Game: Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers

Date: October 9th at 8:15 PM ET

Where to Watch: Prime Video

Week 6 of the NFL season marks the third straight year the Cowboys and Panthers have faced off — all of which have taken place in Charlotte. Both teams are coming off their second wins of the season, making this matchup a pivotal one for momentum moving forward.

Dallas is fresh off a dominant win over the New York Jets, looking sharp on both sides of the ball. The Cowboys enter this week ranked 4th in points per game (30.2) and 1st in total yards per game (406.6). Defensively, however, things have been less consistent, as they rank 29th in opponent points per game (30.8) and 32nd in opponent yards allowed (412.0).

As for the Panthers, last week’s game started off rough, but Rico Dowdle and the defense stepped up in the second half to turn things around. Carolina ranks 24th in points per game (20.4) and 21st in total offense (315 yards per game). On defense, they’ve been 19th in opponent points per game (23.8) and 12th in opponent yards allowed (311.6).

Both teams enter this one banged up, but Dallas’s injuries are slightly more impactful — headlined by wide receiver CeeDee Lamb’s status. This game feels like a turning point for both sides, and it will be fascinating to see which version of the Panthers shows up on Sunday.

Embed from Getty Images

Weather

Temperatures and precipitation shouldn’t play a factor in this one, with conditions expected to be in the low to mid-70s and only about a 2% chance of rain. Wind, however, could be a factor, averaging around 12 mph with gusts reaching up to 28 mph.

Betting Overview

This matchup opened with Dallas listed as 1.5-point favorites, but the line has since moved slightly further in their favor, now sitting between -3 and -3.5 at most sportsbooks. Moneylines have followed a similar trend — Dallas opened around -120, but has shifted to the -170 to -175 range. Meanwhile, Carolina opened at even odds and now sits between +140 and +150. The total has also seen notable movement, rising from 46.5 to 49.5, indicating increased confidence from bettors in a higher-scoring game.

Position Group & Coaching Comparisons

Coaching: The coaching comparison in this game is fairly close, but Brian Schottenheimer and his staff have shown a bit more consistency early on, managing to overcome stretches of lackluster defensive play through the first part of the season.

DLs vs. OLs: Both teams are evenly matched in the trenches. The Cowboys currently have the better offensive line overall, while the Panthers arguably boast the stronger defensive front. Because of that balance, neither side holds a clear edge here.

QBs: So far this season, Dak Prescott has been impressive — throwing for 1,356 yards, 10 touchdowns, and only 3 interceptions. Bryce Young, meanwhile, has shown flashes of potential, but he’s still not operating at Prescott’s level.

RBs & TEs vs. LBs: Linebacker play isn’t a strong point for either team, and Dallas owns the deeper tight end group. Javonte Williams has been reliable for the Cowboys, while Carolina’s rushing attack has been productive when committed to. If Chuba Hubbard is active alongside Rico Dowdle, I’d give the edge to the Panthers — otherwise, it favors Dallas.

WRs vs. Secondaries: Much like their linebacker units, neither team’s secondary has been a major strength, though Carolina’s is slightly better. With CeeDee Lamb likely out, the wide receiver matchup becomes more balanced — giving a slight edge to the Panthers here.

Betting Trends

In the meetings between these teams over the last two seasons, things haven’t gone well for the Panthers, as they dropped both matchups and failed to cover in either. The total split — the under hit in 2023, while the over cashed last season.

The Cowboys enter this game with a 3-2 record ATS, including a 2-1 mark on the road, though they failed to cover in their only game as an away favorite. Overs have been slightly more frequent, hitting in 3 of 5 games, but the under has been more favorable in road contests, hitting in 2 of 3, including their lone outing as an away favorite.

The Panthers also sit at 3-2 ATS this season, with a 2-0 record at home — both as underdogs. Overs have hit in 3 of 5 Carolina games overall, splitting 1-1 in their two home matchups.

Final Thoughts

The Panthers have looked solid at home so far this season, while Dallas has been respectable on the road—aside from their Week 3 loss to the Bears. From a betting standpoint, this matchup feels risky simply because it’s hard to predict which version of the Panthers will show up on Sunday. If Carolina leans on the run game and takes some pressure off Bryce Young, they should have no trouble covering the spread. The question is whether they’ll actually commit to that type of game plan.