Preview: Panthers (0-2) at Cowboys (1-1)

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Preview: Panthers (0-2) at Cowboys (1-1)

Date: September 28, 2009 8:30 PM EDT

It's only Week 3, but both the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers feel like they need a win to turn their seasons around.

Tony Romo and the Cowboys try to bounce back from a last-second loss Monday night when they host a Panthers team seeking its first victory of the season.

Dallas (1-1) defeated Tampa Bay 34-21 in its opener behind a stellar performance from Romo but couldn't carry any momentum into last week's inaugural game at Cowboys Stadium. The Cowboys turned the ball over four times Sunday night against the Giants and Lawrence Tynes' 37-yard field goal as time expired sealed a 33-31 win for New York, spoiling the opening of the $1.15 billion stadium in front of a record 105,121 fans.



"Even though it's the second game of the season, it's an adverse situation," linebacker Bradie James said. "It'll be a crying shame if we just fall apart right now. We've just got to bounce back, pick ourselves up."

The Panthers' situation is even worse.

Carolina (0-2) won the NFC South last season with a 12-4 record but is in danger of opening with three consecutive losses for the first time since dropping a franchise-worst seven in a row to start the 1998 season.

"It's not a desperate situation. We only lost two games so far, we can come back and go 14-2," linebacker Thomas Davis told the Panthers' official Web site following last Sunday's 28-20 loss to Atlanta. "We're in a situation that we don't want to be in, but we've just got to fight our way out of it."

Going up against a Dallas team might not be the best way for Carolina to get its first victory.

The Cowboys have won seven straight regular season games over the Panthers since losing the first meeting in 1997. In the last matchup Dec. 22, 2007, Romo threw for 257 yards and a touchdown in a 23-13 victory.

Romo's poor performance last week was one of the biggest reasons for Dallas' defeat.

He completed 13 of 29 passes for 127 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions, all of which resulted in New York touchdowns.

Romo had never thrown for so few yards in a full game and his passer rating of 29.6 was the second-lowest of his career. It also was a dramatic reversal from the opener, when he passed for a career-high 353 yards with three touchdowns and no turnovers while posting a 140.6 rating, fourth-best in his career.

"I'm sorry that I wasn't able to play up to the level the rest of the other guys did," Romo said. "I have to get better at the mistakes I made and I will."

Romo and the Cowboys could be without one of the team's top playmakers this week with Marion Barber recovering from a quadriceps injury. Barber had 18 carries for 124 yards with a 2-yard touchdown, the first in Cowboys Stadium, but got hurt on a 35-yard run in the fourth quarter.

He rushed for 110 yards and a touchdown in Dallas' last game against the Panthers.

Romo's poor play and Barber's availability aren't the only concerns for the Cowboys, though.

Dallas has had little luck slowing down either of its first two opponents, allowing 877 yards - third-worst in the NFL. The Cowboys have also been unable to put much pressure on the quarterback, owning the only defense that has yet to force a turnover or record a sack. Last season, Dallas had an NFL-best 59 sacks.

Carolina's defense hasn't been much better.

The Panthers have two sacks and are 30th in the league in scoring defense, allowing an average of 33.0 points.

Defensive end Julius Peppers, this season's highest-paid NFL player, was limited to two tackles against the Falcons and is being criticized for the team's poor play.

After the opener, Jake Delhomme was the one receiving most of the blame.

Delhomme threw four interceptions and lost a fumble in a 38-10 loss to Philadelphia but played much better against the Falcons. He threw for 308 yards and a touchdown, but his interception with 2 1/2 minutes remaining near the Atlanta end zone with his team down eight ended the comeback bid.

"That's not what you want, but that's what we are," Delhomme said. "We'll have to go back and work and see what we can do. Certainly we'll get the questions about the 0-2 start, but that's what it is, and we'll have to come back and work. We've just got to find a way to get one win."

 

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Cowboys favored to corral Carolina

Cowboys favored to corral Carolina

Cowboys favored to corral Carolina

Dallas comes off a disappointing last second loss to the Giants in last week?s new stadium opener, and will look to turn it around in a Monday night contest hosting Carolina. The Cowboys fell to 1-1 with the loss, putting more importance on this game with a two-game AFC road swing on deck, after both the Giants and Eagles won on Sunday. Dallas is on a nice run of 28-14 ATS, bouncing back from a game in which they allowed 30 or more points. A 1-2 start, losing their first two games at the new palatial palace in Arlington would be disastrous for the Cowboys.

Hey Carolina, it?s time to wake up! Every Panthers fan is well aware if you go back to distressing playoff loss to Arizona from last season, Carolina has lost seven straight games, if you include the four preseason games. Failure like success is contagious and you can forget what it feels like to win and what it takes, for a squad who has failed to cover last five outings after allowing 350 or more yards in previous contest.

Things change expediently in the NFL and a 0-2 start for a team that won their division a season ago doesn?t count for much, ask Tennessee and Miami how they are feeling right now sitting without a win. The Panthers on the verge of seeing their playoff hopes disappear before their open date, which comes next week. That could be important as Carolina is on a 6-1 ATS stretch in pre-bye week road games.

Sportsbook.com has the Panthers as eight-point road underdogs, with a total of 47.5 and amazingly, underdogs have covered 12 straight pre-bye week games in which Carolina was one of the participants.

Both teams need their quarterbacks to play up to capabilities. Jake Delhomme has five interceptions already this season, with one touchdown pass and Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett?s least favorite Dallas signal caller, Tony Romo, pretty much singlehandedly cost the Cowboys a win last week. In last nine meetings between these teams the underdog is 7-2 ATS.

Carolina covers if two very important things happen. Start with Carolina offensive line giving Delhomme protection. It?s been known for sometime Delhomme is liable to put the ball up for grabs when receiving pressure. His steadiness has waned since the middle of last season. He needs time and has to get the ball in Steve Smith?s hands. The O-Line has to do better than 4.2 yards per carry with backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Dallas is loose in gap protection, which could open up running lanes for the dynamic duo. The Cats are cool 16-5 ATS off a road loss against a division rival.
The other key point is Carolina defensive coaches need to add diversification. The Panthers are not getting any pass rush and are not blitzing to counteract. The defensive line is being wiped out with opponents rushing for 168 yards a game. Find ways to free up linebackers to make tackles and mix it up. Given Romo?s playing style, the Panthers could go to 9-2 ATS following a SU loss if they play looser and attack more.

