“Society” doesn’t always have the nicest things to say about NFL preseason bettors but when you got the itch you got the itch. One of the best contests on the official week 1 of the exhibition slate is the Dallas Cowboys taking on the San Francisco 49ers at 10:00 PM EST on NFL Network. Oddsmakers drew a number out of the hat and what they came up with for the line on the August 9th NFL free pick is SF -4. That spread is based largely on home field and backup QB experience but can the Cowboys get the “season” off to a fast start?
How Much Will We See The Cowboys Starters Tonight?
In somewhat of a surprise move, Dak Prescott and a good chunk of the other Cowboys starters are set to see at least some action in the August 9th NFL free pick. Prescott will be in probably for up to three series’ mostly in part to get some in-game rhythm with his overhauled receiving corps. Jason Witten and Dez Bryant are gone and replaced by Geoff Swain and Tavon Austin. Zeke Elliott will wisely not play tonight so expect Dallas to put the ball up early and often while Prescott is in the game. A name to watch in the later quarters is rookie running back Bo Scarbrough out of Alabama as he tries to make the Dallas roster.
One of the reasons Dallas could be a nice upset pick tonight is because Jason Garrett has taken a new outlook on winning games – even in the preseason – starting last year. The Cowboys were 3-1 last year in exhibition, after Dallas had gone 2-10 in Garrett’s three years prior. There’s some new faces in the Dallas huddle, but Scott Linehan and Rod Marinelli have the same systems in place for the offense and defense respectively so the playbook should be a bit larger.
Jimmy G – All He Does Is Win Even in the Preseason?
Hopes are high in the Bay Area for 2018 mainly because of the man under center Since acquiring Jimmy Garoppolo from the Patriots the ‘9ers went 5-1 to finish the 2017 season. Garoppolo will see a few series’ in the August 9th NFL free pick but it’s the San Francisco backup situation that has them favored by -4 tonight. CJ Beathard will handle 2nd string duties a year after starting 5 games in his rookie campaign a season ago. Beathard threw 4 TD and 6 INT last year, but completed over 54% of his passes. Jerick McKinnon is a high potential talent acquired in the offseason that should bolster the running game for the series or two he is in the game.
Kyle Shanahan enters his second year at the helm of the 49ers with big expectations heading into year two. He was 2-2 last preseason, but that was after implementing a whole new system. The 49ers are starting to build some continuity moving forward however as Curtis Modkins returns as the OC and Robert Saleh is back to run the defense.
August 9th NFL Free Pick Betting
NFL preseason betting is all about depth and which coaches value strong exhibition showings. The 49ers have the QB situation in hand, but Dallas is entering year 8 of Jason Garrett’s familiar system. San Francisco will come into tonight too hyped, and the Cowboys will take advantage of that in what is now officially Dak Prescott’s team after the departures of Witten and Bryant.
Free Pick: Dallas Cowboys +4
