Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Odds Plummet After Dak Prescott Injury
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott injured his thumb in week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Prescott’s injury will require surgery, and he will be out around 4 to 8 weeks. Due to the injury, the Cowboys will start Cooper Rush in his absence. With a drop in quality, Dallas will likely be starting off the season with a far worse record than expected. The Cowboys’ Super Bowl odds have dipped from +2900 going into week one to now + 5000.
Cowboys Odds Difference
The Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl odds took a massive hit, the biggest difference from Week 1 to week 2 out of any team in the NFL. The Cowboys odds went from +2900 to falling to +5000. The drop puts them from the 11th highest odds to tied for the 20th highest odds, tied with the division rivals Washington Commanders and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Cowboys have seen the Philadelphia Eagles jump them for odds to win the NFC east, and are tied with division rival Washington Commanders to win the Super Bow, but still have better odds to win the division and super bowl over other division rivals, New York Giants. Dallas is easily one of the most talented teams in the NFL, with linebacker Micah Parsons having one of the highest odds to win Defensive Player of the Year.
However, with no star quarterback, and no replacement that will do be able to do a similar job, their quality becomes mediocre. The injury to Prescott will likely have a trickle-down effect, that will affect many different Dallas players and their expectancy for wins and awards.
Cowboys Upcoming Schedule
Oddsmakers have hit the Dallas Cowboys with a massive difference for their game this week against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Cowboys come in as a +8.5 Underdog against Cincinnati. The Bengals are coming off of a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and without the injury, surely the Cowboys would be favored or at least extremely close odds against the Bengals.
The Cowboys not only have to face the Super Bowl runner-ups without their star quarterback, but they will also play the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams during the time that Prescott will be out. Depending on the severity and the recovery time, Prescott could also be out for Dallas’s matchup against the Green Bay Packers. They have a difficult road ahead of them, and unfortunately, there is a chance that by the time Prescott returns, Dallas is in no position to make a playoff run.
Cooper Rush
The lingering question for Cowboys fans will be what will Dallas look like with Cooper Rush at quarterback. Cowboys fans did get a taste of what Rush could do last season, as he started the week eight game while Prescott was out with a Calf injury. To be fair to Rush, he threw for 325 yards, two touchdowns, and won a nailbiter of a game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Of course, the injury will change the game plan for the Cowboys, attempting to control the time of possession, and run the ball plenty more. The Cowboys have two solid running backs in Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, and if they are able to minimize the amount that Rush has to throw, while the defense can get takeaways, they may see their odds shoot up. With the likes of Parson and cornerback Trevon Diggs, the Cowboys have a great shot to do that.
However, if Rush does not perform, or is constantly making mistakes, the Cowboys could be a team that will be in the trade market for a Jimmy Garoppolo or signing Cam Newton until Prescott is back. Regardless, it is a tough time for anyone that bet on the Cowboys to win the Super Bowl prior to week one.