Dallas covers if they properly execute last week?s game plan. The Cowboys ran for 251 yards against a very good Giants defensive line, which means they should have no problem averaging somewhere between 5.1 yards per carry (Carolina allows) to 7.0 (Dallas? average YPC). Coach John Fox has seen enough coverage miscues to last half a season in the first two games, even Romo should be able to read and react to what he sees, with his team 8-3 ATS this month. The Cowboys led the NFL in sacks last season, thus far, ZERO. Delhomme will hit open Dallas defenders like they are the primary receiver if under duress. The Cowboys are 17-8-1 ATS off a defeat.

Monday Night System ? Play Against any underdog that allowed 24 or more points in their last two games. (26-13-1 ATS)

 

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Lone Star Tussle

Lone Star Tussle

Lone Star Tussle

The primetime lights will shine on Cowboys Stadium for the second straight week, as 1-1 Dallas hosts winless Carolina. Jerry Jones' billion-dollar playground in Arlington had over 100,000 fans watch last Sunday night's 33-31 setback to the Giants, the debut of Dallas' brand-new stadium.

Since the departure of the outspoken Terrell Owens to Buffalo in the offseason, the question surrounding the Cowboys was, "Who will Tony Romo throw to?" That question was answered the opening week against Tampa Bay, as the Cowboys QB connected on three touchdown passes of at least 40 yards to three different receivers. Romo threw for 353 yards and no interceptions in a 34-21 victory over the Bucs, silencing the critics for a week, while the Cowboys covered as 4 ?-point road favorites.

The criticism was taking a smoke break for the week, as it came back in full force last Sunday night with Romo throwing three interceptions in the two-point loss to the Giants. Dallas failed to cover as three-point home 'chalk,' staying ahead of the number for only six minutes in the game when Romo scampered for a three-yard score to give the Cowboys a 24-20 lead. Wade Phillips' squad was able to control the ground game, rushing for 250 yards, but the quarterback duel was won by Eli Manning, who threw for 203 more yards than Romo, and came out with the important division victory.

Carolina, meanwhile, is in a funk. Not because of their 0-2 record, but throw in the 0-4 preseason, and the devastating loss in the divisional playoffs to the Cardinals last year. By that count, John Fox's team last celebrated a victory over the Saints at the Superdome in Week 17 last season.

The Panthers have lost to two playoff teams from a season ago so far, falling to the Eagles and Falcons. The manner in which Carolina lost was different in the two contests. Jake Delhomme completed 11 passes against Philadelphia; unfortunately, four were to players in Eagles' uniforms. All told, the Panthers committed seven turnovers in the opener, despite allowing less than 300 yards to Philadelphia. Carolina was defeated in its division debut last week at Atlanta, 28-20, not being able to cover as six-point underdogs. Delhomme improved mightily from the week before, throwing for over 300 yards with just one interception, but it was not enough for a victory.


For the third straight week, the Panthers, who won the NFC South last season, will be listed as 'dogs. The last time that happened was Week 16 in 2007, when the Panthers coincidentally hosted the Cowboys (Dallas won 20-13, but failed to cover as 10 ?-point road 'chalk'). Fox was known as a great road 'dog play his first five seasons with the 'Cats, going 22-7-1 ATS from 2002-06. Since the start of the 2007 season, the Panthers are just 5-8 ATS when receiving points on the road.

Cowboys' running back Marion Barber is listed as 'questionable' with a strained quad, suffered in the loss to the Giants. If Barber can't go, look for a steady diet of Felix Jones and Tashard Choice to get a bulk of the carries.

Randy Scott, the sportsbook manager at BetED.com, says the Panthers are receiving most of the attention from the betting public. "Monday's game is getting majority underdog action, as approximately 92% is on Carolina, which opened at +9 ?. We have since moved the line down to 8 ?," says Scott. The total, which is 16-3-1 to the 'over' since the start of last season on Monday Night, is getting wagered on by the public as well. Scott notes, "The total is receiving approximately 90% of the action on the 'over.' Due to wise action on the 'over,' we have moved that line up from 46 to 47 ?."

Gold Sheets Bruce Marshall feels the 'over' is the right play as far as the total is concerned. "It was only one game, but Delhomme looked to get back in the groove somewhat in the later going at Atlanta after that wretched performance against the Eagles. Mostly, however, I like the "over" because the brisk pace of the Dallas games thus far," Marshall comments. "Tony Romo will be looking to vindicate himself for last week's mistakes, but it nonetheless looks as if the Cowboys have some real pop in their attack, even minus Terrell Owens," Marshall concludes.

The Panthers have hit the 'over' in nine of their last 10 games against NFC opponents, with the lone 'under' cashing in the playoff loss to the Cardinals. Marshall points to the defensive side of the ball for Carolina's problems keeping the opposition out of the end zone. "It was not an easy offseason with Julius Peppers' contract problems and the switch at defensive coordinator. Moreover, the Panthers didn't really upgrade themselves too much in free agency, and this no longer looks to be a stout defensive team. These teams are also well 'over' in each of their first two games, and I see the pattern continuing on Monday night at Arlington," Marshall says.

This is the first trip for the Panthers to Dallas since the 2003 season when the Cowboys won a 24-20 decision as three-point home favorites. Dallas has claimed each of the last three meetings in Charlotte, with the last meeting coming in 2007.

The Cowboys are just 1-5 ATS on Monday Night since 2005, with the lone ATS win coming as underdogs at Philadelphia in a 21-20 victory in '05. The Panthers are 2-3 ATS under the Monday Night lights in the Fox era, dating back to '02.

The Cowboys are currently listed as 7 ?-point favorites in most shops, with the total set at 48.

 

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CAROLINA (0-2) vs DALLAS (1-1)

Game Time: 8:35 p.m. EDT Monday, September 28

Stadium: Texas Stadium Surface: turf






RECORD ANALYSIS
STRAIGHT-UP VS. SPREAD OVER/UNDER
CAROLINA HOME AWAY TOTAL HOME AWAY TOTAL HOME AWAY TOTAL

Year-to-Date 0 - 1 0 - 1 0 - 2 0 - 1 0 - 1 0 - 2 1 - 0 1 - 0 2 - 0
Last 5 games 0 - 1 0 - 1 0 - 2 0 - 1 0 - 1 0 - 2 1 - 0 1 - 0 2 - 0
YTD vs. Div. 0 - 0 0 - 1 0 - 1 0 - 0 0 - 1 0 - 1 0 - 0 1 - 0 1 - 0
STRAIGHT-UP VS. SPREAD OVER/UNDER
DALLAS HOME AWAY TOTAL HOME AWAY TOTAL HOME AWAY TOTAL
Year-to-Date 0 - 1 1 - 0 1 - 1 0 - 1 1 - 0 1 - 1 1 - 0 1 - 0 2 - 0
Last 5 games 0 - 1 1 - 0 1 - 1 0 - 1 1 - 0 1 - 1 1 - 0 1 - 0 2 - 0
YTD vs. Div. 0 - 1 0 - 0 0 - 1 0 - 1 0 - 0 0 - 1 1 - 0 0 - 0 1 - 0
AWAY VS. SPREAD HOME VS. SPREAD
Year-to-Date FAV DOG GRASS TURF FAV DOG GRASS TURF
CAROLINA 0 - 0 0 - 1 0 - 0 0 - 1 0 - 0 0 - 1 0 - 1 0 - 0
DALLAS 1 - 0 0 - 0 1 - 0 0 - 0 0 - 1 0 - 0 0 - 0 0 - 1



