SportsJaw
LeaderboardToday's GamesBest BetsOdds ComparisonConsensus PicksMake Picks
Login / Sign In
Today's GamesLatest PredictionsToday’s Best BetsOdds ComparisonConsensus PicksTeam PredictionsHead-to-Head MatchupsSJ CoinsAbout SportsJawContact UsLogin / Sign In
HomeMatchupsMake PicksLeaders
SportsJaw

The social platform for sports bettors.

Explore SportsJaw

  • Today’s Picks
  • Predictions
  • Best Bets
  • Leaderboard
  • Make Picks
  • Odds Comparison
  • Consensus Picks
  • Team Predictions
  • Head-to-Head
  • Game Briefing

Picks by Sport

  • NFL Picks
  • NCAAF Picks
  • NBA Picks
  • NCAAB Picks
  • MLB Picks
  • NHL Picks

About SportsJaw

  • How It Works
  • SJ Coins
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Contact Us

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Picks are opinions, not guarantees. Past results do not predict future outcomes.

© 2026 SportsJaw. For entertainment purposes only. SportsJaw does not accept or place wagers.

  1. Home
  2. NFL Picks
  3. Dallas Cowboys vs Houston Texans
Sun 1:00 PM ET
Dallas Cowboys logo
Dallas
Cowboys34
1-2
versus
Houston Texans logo
Houston
Texans30
0-3
Final
Team1234T
Dallas Cowboys33141434
Houston Texans1067730
NFL · Dallas Cowboys at Houston Texans

Your Picks on Cowboys vs Texans

Picks closed
Spread
Moneyline
Total

Dallas Cowboys vs Houston Texans Prediction, Odds and Projected Score

Game time: October 4, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET

Venue: NRG Stadium — Houston, TX

Article updated Oct 4, 7:06 AM EDT

By SportsJaw Editorial Team

The Houston Texans are projected to beat the Dallas Cowboys 24-23, with Will Anderson Jr.’s pass rush providing the strongest matchup reason to favor Houston. Nico Collins’ clean final injury designation also helps the Texans’ outlook. The supplied prices offer no compelling wager: Houston -3 (-105) asks for more separation than this forecast, and the total of 48.5 is a pass.

Dallas Cowboys vs Houston Texans prediction and best bet

Houston is the pick to win this 2026 NFL matchup, but the official betting recommendation is Pass. Anderson’s production and Collins’ improved practice status give the Texans a plausible route to their first victory. Neither makes a comfortable winning margin the likely outcome.

The distinction matters with Houston laying three points. A narrow Texans win fits the football forecast, while Dallas has enough encouraging personnel news to make the spread uncomfortable. Confidence is low because Houston’s 0-3 start and defensive absences remain substantial counterweights.

Odds, game time and how to watch

Time: Sunday, October 4, 2026, at noon CT.

Location: Houston, Texas.

Records: Dallas Cowboys 1-2; Houston Texans 0-3.

SportsJaw odds: Dallas Cowboys +3 (-115); Houston Texans -3 (-104). Moneyline: Dallas Cowboys +131; Houston Texans -149. Total: Over 48.5 (-110); Under 48.5 (-108).

SportsJaw moneyline: Dallas Cowboys +134; Houston Texans -152.

SportsJaw total: Over 48.5 (-110); Under 48.5 (-108).

Dallas Cowboys outlook

Dallas scored 31 points against Baltimore, an encouraging result for its chances of staying competitive in Houston. The same game ended with 34 points conceded and a loss. That performance offers a reason to respect the Cowboys’ scoring potential, but one result is too narrow a foundation for declaring their offense superior.

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Picks are opinions, not guarantees. Past results do not predict future outcomes.

The secondary has several available options. Malik Hooker and Shavon Revel practiced fully Friday and carried no game-status designation. Joey Porter Jr. was available after staying off the injury report. Dallas also elevated Reddy Steward and Juanyeh Thomas from the practice squad because of secondary injuries.

Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown will miss a third consecutive game with a hamstring injury. His absence leaves Dallas managing a defensive personnel loss of its own, even with the positive updates at safety and cornerback.

Houston Texans outlook

Anderson has four sacks this season and produced a strip-sack against Indianapolis. He practiced fully Friday after an ankle issue and had no game-status designation. His ability to interrupt possessions is the clearest individual reason to give Houston a slight edge.

The receiving outlook improved when Collins progressed from limited participation Wednesday and Thursday to a full Friday practice without a game-status designation. Against Indianapolis, C.J. Stroud completed eight of his first 10 fourth-quarter passes for 114 yards before the late Hail Mary attempts. That stretch suggests a route to productive possessions, although it represents only part of one game.

Houston will be without linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair because of a groin injury and safety M.J. Stewart because of a knee injury. Defensive ends Jadeveon Clowney and Logan Hall were listed questionable with knee injuries, adding uncertainty around the defensive front.

Key matchup factors

The central question is whether Houston’s pressure can outweigh its defensive absences. A sack or forced mistake could decide a close finish. Dallas’ route is to sustain possessions without allowing Anderson to create the kind of disruptive play he delivered against Indianapolis.

The betting opinions are divided. As of October 4 at 10:59 UTC, the combined spread consensus favored Dallas +3 (-112) at 63%, with 383 Dallas selections against 225 Houston selections in a modeled equivalent sample of 608. Those counts combine a modeled sportsbook sample with SportsJaw participation; they are not observed sportsbook ticket totals.

SportsJaw members favored Houston -3 (-105) at 75%, as did qualified handicappers. The sportsbook split favored Dallas at 72%. These are separate measures of betting preference, not team win probabilities, and the disagreement argues against a forceful recommendation.

