NFL Playoffs Divisional Round: Cowboys vs. 49ers Predictions, Sunday, January 22, 2023

Last updated: Dec 21, 2023, 9:32PM | Published: Jan 18, 2023, 6:28PM

Hardcore NFL fans are going to be feeling some nostalgia when the San Francisco 49ers host the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Divisional Round at 6:30PM ET on Sunday, January 22. These are two storied franchises and a spot in the NFC Championship Game will be on the line! With that in mind, find out how we think this one will play out in our Cowboys vs. 49ers betting preview. We're going to give you some in-depth analysis, as well as the NFL predictions from our predictive analytics model and world-class artificial intelligence. The Super Bowl is right around the corner, so we're pulling out all the stops. Let's have a fun couple of weeks, as this is one of the best parts of the year for sports bettors.

This is the ninth Dallas-San Francisco postseason matchup. The Cowboys have won five of the eight, but the Niners’ victory in 1981 featuring “The Catch” is one of the most famous games in football history.

The winner of this game would host the NFC title matchup should the New York Giants upset Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday night.

If you haven't already, you should consider signing up for DraftKings ➡️ here ⬅️ as you can turn a $5 pre-game moneyline bet on any game into a bonus $200 if your team wins.

Cowboys vs. 49ers Predictions

Predicted score: 49ers 25 - Cowboys 21
No edge on either team to cover the 3.5-point spread
63% chance the 49ers win on the moneyline
51% shot Cowboys-49ers goes Over 45.5

For the best NFL computer picks, check out our Cowboys vs. 49ers data predictions. They are constantly updating based on hundreds of different data points.

Cowboys vs. 49ers Odds and Betting Lines

Will The Cowboys Cover The Spread?

Can Dak Prescott build off Monday night’s lights-out effort against a quality Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense or will he revert to playing like he did in forgettable road losses at Jacksonville and Washington down the stretch?

Prescott was golden against the Bucs and quieted critics, going 25 of 33 for 305 yards and four touchdowns, with a rushing score to boot. It was his first game without a turnover in eight games and he connected with eight different receivers.

The Niners’ defense ranked No. 2 against the run but 22nd against the pass.

Will The 49ers Cover The Spread?

The last pick of the 2022 Draft, Niners rookie quarterback Brock Purdy showed some early jitters in Saturday’s 41-23 win over the Seattle Seahawks before settling down and displaying the type of poise it’ll take to win three more games and a ring.

The only issue is that Purdy, who threw three touchdown passes and also ran for a score, is facing a day and night situation when it comes to the opposing defense. The Cowboys will be aggressive and Purdy must limit the type of mistakes that decide big games like this one.

Why The Over Will Hit

The Cowboys played four straight December games featuring at least 50 points, three of which eclipsed 70, and were firing on all cylinders Monday night after a disaster regular-season finale. It probably won’t take 30 points to win this one, but they’re capable.

As for the Niners, Purdy is well beyond his deer-in-headlights moment and should be much more comfortable with an elimination game under his belt.

Why The Under Will Hit

Both of these defenses are capable of playing shutdown ball, regardless of the balance and talent on the other side of scrimmage.

Dallas racked up 54 sacks during the regular season and was in Tom Brady’s face all night in Monday’s 31-14 win. San Francisco’s unit had 44 sacks (and 20 interceptions).

Will the Cowboys bypass mid-range field-goal tries given Brett Maher’s inexplicable struggles in Tampa Bay when he missed more PATs in three quarters than he did the entire regular season?

Cowboys vs. 49ers Prediction

Lean: 49ers -3.5

This should be a classic with the 49ers finding a way to get the job done.

Tony Bellissimo

Tony Bellissimo brings more than 25 years of sports reporting/editing experience to Dimers.com, as well as an extensive background covering all major professional sports, including 10 seasons (1998-2007) as NFL Editor of College & Pro Football Newsweekly. He's earned more than a dozen New York State Press Association awards, including Sports Writer of the Year (2nd place) in 2019, and oversees the sports coverage of 30 high schools and several colleges on Long Island.