TEAM LOGS/SCHEDULE:
( * = overtime)

CAROLINA
LINE OVER/UNDER
DATE DAY OPP SCORE SU OPEN CLOSE ATS &
MARGIN OPEN CLOSE O/U &
MARGIN G/T
09/13/09 Sun PHI 10 - 38 L -2.5 -2.5 L -30.5 44.0 43.5 O +- 4.5 G
09/20/09 Sun @ATL 20 - 28 L +7 +6 L -2 43.5 43.0 O +- 5.0 T


DALLAS
LINE OVER/UNDER
DATE DAY OPP SCORE SU OPEN CLOSE ATS &
MARGIN OPEN CLOSE O/U &
MARGIN G/T
09/13/09 Sun @TB 34 - 21 W -2.5 -5.5 W 7.5 42.5 39.5 O +-15.5 G
09/20/09 Sun NYG 31 - 33 L -3.5 -3.0 L -5 43.5 45.5 O +-18.5 T



PREVIOUS MEETINGS:

LINE OVER/UNDER
DATE DAY VIS SC HOM SC OPEN CLOSE ATS &
MARGIN OPEN CLOSE O/U &
MARGIN G/T
12/24/05 Sat DAL 24 CAR 20 -6.0 -5.0 CAR --9 38.0 37.5 O +-6.5 G
10/29/06 Sun DAL 35 CAR 14 -4.5 -4.5 CAR --25.5 39.5 41.0 O +-8 G
12/22/07 Sat DAL 20 CAR 13 +10.5 +10.5 CAR +3.5 43.0 42.5 U -9.5 G





STATISTICAL AVERAGES:


AWAY/HOME RUSHING PASSING TOT TURNOVERS
PTS FD AT YDS AVG AT CO PCT YDS AVG YDS INT FUM FGP
CAR (off) 20.0 24 25 144 5.8 41 25 0.6 296 7.2 440 1.0 1.0 .00
DAL (def) 33.0 19 26 97 3.7 38 25 0.7 330 8.7 427 0.0 0.0 .00
RUSHING PASSING TOT TURNOVERS
PTS FD AT YDS AVG AT CO PCT YDS AVG YDS INT FUM FGP
CAR (def) 28.0 23 37 151 4.1 27 21 0.8 220 8.1 371 1.0 1.0 .00
DAL (off) 31.0 23 29 251 8.7 29 13 0.4 127 4.4 378 3.0 1.0 .00
ALL GAMES RUSHING PASSING TOT TURNOVERS
PTS FD AT YDS AVG AT CO PCT YDS AVG YDS INT FUM FGP
CAR (off) 15.0 19 28 115 4.1 38 20 0.5 190 5.0 305 3.0 1.5 .00
DAL (def) 27.0 23 29 136 4.7 40 25 0.6 303 7.6 439 0.0 0.0 .00
RUSHING PASSING TOT TURNOVERS
PTS FD AT YDS AVG AT CO PCT YDS AVG YDS INT FUM FGP
CAR (def) 33.0 20 35 168 4.8 28 19 0.7 151 5.4 319 1.0 1.0 .00
DAL (off) 32.5 21 27 185 6.9 28 15 0.5 236 8.4 421 1.5 0.5 .00



SCORING AVERAGES:

CAROLINA (away) Q1 Q2 H1 Q3 Q4 OT H2+OT
POINTS FOR 3.0 10.0 13 0.0 7.0 0.0 7
POINTS ALLOWED 7.0 14.0 21 0.0 7.0 0.0 7



DALLAS (home) Q1 Q2 H1 Q3 Q4 OT H2+OT
POINTS FOR 7.0 10.0 17 7.0 7.0 0.0 14
POINTS ALLOWED 10.0 10.0 20 0.0 13.0 0.0 13



CAROLINA (all) Q1 Q2 H1 Q3 Q4 OT H2+OT
POINTS FOR 5.0 6.5 11.5 0.0 3.5 0.0 3.5
POINTS ALLOWED 5.0 21.0 26 3.5 3.5 0.0 7



DALLAS (all) Q1 Q2 H1 Q3 Q4 OT H2+OT
POINTS FOR 6.5 8.5 15 7.0 10.5 0.0 17.5
POINTS ALLOWED 5.0 8.5 13.5 0.0 13.5 0.0 13.5



VALUE INDEX COMPARISON TO LAS VEGAS LINE:

LV POINTSPREAD VALUE INDEX VALUE INDEX
OPEN CURRENT RATING LINE EDGE
CAROLINA 55 6.0
DALLAS 55 -3.5
LV OVER/UNDER VALUE INDEX VALUE INDEX
OPEN CURRENT RATING EDGE
OVER/UNDER 42.5 3.5 under

 

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What bettors need to know: Panthers at Cowboys

What bettors need to know: Panthers at Cowboys

What bettors need to know: Panthers at Cowboys

Carolina Panthers at Dallas Cowboys (-9, 47.5)

Banged up

Both teams are going to be missing valuable pieces. Carolina is expected to be without linebacker Na?il Diggs (ribs), fullback Brad Hoover (back), strong safety Chris Harris (knee) and defensive end Everette Brown (ankle).

The Panthers defense has allowed almost 320 yards of offense in their two games. Carolina?s allowing 168 yards per game on the ground and has only two sacks.

Barber shop may be closed

Dallas? injury list isn?t as long but it features running back Marion Barber, who is dealing with a thigh injury. He was listed as a limited participant in practice but coaches say they won?t make the final decision on him until kickoff. Coach Wade Phillips says if he does play, Phillips won?t limit his carries.

Felix Jones and Tashard Choice would replace Marion if he can?t go. Both have proven themselves capable of producing big plays.

The Cowboys are first in the league in rushing and are averaging seven yards per carry. Their offensive line has allowed just one sack against the Giants and Buccaneers. Julius Peppers will have his work cut out for him if he wants to get to Tony Romo.

