NFL Week 9 will conclude when the Arizona Cardinals (2-5) visit the Dallas Cowboys (3-4-1) on Monday Night Football.
After starting the season 2-0, Arizona has lost five consecutive games. Meanwhile, Dallas is a perfectly symmetrical 2-2-1 over its last five outings, but is coming off a 44-24 defeat to the Broncos last week in Denver.
Below, I’ll dive into the latest betting odds for Cardinals vs Cowboys and make my Monday Night Football predictions for Week 9.
Updated MNF Odds Comparison
Oddsmakers are expecting the Cowboys to extend the Cardinals’ losing streak on Monday night, as Dallas is a 3.5-point favorite at home. The Over/Under for this contest sits at 53.5 points.
All NFL odds used for these Monday Night Football predictions are current as of Monday, Nov. 3, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
MNF Implied Scores & Team Totals
Cowboys 28.5, Cardinals 25
The Cardinals are expected to outscore their season average of 21.9 points per game against a Dallas defense that has allowed at least 22 points in every game this season.
Still, it isn’t expected to be enough against a Cowboys offense that scores more than 30 points per game and is expected to light up the scoreboard at home.
Monday Night Football Predictions
MNF Score Prediction: Cowboys 31, Cardinals 28
The oddsmakers project this game to be close and high-scoring, and I don’t disagree.
Dallas’ offense, led by quarterback Dak Prescott (16 TDs, 5 INTs), has been one of the league’s best for most of the season. Prescott has three talented pass-catching weapons in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, who are matchup nightmares for opposing secondaries, and Jake Ferguson is emerging as one of the league’s top tight ends.
Most importantly, this unit has found a balance under first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer, with running back Javonte Williams ranking among the league’s top five in rushing yards (633) and rushing touchdowns (8).
The problem for Dallas is its defense, which surrenders the second-most yards (404.6) and points (31.3) per game to opposing offenses. Given that unit’s struggles, I expect the short-handed Cardinals to have some success, even with Jacoby Brissett set to make another start in place of the injured Kyler Murray.
Brissett has thrown for 599 yards and four touchdowns in his two previous starts, four-point losses to the Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers. Dallas isn’t on the level of those teams, so I wouldn’t be shocked if Arizona stays close or even pulls off the upset.
Monday Night Football Bet Tips
Keep these bet tips and trends in mind before making your Monday Night Football bets.
- Dallas’ games are 6-2 to the Over this season, including a 3-0 mark at home.
- The Cowboys’ last five games have featured at least 57 total points.
- Arizona is 4-3 against the spread, while Dallas owns a 4-4 ATS record.
Monday Night Football Best Bets
MNF Over/Under Pick: Cardinals @ Cowboys: Over 53.5 Points (-115)
This total is extremely high, but for good reason. The Cowboys can score in bunches and can’t play defense.
Every Dallas game this season has featured at least 44 points, and six of eight have cleared this number by at least a field goal.
Prescott and Co. should bounce back after a rough outing in Denver, and Brissett has shown he can lead the Cardinals to points against better defenses than this.
I’m backing the Over as my NFL pick of the day.
MNF Pick Against the Spread: Cardinals +3.5 (-112) @ Cowboys
I don’t feel as confident in the side as I am about the total, as games with this many points tend to have a lot of variance.
However, this is a decent situational spot for Arizona coming off its bye, whereas Dallas has played three road games over the last four weeks.
The Cowboys have only covered this margin in two of eight games this season, and I trust Brissett to get us through the back door late if needed against this porous defense.
I’ll take the points with Arizona as one of my MNF best bets for Week 9.
Monday Night Football Prop Bet
MNF Prop Bet: Jacoby Brissett: Over 250.5 Passing Yards (-113)
We’re getting a discount here because Jacoby Brissett is a backup quarterback.
Brissett has cleared this number with ease in two starts this season, throwing for 320 yards against the Colts and 279 yards against the Packers.
He’ll now face a Dallas defense allowing the third-most passing yards in the league (258.6 per game) in a game where Arizona is projected to lose in a high-scoring environment.
I’ll back Brissett to throw for at least 251 yards as one of my best MNF prop bets.
Monday Night Football Parlay
Best MNF Parlay (+750)
- Javonte Williams: Anytime Touchdown (-170)
- Marvin Harrison Jr: Anytime Touchdown (+120)
- Zonovan Knight: Anytime Touchdown (+140)
For my best Monday Night Football parlay bet, I’m wagering on three anytime touchdown props.
Williams has scored in six of eight games, and Arizona has allowed eight total touchdowns to opposing running backs this season.
On the Cardinals’ side, I’ll take Marvin Harrison Jr. and Zonovan Knight. Harrison hasn’t scored in three games, but faces a Dallas defense that has allowed the most touchdowns (15) to opposing wideouts.
Knight has scored in two of his last three outings and should get the majority of touches near the goal line for Arizona.
