Sunday Night Football gets an NFC East rivalry in Week 1, with the Dallas Cowboys hosting the New York Giants to open the 2026 season.
Dallas enters the year with high expectations after making major improvements on defense during the offseason, giving the Cowboys a more balanced roster to complement an offense that already has plenty of firepower.
The Giants will get an immediate opportunity to test that revamped unit in a divisional matchup where familiarity between these teams should make for an interesting season opener.
Keep reading to see the latest Giants vs Cowboys odds and some of my best bets and SNF predictions for Week 1.
Updated SNF Odds Comparison
All NFL odds referenced for these SNF Week 1 predictions are current as of Thursday, Sep. 10, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
SNF Implied Scores & Team Totals
Cowboys 25.5, Giants 23
Oddsmakers are expecting a competitive game, but this line may be underselling how much better Dallas should be on defense in 2026.
The Cowboys made significant upgrades on that side of the ball, giving them a much more complete roster than they had last season. If those additions translate quickly, New York could have a tougher time reaching its implied total than the market suggests.
Dallas already has enough offensive talent to score in the mid-20s, so the bigger question is whether the improved defense can create some separation.
I think oddsmakers may be sleeping on those defensive improvements, which gives Dallas a better chance to control this game than the implied score indicates.
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Sunday Night Football Predictions
SNF Score Prediction: Cowboys 24, Giants 20
Dallas looks like a much more complete team entering 2026, especially on defense. The Cowboys will get a full season from Quinnen Williams after acquiring him midway through last year, and first-round pick Caleb Downs should immediately upgrade the secondary.
That revamped defense gets an intriguing first test against a Giants offense that may not have Malik Nabers at full strength. Nabers is still working his way back from last season’s torn ACL and has yet to commit to playing in Week 1.
Even if Nabers suits up, Dallas should be much better equipped to limit explosive plays than it was a year ago. Downs gives the Cowboys another versatile playmaker on the back end, while Williams can create problems up front.
New York’s defense should do enough to keep this competitive, but I trust Dallas more on both sides of the ball.
I’ll take the Cowboys to open the season with a 24-20 win in a game that stays a little lower-scoring than the market expects.
Sunday Night Football Bet Tips
Keep these Sunday Night Football bet tips and trends in mind before making your Cowboys vs Giants best bets.
- Dallas completely revamped its defense during the offseason, with Caleb Downs joining a unit that will also get a full season from Quinnen Williams. The Cowboys could be significantly better on that side of the ball in 2026.
- Malik Nabers is still working his way back from the torn ACL that ended his 2025 season, and his Week 1 status remains uncertain. Even if he plays, the Giants may not have their top receiver at 100%.
- This will be John Harbaugh’s first regular-season game as Giants head coach after spending 18 seasons with Baltimore, adding another element of uncertainty to New York’s season opener.
Sunday Night Football Best Bets
SNF Over/Under Pick: Cowboys @ Giants Under 48.5 Points (-110)
The biggest reason to like the Under is the improvement Dallas made on defense during the offseason.
The Cowboys should be much tougher at every level, which could make it difficult for a Giants offense that may also be dealing with a less-than-100% Malik Nabers.
New York should lean heavily on the running game, especially if it wants to protect its passing attack and keep Dallas’ pass rush from taking over.
That type of approach should shorten the game, drain the clock, and limit possessions for both sides.
With Dallas’ upgraded defense and New York likely playing conservatively, give me the Under 48.5 as my NFL pick of the day.
SNF Pick Against the Spread: Cowboys -2.5 (-118) at Giants
The Giants are still a rebuilding team entering 2026, which makes it difficult to trust them against a Dallas roster that appears much more complete on both sides of the ball.
New York also has uncertainty surrounding Malik Nabers, who may not be ready to play in Week 1 as he continues working back from last season’s ACL injury.
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Without Nabers at full strength, the Giants could struggle to generate explosive plays against a Cowboys defense that should be significantly improved this season.
Dallas only needs to win by a field goal to cover this number, and that feels reasonable against a New York team that is still early in its rebuild.
I’ll lay the points with the Cowboys at -2.5.
Sunday Night Football Prop Bet
SNF Prop Bet: Cam Skattebo Under 12.5 Rush Attempts (-132)
Skattebo’s Week 1 workload is difficult to project, which makes the Under appealing at this number.
The Giants added Najee Harris to the backfield, and he could take enough early-down work away from Skattebo to keep either player from dominating carries.
There’s also a good chance New York spends much of this game playing from behind against a stronger Dallas team. If that happens, the Giants may be forced to throw more often and move away from a run-heavy approach.
Skattebo should still have a role, but with Harris competing for snaps and negative game script a real possibility, Under 12.5 rush attempts is the play.
Sunday Night Football Parlay
Best SNF Same-Game Parlay (+284)
- Cowboys ML (-148)
- Under 42.5 (-110)
I already like Cowboys -2.5 as my spread pick, so using the moneyline here gives me a little protection in case Dallas wins by only one or two points.
That feels worthwhile in a divisional game where New York should lean on the run and try to keep things close, especially if Malik Nabers is limited or unavailable.
The Under also fits with that script. Dallas’ improved defense should make it difficult for the Giants to sustain drives, while a run-heavy approach from New York can help shorten the game.
Combining Cowboys ML with Under 42.5 lets me stay bullish on Dallas without needing them to cover the spread twice.
