The expectations are always sky high in Big D and you can bet that owner Jerry Jones is still smarting from how the New York Giants worked their way into the playoffs and then captured another Super Bowl (stings). \u00a0<\/p>\n
Dallas Cowboys This team invested seriously in its defense in the offseason using the draft and free agency to shore up the secondary. \u00a0Still it might not be enough as the current group of Cowboys seems to be to not add up to the sum of their part. \u00a0<\/p>\n This team has talent, maybe this year they break through.<\/p>\n On offense everything starts with QB Tony Romo. \u00a0<\/p>\n Depending on who you ask you get very different opinions on just how good Romo is. \u00a0His numbers may put him among the statistical elite but when was the last time you remember him really coming up big in a big moment – I can\u2019t. \u00a0<\/p>\n The ground game is in decent shape with second year back DeMarco Murray carrying the torch that never got picked up by the explosive, yet brittle, Felix Jones. \u00a0When Romo drops back he certainly has options but tight end Jason Witten is already dinged up and receiver Dez Bryant is a time bomb waiting to explode. \u00a0<\/p>\n Last year\u2019s leading TD grabber – Laurent Robinson – \u00a0is now playing for the Jaguars and no one knows when Miles Austin is going to show up again. \u00a0[soliloquy id=”82219″]<\/p>\n On defense is where Dallas really tried to get better this offseason. \u00a0<\/p>\n They have one of the best defensive players in the game in rush linebacker DeMarcus Ware but even with all the havoc he was creating up front they weren\u2019t having too much success because the secondary was just so poor. \u00a0<\/p>\n Insert top pick cornerback Morris Claiborne (LSU) and free agent corner Brandon Carr and now you have the semblance of a decent secondary, especially with Claiborne\u2019s big play ability (he is a menace returning kicks too). \u00a0If the defense could win a game or two this team could really go places and maybe even capture the division.<\/p>\n As you can see by the record above the Cowboys were awful against the number last season. \u00a0<\/p>\n As one of the more public teams they are always getting more support than they probably deserve but I guess there is a reason they are called America\u2019s team. \u00a0Amazingly for a team that finished just 8-8 they were favoured in 11 of their 16 games. <\/p>\n \u00a0The division they are in is tough and they always seem to struggle against the Giants and Eagles. \u00a0How is this for a stat. \u00a0Dallas was 0-6 ATS within the NFC East last season. \u00a0The only team they beat straight up was Washington.<\/p>\n
\n2011 Record: \u00a08-8
\n2011 ATS Record: \u00a05-10-1
\n2012 Futures:
\nSuper Bowl: \u00a0+2500
\nConference: \u00a0+1400
\nDivision: \u00a0+240
\nWin Total: \u00a08.5<\/strong><\/p>\n