Quarterback quandary

Both Tony Romo and Jake Delhomme have been struggling mightily this season. Romo?s spotlight is a lot bigger especially since his failures were magnified on Sunday night football last week. He had three interceptions and was only 13 of 29 for 127 yards in a loss to the Giants.

The Panthers have allowed the third least amount of yards through the air this season and have two interceptions.

Jake Delhomme bounced back a little bit last week throwing for 308 yards and only one interception. That?s an improvement over his Week 1 performance where he threw four interceptions and had a quarterback rating of 14.7.

Delhomme has won three of his last four Monday night starts and will be facing a Cowboys secondary that has been gashed for 303 yards per game through the air. Dallas hasn?t registered a sack, interception or fumble recovery yet this season.

Trends

Dallas and Carolina have met 10 times since 1992 with the Cowboys winning seven of the meetings but covering only four. Six of the 10 games have gone over the total. Carolina has actually covered two of its last four games in Dallas.

Carolina has won its only Monday night game in the past three years and is 4-1 coming off a loss to a division rival. So far this season the Panthers have failed to cover the spread in both of their games. The over is also 2-0 in Carolina?s two games this season.

Dallas is 7-3 against the spread in September but has failed to cover its last two Monday night games. Both of those MNF contests went over the total as have both of Dallas games this season.

Line Movement

The game opened with a total of 45 points which escalated as high as 48 but has settled at 47.5 in most books.

Dallas was installed a 10-point favorite with the spread slowly falling to 8.5 at most places.

Weather

It will be a hot evening in Dallas on Monday. The temperature will be around 80 degrees with a light wind at 10 mph heading north. Of course Dallas could shut the roof and turn on the air conditioning.

 

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Recent Trends

Carolina:

Over is 9-1 in CAR last 10 vs. NFC.
Over is 7-1 in CAR last 8 games on fieldturf.
Over is 8-2 in CAR last 10 games overall.

Dallas:

Over is 7-1 in DAL last 8 games in Week 3.
Over is 7-2-1 in DAL last 10 Mon. games.
DAL are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games as a favorite.

Head to Head: Underdog is 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 meetings.

 

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Trends - Carolina at Dallas

Trends - Carolina at Dallas

Trends - Carolina at Dallas

ATS Trends

Carolina

Panthers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games after allowing more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
Panthers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following a S.U. loss.
Panthers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a ATS loss.
Panthers are 4-9-1 ATS in their last 14 games in September.
Panthers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games in Week 3.
Panthers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games as an underdog of 3.5-10.0.
Panthers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Panthers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. NFC.
Panthers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games as a road underdog.
Panthers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games as a road underdog of 3.5-10.0.
Panthers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog.
Panthers are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.


Dallas

Cowboys are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
Cowboys are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games as a favorite.
Cowboys are 23-8 ATS in their last 31 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game.
Cowboys are 19-7-2 ATS in their last 28 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Cowboys are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games in September.
Cowboys are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
Cowboys are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 vs. NFC.
Cowboys are 17-8-1 ATS in their last 26 games following a S.U. loss.
Cowboys are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games after accumulating more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
Cowboys are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite of 3.5-10.0.
Cowboys are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 Monday games.


OU Trends

Carolina

Over is 5-0 in Panthers last 5 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
Over is 4-0 in Panthers last 4 games as a road underdog.
Over is 5-0 in Panthers last 5 games as an underdog.
Over is 4-0 in Panthers last 4 games following a S.U. loss.
Over is 5-0 in Panthers last 5 games following a ATS loss.
Over is 6-0 in Panthers last 6 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
Over is 5-0 in Panthers last 5 road games.
Over is 9-1 in Panthers last 10 vs. NFC.
Over is 7-1 in Panthers last 8 games on fieldturf.
Over is 8-2 in Panthers last 10 games overall.
Over is 4-1 in Panthers last 5 games as a road underdog of 3.5-10.0.
Under is 6-2 in Panthers last 8 games after allowing more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
Over is 8-3 in Panthers last 11 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
Under is 22-10-2 in Panthers last 34 games in September.


Dallas

Over is 6-0 in Cowboys last 6 games as a favorite of 3.5-10.0.
Over is 4-0 in Cowboys last 4 games overall.
Over is 8-1-1 in Cowboys last 10 games after accumulating more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
Over is 7-1 in Cowboys last 8 games in Week 3.
Under is 4-1 in Cowboys last 5 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Cowboys last 5 games in September.
Over is 4-1 in Cowboys last 5 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
Over is 7-2-1 in Cowboys last 10 Monday games.
Over is 6-2 in Cowboys last 8 games after accumulating less than 150 yards passing in their previous game.
Under is 15-6 in Cowboys last 21 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Under is 10-4 in Cowboys last 14 games following a ATS loss.
Over is 7-3 in Cowboys last 10 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.
Under is 16-7-1 in Cowboys last 24 games as a home favorite of 3.5-10.0.
Under is 46-21-3 in Cowboys last 70 vs. a team with a losing record.


Head to Head

Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
Underdog is 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 meetings.

 

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Preview:
Carolina at Dallas
When: 8:30 PM ET, Monday, September 28, 2009
Where: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Quick Hits

Overall Team Offense

The Dallas Cowboys are ranked 10 on offense, averaging 0.0 yards per game. The Cowboys are averaging 0.0 yards rushing and 0.0 yards passing so far this season.

The Carolina Panthers are ranked 6 on offense, averaging 0.0 yards per game. The Panthers are averaging 0.0 yards rushing and 0.0 yards passing so far this season.

Home and Away

The Dallas Cowboys are 0-1 at home this season, and against 1-1NFC opponents.
At home the Cowboys are averaging 31.0 scoring, and holding teams to 33.0 points scored on defense.

The Carolina Panthers are 0-1 while on the road this season, and 0-2 against NFC opponents.
On the road, the Panthers are averaging 20.0 scoring, and holding teams to 28.0 points scored on defense.

 

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Preview - Carolina (0-2) at Dallas (1-1)

Preview - Carolina (0-2) at Dallas (1-1)

Preview - Carolina (0-2) at Dallas (1-1)




- A couple of quarterbacks seeking redemption will be in the spotlight at Cowboys Stadium on Monday night, when Dallas and Tony Romo play host to Jake Delhomme's Carolina Panthers to put an exclamation point on the Week 3 schedule.

Romo is coming off one of the weakest outings of his three-plus years as the Cowboys' starter, completing just 13-of-29 passes for 127 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions thrown in Dallas' 33-31 loss to the New York Giants last Sunday night. The outing helped ruin the first meaningful game in the history of the Cowboys new $1.1 billion home facility, and took away the steam of Dallas' season-opening victory over the Buccaneers (34-21).

