Cowboys vs. Steelers Prediction, Odds and Betting Preview for NFL Hall of Fame Game

The 2021 NFL season will kick off on Aug. 5 when the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers face off in the Hall of Fame Game to open the preseason. 

Dallas will get its first look at quarterback Dak Prescott as he continues his return from a fractured ankle that ended his 2020 season after just five weeks. The Steelers, in what could be the final year of the Ben Roethlisberger era, are trying to prove that they once again belong in the playoff picture in the AFC. 

While there’s a chance that Dallas and Pittsburgh could opt to bench their starters, they should play about one series in the game just to get their feet wet. Prescott, who is dealing with a shoulder injury as well, is less likely to play if the Cowboys want to take it slow with him heading into the 2021 season. 

Preseason games usually give fans just a taste of what the team’s starters and final roster will look like, but there are also several players on the roster bubble looking to make an impact as this year gets under way. 

Here’s everything you need to know about the preseason opener with all odds via WynnBET:

Cowboys vs. Steelers Spread, Odds and Over/Under

Spread: 

Steelers -1.5 (-110)

Cowboys +1.5 (-110)

Moneyline: 

Steelers: -125

Cowboys: +105

Over/Under: 33.0 (Over: -110/Under: -110)

Cowboys vs. Steelers Injury Report

TBA

Steelers vs. Cowboys Betting Trends

The Cowboys have a 17-16 edge over the Steelers in their series history, but Pittsburgh won last year’s matchup 24-19 on Nov. 8. 

Things will be much different in the preseason, as starters aren’t guaranteed to play much. Pittsburgh will likely lean on backup quarterbacks Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins while Dallas will trot out Cooper Rush, Garrett Gilbert and Ben DiNucci behind Prescott. 

In recent years, the Hall of Fame Game has been relatively low-scoring, as the total combined points between the teams has surpassed this year’s over/under of 33.0 just one time in the past five games. 

The last three Hall of Fame Games have been decided by a total of seven points, hence oddsmakers landing on a 1.5-point spread for Thursday’s contest. 

Dallas and Pittsburgh have a lot of experience in Hall of Fame Games, as the Cowboys have appeared in (and won) all three games they’ve been a part of since the 2010 season. 

Pittsburgh has played in two games since 2007, as the Steelers beat the New Orleans Saints 20-7 back in 2007 before losing to the Minnesota Vikings 14-3 in 2015.

Steelers vs. Cowboys Prediction and Pick

Since Dallas will likely want to keep Prescott healthy through the preseason, I’d expect him to play no more than a series on Thursday if he does end up seeing the field. The same likely goes for Roethlisberger, as the veteran doesn’t have much he needs to prove as the starter heading into 2021.

Since the Steelers will get a look at Rudolph and a former first-round pick in Haskins, I think they pull this one out and are a great pick on the moneyline at -125 odds. The Haskins-Rudolph competition will be interesting for the backup job, and it could be important considering Roethlisberger’s age and injury history over the past few seasons. 

With backups and roster bubble players predominantly expected to play, taking the under on the total at 33.0 seems to be the way to go given the recent trend of low-scoring Hall of Fame Games.

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