The NFL playoffs are the most wonderful time of the year for sports gamblers.
But there’s more to betting the postseason than just moneyline and against-the-spread picks. It’s also the time to cash in on player props, since so many of the NFL’s best players will be showcasing their stuff for the world to see.
Today we’ll examine Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who will make his first playoff start in more than three years when Dallas hosts the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
Dak Prescott Wild Card Prop Bets
Dak Prescott Under 275.5 Passing Yards (-113) at BetRivers
Wager: 2 Units
The Dallas offense loves to throw the ball. Prescott attempted 30+ passes in 12 of the 16 games he played during the regular season.
The problem is that volume doesn’t necessarily lead to huge yardage, as Dak topped 300 yards just five times this season and only twice in the Cowboys’ past 10 games.
Prescott did surpass 276 passing yards in two of Dallas’ last three games, but those performances came against the Philadelphia Eagles’ second-team defense and the porous Washington Football Team.
The 49ers pass defense is stout. San Francisco allowed the sixth-fewest yards through the air in the NFL during the regular season and tied for fifth in the league in sacks (48) — meaning they’ll likely force Prescott into hurried throws and checkdowns.
Plus, Prescott will be without No. 3 receiver Michael Gallup, who tore his ACL during Dallas’ loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 17.
Dak is always capable of going off, but we won’t see it on Sunday.
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Dak Prescott Over 1.5 Passing Touchdowns (-195) at BetRivers
Wager: 1 Unit
Dak may not throw for over 275 yards, but he should be able to get the Cowboys into the end zone at least twice through the air.
The Cowboys had just 15 rushing touchdowns this season and Prescott threw for 37 scores, an average of more than two per game.
Dak Prescott Over 0.5 Interceptions (+135) at BetRivers
Wager: 0.5 Units
The 49ers don’t typically pick off passes — they had just nine interceptions during the regular season, tied for fifth-fewest in the NFL — and Prescott generally takes good care of the ball, throwing just 10 interceptions this season.
However, San Francisco has improved with takeaways as the season has gone along.
- Read our NFL Wild Card Player Prop Betting Picks.
The 49ers picked off Matthew Stafford twice in their win-or-go-home Week 18 victory over the Los Angeles Rams and have five interceptions in their past seven games.
Plus if Prescott and the Cowboys get behind, he’ll have to make some desperation throws — like Stafford had to in overtime — and San Francisco should be able to cash in.
Over 38.5 Pass Attempts (+120) at BetRivers
Wager: 0.5 Units
As I mentioned above, the Cowboys throw the ball a lot.
Plus, with running back Tony Pollard banged up and the 49ers run defense likely neutralizing Ezekiel Elliott, the game will probably come down to whether Prescott can make enough plays in the passing game.
Prescott has surpassed 38 attempts in seven of his past 11 games, though only one of the past four.
Still, the odds are good value given the fact he should be around 40 pass attempts on Sunday.