Delhomme knows a lot about ruining home openers, as the veteran is only two weeks removed from a meltdown of epic proportions against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The three-time playoff quarterback completed just 7-of-17 passes for 73 yards with five turnovers (four interceptions, one fumble) and three sacks absorbed in less than three quarters of action in what would become a 38-10 loss for the reigning NFC South champions.

Delhomme bounced back a bit last week when Carolina traveled to Atlanta, but the result on the scoreboard did not offer a renaissance for the gritty Cajun.

The Panthers were 28-20 losers at the Georgia Dome, overshadowing an acceptable 25-of-41, 308-yard, one-interception performance for Delhomme.

Both Dallas and Carolina enter Week 3 trying not to get swarmed under in very good divisions.

The Cowboys cannot afford to be 1-2 prior to a road swing that will take them away from Big D for just under a month following the contest against the Panthers. Dallas will travel to Denver (10/4) and Kansas City (10/11) prior to a Week 6 bye.

The Panthers, already behind the Falcons and Saints in the NFC South, are in danger of dropping to 0-3 one season after finishing 12-4 and, as mentioned, winning the division.

Carolina last started a season 0-3 way back in 1998, when they opened the year with seven straight losses en route to a dismal 4-12 finish.

SERIES HISTORY

Dallas leads the all-time regular season series with Carolina, 7-1, winning seven straight since the Panthers notched their only such win against the Cowboys at Texas Stadium in 1997. Dallas was a 20-13 road winner at Bank of America Stadium in the last such meeting, during the 2007 season. Carolina is 0-3 in Dallas since the '97 triumph.

In addition to the regular season series, the teams have met twice in the postseason, with the Panthers winning both. Carolina was a 26-17 home victor in a 1997 NFC Divisional Playoff, and took a 29-10 decision in a 2003 NFC First-Round Playoff.

Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips is 2-0 in his career against the Panthers, including a win for his Buffalo Bills team in 1998. The Panthers' John Fox is 2-4 in his career against Dallas, and is 0-1 against Phillips as a head coach.

WHEN THE PANTHERS HAVE THE BALL

Though it came in a losing effort, Delhomme's (381 passing yards, 1 TD, 5 INT) performance against the Falcons had to be heartening to both Fox and the Panthers' worried supporters. Top targets for the quarterback on his 300-yard passing day were Steve Smith (11 receptions), who had eight catches for 131 yards in the loss, and fellow mainstay Muhsin Muhammad (8 receptions), who hauled in four balls for 47 yards in the loss. Tight end Dante Rosario (3 receptions, 1 TD) caught Delhomme's first touchdown pass of the year in the contest. The team's running game, which remains its favored mode of travel, was also a credit to the cause. DeAngelo Williams (116 rushing yards, 2 TD, 7 receptions) finished with 111 yards of offense (79 rushing, 32 receiving) on 19 touches (16 rushing, 3 receiving), while Jonathan Stewart (100 rushing yards, 5 receptions) put some distance between himself and past injury problems with nine totes for 65 yards. On the negative side, Williams lost a fumble in the defeat, and the offensive line allowed its sixth sack of the year.

As much as the focus on the Cowboys has been related to the struggles of Romo, there is no underestimating the weakness of a defense that is giving up 27 points and just under 440 yards per game. The team has been particularly awful against the pass, not notching a sack or an interception to this point, and the absence from the stat book of Pro Bowl pass rusher DeMarcus Ware (10 tackles), who had 20 sacks last season, has been most conspicuous. On the back end, Phillips is waiting for a veteran secondary featuring cornerback Terence Newman (14 tackles) and safeties Ken Hamlin (15 tackles) and Gerald Sensabaugh (14 tackles) to make a noticeable impact. Neither has Dallas been terrific against the run, having surrendered 271 ground yards through the first two games. The three-man line of Jay Ratliff (5 tackles) in the middle and Igor Olshansky (2 tackles) and Marcus Spears (2 tackles) on the ends needs to make an impact and keep the pressure off of inside linebackers Bradie James (13 tackles) and Keith Brooking (12 tackles).

WHEN THE COWBOYS HAVE THE BALL

Romo's below-average play was the bad news coming out of last week's Giants loss, and the quadriceps injury to running back Marion Barber (203 rushing yards, 2 TD) was the worse news. Barber pulled up lame on a long fourth- quarter run that followed a strong rushing performance, and though the Cowboys haven't completely ruled him out for Monday, his presence seems like a long shot at the moment. With Barber out, Felix Jones (118 rushing yards, 1 TD) and Tashard Choice (18 rushing yards, 3 receptions) would have to carry the rushing load for the team. But the bigger story will be Romo's (480 passing yards, 4 TD, 3 INT) attempt to rebound, and to regain the form that saw him put up a career-high passing total at the Buccaneers in Week 1. Romo's favorite target remains tight end Jason Witten (10 receptions, 1 TD), who caught a team-high five balls for 33 yards and a touchdown against the G-Men, and the quarterback needs to continue developing chemistry with the likes of Roy Williams (4 receptions, 1 TD) and Patrick Crayton (5 receptions, 1 TD), who were limited to one catch each against the Giants. The Dallas o-line has allowed just one sack through two weeks, but has been particularly subject to untimely penalties.

The inability of the Panthers defense to generate a sack in last week's loss at Atlanta has caused renewed criticism of $17 million pass rusher Julius Peppers (7 tackles, 1 sack) in Carolina. Peppers did have one of the team's two sacks in the opening week blowout at the hands of the Eagles, but will need to get in Romo's face on Monday in order to regain his standing around the league and in his own city. Peppers' presence will be all the more important because of injury problems in the secondary. Starting strong safety Chris Harris is unlikely to play on Monday due to a lingering knee problem, a situation which will also put additional pressure on cornerbacks Richard Marshall (6 tackles, 1 INT) and Chris Gamble (8 tackles). Marshall notched the secondary's first pick of the year off of Matt Ryan last week. The Panthers have largely struggled against the run through two weeks, allowing 336 ground yards in two games. Linebackers Jon Beason (10 tackles, 1 INT) and Thomas Davis (28 tackles) will have primary responsibility in reversing that trend on Monday night, and the team could also use better play from interior d-lineman Damione Lewis (4 tackles).

FANTASY FOCUS

Fantasy owners are rightfully wary of using Delhomme due to his recent, well- publicized meltdowns, but he is well worth considering against a Cowboys team that has yet to cause a single turnover and is giving up 27 points per game. For the same reason, Smith and DeAngelo Williams are decent plays, as is kicker John Kasay.