Dallas Cowboys vs Houston Texans spread prediction

Spread recommendation: Pass on Dallas Cowboys +3 (-112) and Houston Texans -3 (-105). The projected one-point Houston victory points toward Dallas covering, but the margin is a low-confidence estimate rather than a demonstrated pricing edge.

Houston’s pressure offers a winning argument, while Dallas’ recent scoring and Houston’s defensive injuries favor keeping the points. With credible cases pulling in opposite directions, neither side earns an official wager at these prices.

Dallas Cowboys vs Houston Texans total prediction

Total recommendation: Pass on Over 48.5 (-110) and Under 48.5 (-108). The projected 47 points sit below the line, but that small difference is too fragile to turn into an Under recommendation.

The combined total consensus favors Over at 54%, compared with a 68% sportsbook Over split. SportsJaw members favor Under at 100%. Dallas’ latest scoring result and Collins’ status offer an Over argument; Houston’s pressure offers a competing path. Neither deserves decisive weight.

Dallas Cowboys vs Houston Texans Projected Score & Betting Picks

Game forecast: Houston Texans 24, Dallas Cowboys 23. Anderson’s pressure and Collins’ improved status give Houston the slight advantage. The strongest counterargument is a winless Texans team missing defenders against a Dallas side that just scored 31 points.

Confidence: Low. Houston is the projected winner, both market recommendations are passes, and the single official SportsJaw betting lean is Pass.

SportsJawGame Predictions
Predicted score

Cowboys23

Texans24

Projected winner Houston TexansConfidencelow
Pick on the Spread

Published pick: Pass on Dallas Cowboys +3 (-112) and Houston Texans -3 (-105)

Pick on the Total

Published pick: Pass on Over 48.5 (-110) and Under 48.5 (-108)

Sources

  • HoustonTexans.comTexans vs. Cowboys By the Numbers: Week 4 Stats, Streaks and Series History
  • HoustonTexans.comNico Collins Back at Practice as Texans Prepare for Cowboys
  • HoustonTexans.comWeek 4 Injury Report | Texans vs. Cowboys
#DallasCowboys#HoustonTexans

Share this preview

Facebook X Reddit Email
SportsJaw logo
Written by

SportsJaw Editorial Team

SportsJaw's editorial organization researches matchup data, current odds, injuries and reporting, then validates each published preview against its listed sources and displayed markets.

About our editorial process

SportsJaw Cowboys vs Texans game preview analysis and predictions incorporate current odds, injury reports, team statistics and market data. Information is updated regularly, but lines and player availability can change. Please confirm current information before wagering. View history of past Cowboys vs Texans matchups or learn how our predictions work.

Current matchup data

Lines, trends and availability

Line movement since open

  • Moneyline · Dallas Cowboys+114 → +131Moved
  • Moneyline · Houston Texans-135 → -149Moved
  • Spread · Dallas Cowboys+2.5 (-110) → +3 (-115)Moved
  • Spread · Houston Texans-2.5 (-110) → -3 (-104)Moved
  • Total · Over47.5 (-110) → 48.5 (-110)Moved
  • Total · Under47.5 (-110) → 48.5 (-108)Moved

ATS and O/U trends

Dallas Cowboys
1-2 matchup record · 4-6-0 ATS · 9-1-0 O/U
Last 10 completed games on file
Houston Texans
0-3 matchup record · 4-6-0 ATS · 5-5-0 O/U
Last 10 completed games on file

Injuries and availability

From the published research (2026-09-28T14:21:06.189Z). Availability may have changed; review the cited sources.

The secondary has several available options. Malik Hooker and Shavon Revel practiced fully Friday and carried no game-status designation. Joey Porter Jr. was available after staying off the injury report. Dallas also elevated Reddy Steward and Juanyeh Thomas from the practice squad because of secondary injuries.

Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown will miss a third consecutive game with a hamstring injury. His absence leaves Dallas managing a defensive personnel loss of its own, even with the positive updates at safety and cornerback.

Houston will be without linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair because of a groin injury and safety M.J. Stewart because of a knee injury. Defensive ends Jadeveon Clowney and Logan Hall were listed questionable with knee injuries, adding uncertainty around the defensive front.

Recent head-to-head

  • 2024-11-18Houston Texans 34 · Dallas Cowboys 10
Final result

Matchup pick recap

Dallas Cowboys defeated Houston Texans 34-30

Dallas Cowboys defeated Houston Texans 34-30 on October 4, 2026, a 4-point decision in the series. Dallas Cowboys' strongest period was the 3rd quarter, when it outscored its opponent 14-7. Against SportsJaw's recorded Dallas Cowboys +3 (-115) spread, Dallas Cowboys covered, while the 64 combined points finished over the recorded total of 48.5.

SportsJaw editorial picks

  • Projected winnerHouston TexansLoss
  • SpreadPass on Dallas Cowboys +3 (-112) and Houston Texans -3 (-105)Pass
  • TotalPass on Over 48.5 (-110) and Under 48.5 (-108)Pass

Tipster picks

  • JaredkuntzSpread · Dallas Cowboys +3 (-112)Win
  • Sarah_MillerSpread · Houston Texans -3 (-105)Loss
  • JohnmiznerSpread · Dallas Cowboys +3 (-112)Win
  • ThetotalerSpread · Houston Texans -3 (-105)Loss
  • GeorgewSpread · Houston Texans -3 (-105)Loss
  • JtphamSpread · Houston Texans -3 (-105)Loss
  • MrmisterSpread · Houston Texans -3 (-105)Loss
  • SwamipicksTotal · Under 48.5 (-110)Loss
  • Steve512Spread · Houston Texans -3 (-105)Loss
  • Ttran206Spread · Dallas Cowboys +3 (-115)Win
  • Amp2224Spread · Dallas Cowboys +3 (-115)Win