One of the NFL’s classic playoff rivalries adds another chapter this weekend as the Cowboys host the 49ers in what could be the best game of Super Wild Card Weekend.
San Francisco needed a significant comeback on the final day of the season just to punch their ticket for the NFL playoffs. They have been playing playoff football for a few weeks now and were not ready to see their season end.
By comparison, Dallas had a much easier path this year. It felt like they clinched the NFC East in September and have just been waiting to get to this point. Will they stick around for the divisional round? Our 49ers-Cowboys prediction is below.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys Matchup Info and Betting Odds
Matchup Information
- Game Matchup: San Francisco 49ers (10-7, 3rd in NFC West, #6 seed in NFC) vs Dallas Cowboys (12-5, 1st in NFC East, #3 seed in NFC)
- Venue & Location: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
- Date: Sunday, January 16, 2022
- Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
- TV: CBS
Betting Odds
- Spread: San Francisco 49ers +3.5 (-110), Dallas Cowboys -3.5 (-110)
- Total: OVER 50.5 (-110), UNDER 50.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: San Francisco 49ers +135, Los Angeles Rams -160
Odds are from BetMGM.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys Betting Outlook
It has been a wild season for the 49ers. Beginning with the trade up to draft QB Trey Lance they have been balancing the present and the future. It turns out that both are in pretty good shape as the playoffs begin.
This San Francisco team does not appear to have either a glaring strength or weakness. They do have playmakers though, especially WR Deebo Samuel. Samuel is one of the NFL’s best playmakers and has had the best season of his young NFL career.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, have all but coasted into the playoffs. The Eagles won some games late, but Dallas was in control of the NFC East all season long. QB Dak Prescott, coming off of a season-ending injury last season, found the level many were expecting after receiving a long-awaited contract extension.
But just how good is Dallas? The 49ers-Cowboys matchup will tell the tale.
But in the regular season, they struggled to beat playoff-caliber teams. The lone exception is a Week 6 win over the Patriots, which was New England’s last loss before they went on their season-changing eight-game win streak.
Other than that, their only wins against playoff teams were both against Philadelphia, including last week’s win in what was a meaningless game for the Eagles.
San Francisco 49ers vs Dallas Cowboys Prediction and Best Bet
San Francisco 49ers 23, Dallas Cowboys 20 (San Francisco 49ers +3.5)
I am feeling a little too comfortable with this upset pick because there are a lot of folks on the 49ers this weekend. But my 49ers-Cowboys prediction is not predicated on what others are doing.
Dallas finished the season with the top offense in the NFL. They finished first in points and yards, though scoring 51 last week against Philly certainly helped with that.
My concerns about Dallas are their nagging inability to play well against good competition. They are also suffering from some key injuries.
CB Trevon Diggs may have grabbed 11 interceptions this season but got torched down the stretch. He seemed so intent on forcing a big play that he was getting taken advantage of.
Led by standout rookie Micah Parsons, the Cowboys love to make life hard for opposing quarterbacks. But 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo is about as cool as it gets under fire.
He might not be one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks from a talent standpoint but is great under pressure and content to work the game plan. He was impressive last week in the comeback win over the Rams and looks locked in for the playoffs.
This game has one of the smallest spreads of Super Wild Card Weekend and should be close throughout. The 49ers are on the road but have enough advantages with key intangibles to pull the upset.