On the Dallas side, Romo was not great last week but is still capable of putting up yards in bunches. Witten and Roy Williams should continue to get a bulk of the targets, and are must-starts. The injury to Barber makes both Felix Jones and Choice - both of whom could be in the neighborhood of 15+ touches, worthwhile options. Kicker Nick Folk is a good play, but the Dallas defense is not.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

It is a testament to the Cowboys' offensive strength that they scored 31 points and nearly won a game - against a good team, too - in which they made so many offensive mistakes. This team will continue to score a lot of points, despite regular miscues, and the offense should always give Dallas a chance to win. The ability of the defense to evolve is a different matter altogether, and the Cowboys look like a team that is going to have trouble stopping opponents for much of the year. In that regard, it is handy that Delhomme has shown a tendency to stop his own offense, and it will be his one major mistake or two that ultimately sinks the Panthers in the fourth quarter.

Predicted Outcome: Cowboys 35, Panthers 27

 

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Matchup - Carolina at Dallas

Carolina Panthers (0-2) at Dallas Cowboys (1-1)
Date: Monday, September 28th
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. (et)
Site: Cowboys Stadium (80,000) -- Arlington, Texas
Surface: Sportfield Softtop
Home Record: Carolina 0-1; Dallas 0-1
Away Record: Carolina 0-1; Dallas 1-0
Versus N-F-C: Carolina 0-2; Dallas 1-1
Versus N-F-C East: Carolina 0-1
Versus N-F-C South: Dallas 1-0
Current Win/Loss Streak: Carolina 3L (1 in playoffs); Dallas 1L
Current Road Win/Loss Streak: Carolina 1L
Current Home Win/Loss Streak: Dallas 2L
Television: ESPN
Announcers: Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski and Jon Gruden
All-Time Series: Dallas (7-3 -- Carolina, 2-0 in playoffs)
Last Meeting: December 22, 2007 (Dallas, 20-13 at Carolina)
Series Streak: Dallas has won the last three meetings.

Season Schedule/Results
Carolina Panthers
Sep 13 - L vs. Philadelphia, 10-38
Sep 20 - L at Atlanta, 20-28
Sep 28 - at Dallas, 8:30 PM
Oct 4 - Open
Oct 11 - vs. Washington, 1:00 PM
Oct 18 - at Tampa Bay, 1:00 PM
Oct 25 - vs. Buffalo, 4:05 PM
Nov 1 - at Arizona, 4:15 PM
Nov 8 - at New Orleans, 4:05 PM
Nov 15 - vs. Atlanta, 1:00 PM
Nov 19 - vs. Miami, 8:20 PM
Nov 29 - at NY Jets, 1:00 PM
Dec 6 - vs. Tampa Bay, 1:00 PM
Dec 13 - at New England, 1:00 PM
Dec 20 - vs. Minnesota, 8:20 PM
Dec 27 - at NY Giants, 1:00 PM
Jan 3 - vs. New Orleans, 1:00 PM
Dallas Cowboys
Sep 13 - W at Tampa Bay, 34-21
Sep 20 - L vs. NY Giants, 31-33
Sep 28 - vs. Carolina, 8:30 PM
Oct 4 - at Denver, 4:15 PM
Oct 11 - at Kansas City, 1:00 PM
Oct 18 - Open
Oct 25 - vs. Atlanta, 4:15 PM
Nov 1 - vs. Seattle, 1:00 PM
Nov 8 - at Philadelphia, 8:20 PM
Nov 15 - at Green Bay, 4:15 PM
Nov 22 - vs. Washington, 1:00 PM
Nov 26 - vs. Oakland, 4:15 PM
Dec 6 - at NY Giants, 4:15 PM
Dec 13 - vs. San Diego, 4:15 PM
Dec 19 - at New Orleans, 8:20 PM
Dec 27 - at Washington, 8:20 PM
Jan 3 - vs. Philadelphia, 1:00 PM

 

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Cowboys welcome Panthers

Cowboys welcome Panthers

Cowboys welcome Panthers
September 28, 2009
By Bodog
NFL Betting: Carolina Panthers at Dallas Cowboys
Everybody knows the most important player to worry about in football betting is the quarterback. But some people forget there are 42 other players on the roster.

This week?s episode of Monday Night Football features two quarterbacks who could use a hug right now. Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys is being raked over the coals for the unpardonable sin of losing 33-31 last week to the rival New York Giants (+3). The situation is worse for Jake Delhomme and the Carolina Panthers; Delhomme threw four interceptions in the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, an embarrassing 38-10 final with the Panthers priced as 1-point home dogs.


No, the sky is not falling for either quarterback. Delhomme had a good game in Week 2 (308 passing yards, one TD, one INT) against the Atlanta Falcons (-6 at home), but it wasn?t quite enough in a 28-20 defeat. His 82.2 passer rating for that contest is consistent with his 84.2 career rating. As for Romo and his three picks against the Giants ? stuff happens. Romo had a three-INT game last year against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and another in 2007 against the Eagles. The common thread: three very good defensive teams.

You can?t lump the Panthers in with that group. They haven?t had an elite defense since 2006, when they finished fourth overall in team efficiency. Former Pro Bowl linebacker Dan Morgan suffered a torn Achilles tendon and is now retired. Cornerback Chris Gamble went from seven picks in 2005 to one in 2007. And things are that much tougher this year with nose tackle Maake Kemoeatu (Achilles) out for the season and LB Na?il Diggs (ribs) missing from the strong side on Monday night. This overrated and injury-ravaged defense should be foremost in your mind when considering your football bet.

Romo should have one of his better nights picking apart this secondary. He?s gotten premium protection thus far from his offensive line, getting sacked just once and already finding four different receivers for touchdowns. But the real pride of the offense has been the running game, humming on all cylinders at an amazing 7.0 yards per carry (first in the NFL). This is based on a small sample size of two games, mind you, and it looks like RB Marion Barber (quad) might not be able to play this week. Not a problem; Felix Jones (seven carries, 96 yards versus the Giants) is a highly promising tailback who remains somewhat under the radar after missing much of his rookie 2008 season.

