NFL Opening Sunday - Dallas Cowboys vs. Cleveland Browns

This Sunday the Dallas Cowboys begin their march to the top of the NFC when they travel to Cleveland to take on the resurgent Cleveland Browns. Both teams will have a lot of pressure on them.

The Cowboys are expected to win after garnering the best record in the NFC last season. Tony Romo, the Cowboys sometimes flighty quarterback, is supposed to have a great year. Terrell Owens has had an uneventful off season, that’s a good thing, and the Cowboy’s defensive front should have gotten better with the addition of middle-linebacker Zach Thomas.

For NFL betting fans, the Dallas Cowboys have become not only one of the top picks to win it all this year, but also one of the key teams in football betting this season. All of that has occurred with the ‘Boys still waiting to play their first meaningful game of the season.

The Cleveland Browns have been pumped up as one of the top teams in the AFC North. Their schedule is a killer. Not only do they have to play Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Cincinnati twice this season, but the Browns also get to face off against the teams from the NFC East.

That includes the Cowboys in this game, last year’s Super Bowl Champion New York Giants, the better than expected Washington Redskins and now, suddenly, the hot pick to make it to the Super Bowl out of the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles. Quarterback controversy aside, the Browns didn’t show the type of vaunted defense that a lot of online sportsbook fans were expecting to see during the pre-season. Well, that defense will definitely be tested this Sunday.

Here are the BetUS sportsbook betting odds for this game.

Kick-off: 9/7/2008 4:15 pm est.

Dallas Cowboys - 7 – 110 - 260 O 49 - 110

Cleveland Browns + 7 - 110 + 220 U 49 - 110

Here are a few online wagering trends that might help us find a good online bet in this game.

The Dallas Cowboys are 5 and 0 in their last 5 games in the month of September.

The Over is 5 and 0 in the Dallas Cowboys’ last 5 games in Week 1 of the NFL Season.

The Cleveland Browns are 9 and 2 against the spread in their last 11 games overall.

The Under is 6 and 0 in the Cleveland Browns’ last 6 games on grass.

I have to admit that the BetUS online sportsbook has thrown a serious curve at me regarding this game. I suspected that the Cowboys would be favorites but by a touchdown and an extra point?

Exactly how good is this team expected to be? What this game boils down to is whether or not that Cowboys’ defense is better than last season. Roy Williams, the Cowboys overly hyped strong safety, is very weak against the pass. He always has been.

What chance do the Cowboys have of actually beating a team with Kellen Winslow Jr., Donte Stallworth, Braylon Edwards and Jamal Lewis by a touchdown and an extra point?

Not much of one in my eyes. I love the Browns against the spread in this game. They can certainly beat the 7 points and they have an excellent shot at actually winning this game outright at the BetUS online wagering odds of + 220.

Both online wagers look good to me. I’ll take the Browns at + 7 against the ‘Boys and I’ll make a small wager on the Browns to win straight-up at + 220.