Los Angeles Rams vs. Dallas Cowboys Prediction, Pick, Odds: Can Cooper Rush and the Cowboys Keep Winning?

Los Angeles Rams vs. Dallas Cowboys Prediction, Pick, Odds: Can Cooper Rush and the Cowboys Keep Winning?

Cooper Rush has led the Dallas Cowboys on an impressive three-game winning streak after Dak Prescott's hand injury. The 29-year-old quarterback has been with Dallas since signing as an unrestricted free agent back in 2017. He impressed in his one start against Minnesota in 2021, throwing a game-winning touchdown pass to Amari Cooper. Rush has not looked back, winning three consecutive games for the Cowboys against quality opponents like the Cincinnati Bengals. Dallas is now 2-0 in the NFC East division and will travel to SoFi stadium to face the desperate Los Angeles Rams.

It's been a slow start for the reigning Super Bowl champions. They lost a lot of quality offensive linemen, which have shown up twice against Buffalo and San Francisco. Odell Beckham Jr. is gone, as well as Von Miller. Jalen Ramsey still resides in a secondary that has allowed 997 passing yards, ranking 13th-worst in the league. Bobby Wagner and Aaron Donald control the run game, but the lack of pressure is certainly catching up with the Rams' defense.

Can Dallas keep winning with Rush at the helm? Here are our picks, predictions, and odds for Sunday's NFC tilt between the Los Angeles Rams vs. Dallas Cowboys.

Rams vs. Cowboys Start Time and Where to Watch

• Date: Sunday, October 9
• Game time: 4:25 pm ET
• Where to Watch: FOX

Rams vs. Cowboys Odds

Spread: Los Angeles -4.5 (-110), Dallas +4.5 (-110)

Total: Under 43 (-110), Over 43 (-110)

Moneyline: Los Angeles (-210), Dallas (+180)

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Rams vs. Cowboys Injury Report

Rams

G Coleman Shelton (Questionable - Ankle), CB Troy Hill (Questionable - Groin)

Cowboys

DT Quentin Bohanna (Questionable - Shoulder), CB Jourdan Lewis (Questionable - Groin), WR Noah Brown (Questionable - Neck), QB Dak Prescott (Mid-October - Hand)

Los Angeles Rams vs. Dallas Cowboys Prediction

Cooper Rush showed his ability to handle a big stage during a prime-time divisional scrap in the Meadowlands in Week 3, throwing a game-winning dart to CeeDee Lamb in the corner of the end zone. He wasn't electric against Washington in Week 4, but he did avoid turnovers and threw two touchdowns in a game that felt over at halftime. Can Rush go into SoFi against an angry, desperate Rams defense and escape with a win? This is the question that looms large in an exciting NFC matchup in the late window of the Week 5 slate.

Let's look at a few numbers to determine how Los Angeles will perform against Dallas' defense, which is allowing the third-fewest points in the league. The Rams' offense is sputtering, with a 30th-ranked rushing attack and averaging 2.3 turnovers per game. Matthew Stafford is not afforded a clean pocket very often. Don't expect this to change against Micah Parsons and the rest of the vaunted Cowboys' defense. The Rams have a banged-up offensive line that already lacks experience and continuity, which is a massive concern they need to address heading into Week 5.

Dallas has been good but not great on offense but the offensive line is playing well, allowing only 1.5 sacks per game, which is T5th in the league. With Rush under center, the Cowboys have scored at least 20 points per game, which has been enough to win. It could be enough to keep the winning streak intact. Los Angeles is a bottom 12 defense against the pass, meaning the Cowboys will be able to move the ball with Michael Gallup back in the lineup. Lamb will likely draw coverage from Ramsey, but he's been vulnerable in certain matchups. It will be a fun one-on-one to monitor throughout the game.

Ezekiel Elliot and Tony Pollard have their work cut out against a Rams front-seven that is seventh-best against the run, bottling ball carriers up and limiting them to just 92.5 total rushing yards per game. Rush will need to continue playing clean football. Dallas' defense will do the rest behind the likes of Parsons and Trevon Diggs.

The Cowboys have covered the spread in nine of their last ten road games while winning four consecutive games as +3.5 to +7.0 underdogs. 4.5 points is a lot, especially considering how close these teams have played each other in recent matchups. The Rams won 20-17 in 2020, while Dallas won a 44-21 blowout as one-point underdogs back in 2019. The Rams have won three of the last four matchups outright, but are 1-3 ATS this year. Los Angeles' only win at home was nearly blown against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2, where they ultimately failed to cover the spread. History repeats in Week 5.

It's enticing to bet on Dallas at +180 on the moneyline, but I'll be conservative and take the Cowboys to cover at +4.5.

Los Angeles Rams vs. Dallas Cowboys Pick

• Pick: Dallas +4.5 (-110) (Bet $110 to win $100)

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