Even with Romo?s hiccups against New York, the Cowboys are 9-point favorites (-105) at press time with a total of 48. You can also get Dallas at ?380 on the moneyline compared to Carolina at +290. The Cowboys won each of their last three meetings on the road at 2-1 ATS; since 2000, Dallas is 6-0 SU and 4-2 ATS in the regular season. The over/under is split at three apiece, but there are enough over trends on this matchup to choke a horse. Among them:

8-2 in Carolina?s last 10
9-1 in Carolina?s last 10 against NFC teams
4-0 in Dallas? last four
7-2-1 in Dallas? last 10 Monday games

Betting trends that have to do with the day of the week usually don?t carry a lot of water, but the Monday Night Football spotlight does have a way of bringing the best or the worst out of a player. It can also elevate the betting public?s expectations for the home team. Dallas, a very public team, is 0-4 ATS in its last four games in Big D. This is the second regular-season game at the new Cowboys Stadium, and the home fans are still waiting for a win. The good news for Dallas supporters: The Panthers are 1-5 ATS in their last six games as road dogs.

Speaking of the new stadium, it?s equipped with a retractable roof that by all rights should be open to the elements on Monday night. The weather forecast calls for clear skies at game time with light winds and temperatures in the mid-70s. It?s the kind of weather that should make for a high-scoring game, even with all the running plays we?re expecting to see. And we?ll have live betting available for every play. ESPN has the TV coverage starting at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time.

 

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Cowboys try, try again

Cowboys try, try again

Cowboys try, try again
September 27, 2009


The Dallas Cowboys look for their first win in their new stadium Monday night against the Carolina Panthers. The Cowboys failed in their home stadium debut last Sunday night, losing a nail-biter to the NY Giants 33-31.

Dallas (1-1 straight-up, 1-1 ATS) is a big 8.5 point home favorite at Sports.com with an Over/Under of 47.5 points.

Bet on props and MNF game action at the industry leader, ****Sports.com.

The big news for Dallas is that bruising running back Marion Barber is doubtful to play. That is just a medium blow as the 'Boys have two solid backups in Tashard Choice and Felix Jones.

Quarterback Tony Romo and the receivers have the ability to carve up this Panthers defense. Romo laid an egg in the Giants' game and he's earning a reputation as someone who comes up small in big games. He will be extra motivated and focused for this contest.

An ESPN Scouts Inc breakdown has Dallas favored in seven out of seven categories for offense, defense and special teams. The Panthers have the edge at coach, but John Fox' magic seems to be disappearing by the day. Of course, Wade Phillips isn't exactly Vince Lombardi either, so that matchup is a push.


Note that Dallas is 1-4 ATS in its last five games as a home favorite between 3.5-10 points. The Cowboys are 0-4 ATS in their last five Monday games.

Panthers slip-sliding away

Carolina has started out 0-2 straight-up and ATS. The first game was a complete debacle as they lost 38-10 at Philadelphia. Last game was at least respectable, losing 28-20 at Atlanta as six-point dogs.

It's hard to remember Carolina went 12-4 in the regular season last year. That was marred by a shocking home playoff loss to Arizona, and the team has been on a downward spiral ever since.

The Panthers must run the ball to have a chance of covering the 8.5-point spread. They had the 3rd ranked rushing attack last year with the combination of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. This year they're in the middle of the pack, but they need to control the clock to keep the potent Dallas offense off the field.

Quarterback Jake Delhomme played well at Atlanta last week after melting down against Philly. He has five interceptions on the year and four sacks, and he can't be trusted under the bright lights anymore. The Dallas defense has no sacks so far, so look for them to dial up the blitz in hopes of forcing a couple of picks.

Carolina is 1-5 ATS in its last six games as a road underdog.

Dallas has won the last three meetings between the teams, covering two of them. The underdog is 8-1 ATS in the last nine meetings.

 

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Panthers need win at Dallas
September 27, 2009


Date: Monday, September 28th
Time: 8:35 PM ET
TV: ESPN
Line: Dallas - 8 1/2
Totals: 47 ?

It's only Week 3, but both the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers feel like they need a win to turn their seasons around. Both teams have lost tough games and haven?t looked particularly sharp this season.

The Cowboys (1-1) try to bounce back from a last-second loss Monday night when they host a Carolina Panthers team seeking its first victory of the 2009 season.

Carolina (0-2) won the NFC South last season with a 12-4 record but is in danger of opening with three consecutive losses for the first time since dropping a franchise-worst seven in a row to start the 1998 season.

Cowboys running back Marion Barber who is battling a quad injury, missed Sunday?s walk-through, and looks to be DOUBTFUL for Monday night. The Boys will use the two headed monster approach with Tashard Choice and the electric Felix Jones rotating series.

Offense: The Dallas Cowboys are ranked 2nd on offense, averaging 420 yards per game. The Cowboys are averaging 184.5 yards rushing and 235.5 yards passing so far this season. The Carolina Panthers are ranked 22nd on offense, averaging 304.5 yards per game. The Panthers are averaging 115 yards rushing and 189.5 yards passing so far this season.

Quarterbacks: Tony Romo's poor performance last week was one of the biggest reasons for Dallas' defeat. He completed 13 of 29 passes for 127 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions, all of which resulted in New York touchdowns. Romo had a passer rating of 29.6 and the 127 yards was the second-lowest of his career. In week 1 against Tampa Romo passed for a career-high 353 yards with three touchdowns and no turnovers while posting a 140.6 rating, fourth-best in his career.




Jake Delhomme was the one receiving most of the blame after the opener. Delhomme threw four interceptions and lost a fumble in a 38-10 loss to Philadelphia but played much better against Atlanta. He threw for 308 yards and a touchdown, but his interception with 3 minutes remaining in the Red Zone with his team down eight ended the comeback bid. Delhomme has one touchdown pass this season to TE Dante Rosario.

Running Backs: The Cowboys could be without Marion Barber recovering from a quadriceps injury. Barber had 18 carries for 124 yards with a 2-yard touchdown, the first in new Cowboys Stadium, but got hurt on a 35-yard run in the fourth quarter. Felix Jones and Tashard Choice are capable tailbacks. The Cowboys rushed for 251 yards against the Giants. Barber and Felix Jones had 124 and 96 yards, respectively.

Jonathan Stewart has been more of a threat to Williams' job security due to an injury-plagued preseason. In spite of that, Williams has gotten consistent goal-line work. The Cowboys have looked miserable defensively through two weeks, so keep riding the Williams bandwagon. Stewart claims to be 90% from a nagging Achilles. The situation is right for the 2008 version of the Williams/Stewart duo to break out on Monday Night. Dallas will try and blitz and pressure Delhomme and the Cowboys give up 184 yards a game on the ground setting up a potentially big night for the Carolina running backs.

Wide Receivers: Roy Williams had only one catch for 18 yards against the Giants due to double coverage. Romo rarely looked his direction. Williams only had four passes thrown in his direction Williams, Crayton and Austin Miles all have to become more involved in the offense. For Carolina Steve Smith and Moose Muhammad are both averaging over 11 yards per catch but neither player has scored a touchdown in 2009.

