The Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys get the 2021 NFL preseason started Thursday with the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. Kickoff will be at 8 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Steelers vs. Cowboys odds and lines, and make our best NFL picks, predictions and bets.
The Steelers started the 2020 season with an NFL-best 11-game win streak but went just 1-4 over their final four games of the regular season and lost 48-37 to the rival Cleveland Browns in the AFC Wild Card Round. They made few drastic changes in the offseason, outside of the selection of RB Najee Harris in the first round.
The Cowboys disappointed under first-year head coach Mike McCarthy last season. QB Dak Prescott started out on a career-best pace statistically, but his season ended in Week 5 due to an ankle injury. Three other quarterbacks saw action as Dallas finished 6-10.
Steelers at Cowboys odds, spread and lines
Odds via Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated 9 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Steelers -145 (bet $145 to win $100) | Cowboys +105 (bet $100 to win $105)
- Against the spread/ATS: Steelers -1.5 (-120) | Cowboys +1.5 (-115)
- Total: 32.5 (O: -115 | U: -120)
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Steelers at Cowboys odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Steelers 20, Cowboys 14
Money line
The Steelers and Cowboys are both mid-tier contenders to win Super Bowl LVI with odds of +3000 but don’t expect to see many, if any, of the players expected to be key pieces in the regular season.
Both Prescott and Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger are firmly entrenched in the starting role to open the season. However, the competition for the No. 2 job is greater in Pittsburgh with incumbent Mason Rudolph set to battle Dwayne Haskins and Joshua Dobbs. The winner of that competition may have a chance to eventually replace Big Ben.
Additionally, Dallas’ top-two running backs are set with Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, and neither will see much time in exhibition play. Steelers RBs Benny Snell Jr., Anthony McFarland Jr. and Jaylen Samuels will have a more heated preseason competition for snaps behind the rookie Harris.
Back the STEELERS (-145) as modest favorites.
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Against the spread
Get better value with PITTSBURGH -1.5 (-120) while needing the Steelers to win by 2 or more points.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin’s bunch went 3-1 in each of the last three full preseasons and won the exhibition opener each year. His experience with the depth veterans at the bottom of the roster is worth an edge against McCarthy.
Over/Under
Looking at the Pittsburgh QB competition as the primary fuel for offense in this game, back the OVER 32.5 (-115).
Scoring, especially early in the season, has been on the rise and hit an all-time high with 24.8 points per game scored per team last regular season. Look for an early Over on the 2021 preseason lines before bookmakers adjust ahead of the first full slate.
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