who ranks ninth in the NFL in pressures this season.

The Titans’ defense has been solid though, and winning tonight will probably come down to how well the defensive unit does their job and keeps Mariota on the field. The thing is, Mariota and the Titans offense might not be good enough to win the game.

Why Bet on the Cowboys?

Dallas’ offense has struggled in the passing game with quarterback Dak Prescott throwing for just 202 yards per game. Even with the addition of Amari Cooper, it’s unlikely they’ll be able to get anything going through the air given the Titans’ solid defense.

However, if Prescott can get the ball in Cooper’s hands early in the game they might tilt the balance to their favor. The problem they’re facing though is giving Prescott enough protection to work the air attack. Dallas’ offensive line is shaky at best, something which has led to Prescott being sacked on 10 percent of his dropbacks which is among the highest figures in the league.

It’s unlikely, however, the Cowboys will rely on the passing game against the Titans. Dallas will turn to the ground attack, letting Ezekiel Elliot move the chains and attacking Tennessee’s rushing defense that hasn’t been too successful in stopping the run.

The Cowboys' D has found its flow the past two games, allowing less than 255 yards and 14 points per contest and it’s mostly due to their linebackers stepping up their game. Jaylon Smith made 10 tackles and a forced fumble in their 40-7 win over the Jaguars in Week 6. Then, it was Sean Lee who kicked it up a notch last game with five tackles to his name. Add rookie Leighton Vander Esch to the mix and it could create all sorts of problems for the Titans’ rushing attack.

Titans vs. Cowboys Betting Trends

• Tennessee is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Tennessee's last 6 games
• Tennessee is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
• The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Dallas's last 11 games
• Dallas is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
• Dallas is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Tennessee

Game Prediction: Expect this to be a game where defense is the key to winning. Both teams have struggled offensively, so whichever defense can keep their opponent’s quarterback off the field will control the game’s outcome.

Pick: Cowboys -5