Defense: Dallas has had little luck slowing down either of its first two opponents, allowing 877 yards the third-worst in the NFL. The Cowboys have been unable to put much pressure on the quarterback, owning the only defense that has yet to force a turnover or record a sack. Last season, Dallas had NFL-best 59 sacks.

The Panthers have two sacks and are 30th in the league in scoring defense, allowing an average of 33.0 points per game. Julius Peppers this season's highest-paid NFL player, was limited to two tackles against the Falcons and is being criticized for the team's poor play. Linebacker Na?il Diggs is out of Monday?s game and DE Everett Brown and SS Chris Harris are doubtful. DT Louis Leonard was lost for the year in week two.

Defensive coordinator Ron Meeks likes to play two-deep zones with limited blitzing. To make that work, the front four must bring pressure. That is not happening and Tony Romo has enough weapons to carve up this defense if the Panthers bring limited pressure.

Dallas leads the all-time regular season series with Carolina, 7-1, winning seven straight since the Panthers notched their only such win against the Cowboys at Texas Stadium in 1997. Dallas was a 20-13 road winner at Bank of America Stadium in the last such meeting, during the 2007 season. Carolina is 0-3 in Dallas since the '97 triumph.

At home the Cowboys are averaging 31.0 scoring, and holding teams to 33.0 points scored on defense. The Carolina Panthers are 0-1 while on the road this season, and 0-2 against NFC opponents. On the road, the Panthers are averaging 20.0 scoring, and holding teams to 28.0 points scored on defense.

Betting Trends:
Carolina is 1-6 ATS in their last seven games as an underdog
Dallas is 0-4 ATS in their last four games on Monday Night Football
The OVER is 5-0 in Carolina?s last five road games
The OVER is 4-0 in Dallas?s last four games

 

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MNF heads to Dallas
September 28, 2009
By Sportsbook.com

CAROLINA at DALLAS (8:35 PM ET, ESPN)
Dallas comes off a disappointing last second loss to the Giants in last week?s new stadium opener, and will look to turn it around in a Monday night contest hosting Carolina. The Cowboys are listed as near double-digit favorites, but several interesting trends and 69% of the early bettors at Sportsbook.com like the Panthers against the spread. Get the latest breakdown and other key info from Sportsbook.com on the BETTING TRENDS & TEAM STATISTICS pages.

The Cowboys fell to 1-1 with the home loss to New York, putting more importance on this game with a 2-game AFC road swing on deck. They are on a nice run of 28-14 ATS bouncing back from a game in which they allowed 30+ points. The Panthers are 0-2 after losing in Atlanta and on the verge of seeing their hopes disappear before their open date, which comes next week. That could be important as Carolina is on a 6-1 ATS stretch in pre-bye week road games, and amazingly, underdogs have covered 12 straight Panthers? pre-bye week games. Dogs are also 7-2 ATS in the L9 head-to-head meetings between these teams.


Somebody should alert the Panthers the preseason is over! Carolina, 0-4 in exhibition play, continues to look nothing like a team that won 12 games and a division title in 2008. It limps into Dallas on Monday night with 28- and eight-point losses, and with a quarterback playing with little confidence. Jake Delhomme, the veteran signal caller, has 12 turnovers in the last three games.

And the Cowboys? defense is hungry. The unit led the NFL in sacks last season with 59, including 20 from DeMarcus Ware, but it hasn?t been intimidating so far. The Bucs put up 24 points in the opener and didn?t allow a sack or commit a turnover, and the Giants netted 33 points in Week 2 and also had no sacks or giveaways. So either Dallas is due or the absence of jettisoned veterans Greg Ellis and Zach Thomas is turning out to be greater than expected. If it continues to struggle, an error or two by Delhomme may not be enough to doom the Panthers.

Offensively, the Cowboys remain dangerous. Tony Romo produced a 140.6 quarterback rating against the Bucs and hit Roy Williams, Patrick Crayton and Miles Austin on touchdown passes totaling 186 yards. Romo came back against the Giants and committed three costly turnovers that led to 21 points. The last time Romo saw Carolina?s defense, he carved it up for 257 yards through the air, and running back Marion Barber added 110 yards and a score on the ground in a 20-13 victory in 2007. Barber however, may not play due to a quad injury.

Good thing for Dallas it?s not January. It won seven straight regular-season meetings in this series, but the Panthers won playoff battles in 1996 and 2003. Romo is 2-0 versus Carolina, with the first win coming in his first pro start Oct. 29, 2006.

PREDICTION
Another loss and the Panthers will have extra time to chew on an ugly 0-3 start. The first batch of byes begins next week and they?re one of four teams off. They won?t want to be embarrassed on Monday night, yet often a club in this position will press too hard to play a perfect game. DALLAS 27, CAROLINA 19

 

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Bettors driving up total on Monday Night Football

Bettors driving up total on Monday Night Football

Bettors driving up total on Monday Night Football

Carolina Panthers vs. Dallas Cowboys

Line/Total: We opened the Cowboys -9.5 with the status of RB Marion Barber questionable. When he was announced doubtful for this game, we went to 9. We're currently dealing 8.5 tonight. So far action has been very split, with bettors backing the Cowboys with about 53% of the money.

We haven't seen any sharp action on the side, but we have on the total. Sharp money bet over our opening number of 46. We went directly to 47. Since then, the public has also bet it over. With about 70% of the action on the over, we're using 48.5 on tonight's game, a full 2.5 points higher than our opening total.

Key Injuries: Panthers - WR Muhsin Muhammad, RB Mike Goodson, DT Nick Hayden, RB Jonathan Stewart all have been upgraded to Probable. FB Brad Hoover, SS Chris Harris and LB Na'il Diggs have all been downgraded to Doubtful.

Cowboys - RB Marion Barber is listed Doubtful. LB Curtis Johnson has been upgraded to Probable.

Comments: The Panthers are 0-2 straight up and against the spread and are pretty much in a must-win game. They're in the same division as the Saints and Falcons, and a loss would put them three games behind the Saints and two back of the Falcons. Going back to last year, the Panthers are 1-4 ATS in their last five games.

The Cowboys (1-1 SU, 1-1 ATS) haven't been much better vs. the number, covering twice in their last six games. This is obviously a very crucial game for the Cowboys. After losing last week in the debut of their new stadium, owner Jerry Jones and the Cowboys organization are desperate for a win in their new home Both teams have seen their first two games go over their posted totals.

Prop of the Game: Tony Romo (Cowboys) Will He Throw an Interception - Yes -200